Front U-joint replacement
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Front U-joint replacement
I noticed that my passenger side u-joint on an 89 4wd is very loose. I want to replace all of the u-joints in the front end. If I understand my Chilton's guide correctly, I don't need to pull the differential cover. Is this true? How hard is it to do this? Would I be better off to just hire it done? Thanks
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From: AK
No need to pull the differential cover off unless you plan on changing the middle u-joint. The shaft on the passenger side will slip out (inside the rubber boot) and you can get the u-joint easier. The one of the driver's side will slip right out of the pumpkin.
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Thanks for all of the replies. I did just what you guys said and took the spindles off and slipped the shafts out. However on the center u-joint my book says to take the carrier out (which I just did) and to put the carrier in a special holder with an "adaptor" and "rotate" the shaft out. It doesn't look like the shaft will "rotate" out. It looks like I need to take the c-clip off that is on the inside of the carrier. Am I on the right track? Can I just pop the c-clip off with a screwdriver and pull the shaft out? Thanks again.
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From: Gulf Shores, AL
Originally Posted by laka
I have the same job coming up, somebody told me I need to buy some new seals or something? Is anything else necessary or just the U-joints?
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After looking this over a little better, it appears to me that I can change the middle u-joint without removing the shaft from the carrier. Since I have the carrier out I don't see why I can't just put the whole thing up in a vice and change the u-joint without removing it. I will try this in the morning and post the result.
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duback66 you can change the center u-joint either way you have mentioned. Now that you have access though all you need to do to remove the shaft is take the c-clip off (like you thought) and slide the shaft out of the differential.
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Thanks guys. I got all three joints changed today. The center one changed easily without removing the shaft from the carrier. What is the torington bearing? The only bearings I found were the wheel bearings and the spindle needle bearing. This may be the same thing you mention. I did notice in my manual that it says to change the "Oil slinger" and "thrust bearing", however I dont see either one of these in the picture in my manual and there was none in the front end that I could see. Thanks again.
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