U-joint replacement
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Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Joliet USA
U-joint replacement
I snapped both the front and rear u-joints on my rear driveshaft.
My question is how would i go about replacing them(i.e. tools needed)and if this is a tough and time consuming job.
My question is how would i go about replacing them(i.e. tools needed)and if this is a tough and time consuming job.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 497
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From: Houston TX
Dang....I won't ask how you did that...
Changing them is not a big deal if you can wrangle up a large vise. Thats the way I do them. You get a large vise that you can fit the u-joint in along with a socket on each side of the joint. One socket will be slightly smaller than the joint. The other socket large enough to push the joint into. You'll have to pull the drive shaft. Then stick it in the vise, and press the joint cup into the large socket, while pushing with the smaller one. Once the cups are off, you can take off. You can press it back together the same way. Just make sure no needle bearings have fell over. All should be stuck to the sides of the cups. If you try to push them together, and you feel a jam, don't force. Remove, and see which needle fell over, and redo. Grease them real good after you change them. Actually, I stick some grease in before I put them together, as sometimes air will block the grease from going into the bearings properly. MK
Changing them is not a big deal if you can wrangle up a large vise. Thats the way I do them. You get a large vise that you can fit the u-joint in along with a socket on each side of the joint. One socket will be slightly smaller than the joint. The other socket large enough to push the joint into. You'll have to pull the drive shaft. Then stick it in the vise, and press the joint cup into the large socket, while pushing with the smaller one. Once the cups are off, you can take off. You can press it back together the same way. Just make sure no needle bearings have fell over. All should be stuck to the sides of the cups. If you try to push them together, and you feel a jam, don't force. Remove, and see which needle fell over, and redo. Grease them real good after you change them. Actually, I stick some grease in before I put them together, as sometimes air will block the grease from going into the bearings properly. MK
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2002
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Check the ends of the cross too. The cheapies and some of the better ones don't have the grease channel ground into the end of the cross. Then you cannot force grease into the cup. If it's not there just grind one on each side of the cross about 1/32" deep.
If you broke both at same time I would believe that one probably broke causing the other to fail. Most of our trucks have the ability to upgrade to bigger joints using factory parts. If you keep breaking parts you might think about going up to the 1 ton size. If you already have them then....Good Job on breaking two at once......
If you broke both at same time I would believe that one probably broke causing the other to fail. Most of our trucks have the ability to upgrade to bigger joints using factory parts. If you keep breaking parts you might think about going up to the 1 ton size. If you already have them then....Good Job on breaking two at once......
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From: peoria, az
Originally posted by mississippihippe
when u change your u-joints dont get the sealed lifetime joints get the ones that have a grease fitting so u can lube them when u change the oil and lube the rest of the truck
when u change your u-joints dont get the sealed lifetime joints get the ones that have a grease fitting so u can lube them when u change the oil and lube the rest of the truck
Maybe it's just me but, I like the solid(non-greasable) joints. They are not drilled making them stronger.
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From: peoria, az
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That's what I say now that I live in southern Nevada. Snow is something other people talk about. And rain is what happens when you turn on the indoor sprinklers.
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Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Greater Cleveland Ohio
Be sure that the replacements are the exact same size/configuration. You will never fit an offset U-joint into a space where a symmetrical U-joint is supposed to be, no matter how good the vise is. Don't ask how I know! PS - don't rely on what the parts counter clerk says either-physically match and measure.
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