Slip Yoke issues
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,220
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From: CA
Slip Yoke issues
Hello team,
I’m in the process of installing all new U joints and carrier bearing. Well, long story short, I could not use hand tools to remove even a single U joint. So I paid some to remove the U joint and also press in new bearings. All good so far, except the guy who pressed it and then installed the slip yoke so tight that it barely moves( I mean the slip yoke). The boot is compressed and no matter what I do, it won’t budge. The drive line is about an inch short of making the slot at the rear diff. That damn thing is anything but slipper. I took it back and the guy used hammer to pound it and it is still a little short. Shouldn't slip yoke be flexible in movement? why use hammer?
Now question: how much force (using hammer) is too much? I have 4 Lb, 8 Lb and some smaller hammers. To be fair, I have used the 4 Lb “lightly” and no show. Here is picture of what I’m talking about.
I’m in the process of installing all new U joints and carrier bearing. Well, long story short, I could not use hand tools to remove even a single U joint. So I paid some to remove the U joint and also press in new bearings. All good so far, except the guy who pressed it and then installed the slip yoke so tight that it barely moves( I mean the slip yoke). The boot is compressed and no matter what I do, it won’t budge. The drive line is about an inch short of making the slot at the rear diff. That damn thing is anything but slipper. I took it back and the guy used hammer to pound it and it is still a little short. Shouldn't slip yoke be flexible in movement? why use hammer?
Now question: how much force (using hammer) is too much? I have 4 Lb, 8 Lb and some smaller hammers. To be fair, I have used the 4 Lb “lightly” and no show. Here is picture of what I’m talking about.
Super Moderator
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 13,281
Likes: 6,046
If you paid someone to do the work, I'd request a partial refund, and tell 'em "It's called a slip joint for a reason. It is supposed to slip as the rear axle moves up and down. Please refund my money, or restore this driveline so that it functions as designed and intended. And not with a hammer, thank you."
Ford has a special PFTE lubricant they specify for slip joints.
Ford has a special PFTE lubricant they specify for slip joints.
More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 727
Likes: 1
From: Chariton, IA
If it moves that hard I wouldn't install it on the truck. You need to get it apart and grease it then put it back together. It should "slip" together pretty easy and you should be able to slide it by hand.
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,220
Likes: 2
From: CA
Thanks, that's what I thought too. I will take it off completely and redo this.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,738
Likes: 15
From: Temperance, MI
Did you mark the location of the drive shaft? I had a similar issue and it wasn't until later I found out I ended up stripping the splines in the slip yoke
So "this guy" may have just cost you more money then you want to know.... $500 or so later and I was up and rolling again
So "this guy" may have just cost you more money then you want to know.... $500 or so later and I was up and rolling again
More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 727
Likes: 1
From: Chariton, IA
Did you mark the location of the drive shaft? I had a similar issue and it wasn't until later I found out I ended up stripping the splines in the slip yoke
So "this guy" may have just cost you more money then you want to know.... $500 or so later and I was up and rolling again
So "this guy" may have just cost you more money then you want to know.... $500 or so later and I was up and rolling again
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,220
Likes: 2
From: CA
Did you mark the location of the drive shaft? I had a similar issue and it wasn't until later I found out I ended up stripping the splines in the slip yoke
So "this guy" may have just cost you more money then you want to know.... $500 or so later and I was up and rolling again
So "this guy" may have just cost you more money then you want to know.... $500 or so later and I was up and rolling again
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,738
Likes: 15
From: Temperance, MI
I had mine all lined up and marked too. I forced it back together the way it came apart and I already told you my out come
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Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,092
Likes: 145
From: San Diego, CA
My shaft (insert joke here) is splined so that it only fits on one way. If the shaft wasn't forced on and bound, another possibility is too much grease on the slip yoke. This could cause a trapped pocket of air inside the coupling and require a large amount of force to overcome the vacuum (suction) created. The first time I greased my yoke (insert another adolescent joke here) I used way too much and had a hard time compressing the shaft enough to get it in place. If you have a little play in the union that might be the case.
Just my .02.
Just my .02.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,333
Likes: 1
From: St. Louis, Mo.
when I did mine several years ago the truck rolled ever so slightly making it hard to line the yoke up properly. I had my helper come over & push the truck back just a little bit & it lined up with no problem. I had the front wheels chocked b4 I started but it had moved about 1" forward. Just my dumb ars luck I guess.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: CA
I finally got the slip yoke out with a hammer(finally). Now, what is the blue coating on the shaft? Also, can I use synthetic grease to put it back in? Or is there a special grease (light duty) that I should buy from Ford?
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,092
Likes: 145
From: San Diego, CA
The blue is the coating on the shaft. I don't know what the special grease is but I've been using bearing grease for 7 years and things seem to be going okay. I usually have to pull the yoke apart, clean it out and regrease it once a year or so (when I start to feel the clunk-clunk-clunk on take-off).
Super Moderator
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 13,281
Likes: 6,046
My first response to your thread, re-quoted above, might have "slipped" by you.
So here it is in black and white:
And, in living color:
