Hi we are trying to replace the front u joint on a 1997 f350. And we have got to us getting the brake drum off. But that's as far as we got. Any help.

 

Here you go.


Just watch out for those lips....

 

But I need it for the front axel u joints

 

Oh. Well... pretty much the same process anyway. You did not specify in the original post. :P

 

Whoops sorry about that. But we can't get the u joint to slide out.

 

You cannot get the half-shaft to come out? Are you sure you removed all of the seals/snap rings?

Sometimes you really have to put some torque on them to get them out. You SHOULDN'T have to, but I have had to in the past. Try prying with a crow bar, as long as you do not damage anything else. I have heard of some guys using a heavy duty ratchet strap or a come-along to pull one out, but you would have to watch out for a flying half-shaft, hahah! Try whacking the axle housing with a hammer as you pry.

 

When you say you have the brake drum off I assume you mean the rotor.

The next step is to take the spindle off. Take off the nuts (6, I think) that hold it on. Then the fun starts. Theoretically you can "tap on the spindle with a rawhide mallet" and it will work loose. Never worked that way for me. What i ended up doing was cutting a hole in a piece of 3/8" thick steel to go over the spindle. Then I put standoffs between the back of the plate and the knuckle (deep-well impact sockets might be about the right length, I cut some pieces of 1/2" OD steel bar stock). Put one of the washers over the spindle (the one that was between the two spindle nuts), then put one of the spindle nuts on an tighten it as much as you can. If your really lucky the spindle will pull out. If you're like me it won't so you take a big hammer and hit the plate right where the standoffs are. Hard. A bunch. Then tighten the spindle nut again, you'll probably be able to move it just a little. Keep repeating that cycle until it comes off.

The pounding is what gets it off, so don't worry about getting the nut so tight that you damage anything, just get it tight. And do make sure the standoffs are up against the knuckle really solidly.

Once the spindle is off the axle should slide right out.

 

Oh, and when you put the spindle back on don't forget to put anti-seize on the base, where it fits into the knuckle. Then hopefully it'll come off easier the next time