Hey guys, Currently replacing my ball joints on my 82 since I had to drill & chisel my camber eccentrics out a while back, and I am having trouble getting the passenger side axle shaft out. My drivers side slid out with no problems, my passenger side wont budge. I see they have this thing on it but I am not sure how to remove it. Or do I have to unbolt at the pumpkin & remove anything inside? I did this job on my 96 a while back but the passenger side wasn't set up like this. Help would be appreciated!

 

EDIT:

Got it out, apparently up until around 83, you need to unbolt the retainer at the pumpking, then the axle shaft should slide out, mine needed some persuasion with a BFH but it did the trick. Ones with no retainer, you need to unbolt the clamps at the cv joint to remove the passenger side axle shaft, and to remove the stub shaft, you must open the pumpkin and remove the retaining clip. Hope that helps for anyone that may encounter the same frustration that I just did!

 

Boy you are having fun. I dread that job, and I have only done it on two different trucks.

 

It's been a nightmare, the lower ball joint on the passenger side was stuck real good, had a pickle fork on the upper and lower ball joint, was hammering away with an 8lb sledge, wouldnt budge. I keep pounding it and finally the lower gave way and the knuckle came off, much to my relief! However when I looked at it, the lower ball joint had only separated from its housing, I cut it off with a grinder at the bottom and the top, hit what little bit was left at the top with a 2lb hammer and then it finally came out, what a PITA.

I also found that my drivers side axle shaft needs a new U-joint, and I also had to go hunt down the big rubber seal that's on the end of the axle shafts for both sides. It's been slow going and a lot of running around. It went much easier on the 96 truck I did this job on, and that truck was way way way more rusted!

 

And this is whyI'm paying my mechanic to replace the inner and outer D44HD U-joints in addition to the locking hubs on my truck on Monday.

Spicer parts and MileMarker premium hubs for the win(ter).

 

That passenger side shaft is supposed to slide out of the slip joint as it is supposed to be able to move with suspension movement.

 

If I remember correctly, sometimes the shaft will get stuck on the seal and not want to come out. If you unscrew the metal cap that holds the seal to the splines, it helps it slide off easier.

 

I just did one of the Ujoints, was a bear, as with everything else on the front of this truck!

It felt like it wanted to go, but it wouldn't come out, I had the pry bar on it and couldn't get it!

I was not aware that you could unscrew this, I'll have to give it a try if I ever have to do something like this again, thanks for the tip!

I am currently waiting for the rain to pass so I can finish putting everything back together, hopefully tomorrow

 

I was supposed to do ball joints over the summer, but as with everything else in life other things got in the way and time goes by much too quickly, so I'm saving this thread for next spring reference. Thanks ~Bill