Well, I just did all three u-joints on my truck this weekend, and am having a shop remove the old and install a new center carrier bearing as well. Turns out that the u-joint on the tranny end was still the original Spicer joint, and it might have been OK to keep in place, but I decided, since I already had the replacement joint, to go ahead and replace the OE unit which has 283K miles on it.

For the tool... and this may not be news for some of you, but it was a pleasant discovery for me this weekend! I've done the hammer and socket approach, and it's OK as long as you have a really solid support under the yoke while banging on it, but even then, you sometimes have to chase the socket when it receives a less than perfect punch from the hammer. Anyway, since I've done so many ball joint jobs in recent years, I decided a couple years ago to simply keep the Powerbilt ball joint tool kit for convenience. It turns out that the press is absolutely perfect for removing and re-installing universal joints, and you can even use your impact wrench for speed when removing the old parts.

I decided to use my large Crescent wrench for installing the new cups and joints, though, just so I could keep close control over the speed and not squeeze anything too hard. I had absolutely no trouble getting the snap rings back in place. All I did was clamp down the carrier bearing on one side of my work table while working on the other side with my ball joint press, impact wrench, and Crescent wrench.

It will be good to get the carrier bearing on so I can get my baby back on the road again. It's been sitting at the house while I've been chasing front brake rotors & pads, one set of front wheel bearings, and an upper caster/camber bushing on the passenger side.

Hope my discovery offers something helpful for some of you other guys.

 

Good info. A hammer or hydraulic press is all I've ever used. Using an impact sounds like it would make the process easier.

 

^^^X2^^^. Thank you! Bookmarked.

 

In the industry they are known as a 3-in-1 tool. Ball joints, bushings, and u-joints.

 

dang, i thought everyone knew a ball joint tool was a perfect tool to use for universals.
that is all i have used for u-joints for close to 30 years now.

 

4-in-1 even. Purty handy dingus, sounds like.

 

Glad you replaced all the UJ's. Here locally, if you buy the parts from a drive line or clutch parts house they will remove/install the carrier bearing and UJ's for $5/joint. Not a bad deal and is quick.

 

Yeah. My local shop is in the middle of relocating right now, and I'll be out of pocket for the last half of this week, so I'll be dropping off the drive shaft next Monday instead of today. Their charge for replacing the carrier bearing is only $22.50. I feel really good about getting the whole lineup in "new" condition again.

 

Umm, not sure how to say this politely, but be sure and chock the wheels this time.

 

You should have packaged one up as a U-joint tool and sold it. I remember years ago one of the tool companies that has mobile units and calls on shops came out with and was selling metric crescent wrenches. Sad part was they actually sold quite a few of them.

 

I got the Canadian crescent wrench. Its Imperial on one side, metric on the other, cause we use both. lmao

 

Those came next. Once someone figured out folks were that stupid, someone started offering a "universal" model that fit both standard and metric. Others followed suit because at least then they weren't praying on idiots or pissing off their smart customers.

 

I run mine til they fall out on they'e own... lol

Great info F

JK


Denny

 

No worries, Chris. I still am quite **** about chocking wheels. This time, I put the rear end up on stands, and since it's 2WD, it good. I also found that on dry days, a huge piece of cardboard is better than a creeper because you can actually slide around on it quite easily, and then the creeper is free to catch and carry the drive shaft out from under the truck.

 

Pete, I have been doing the cardboard trick for years as my driveway has a rough surface and a creeper will not work.
Christmas and holidays are good times to collect large sections of cardboard from neighbors getting new appliances.