What does it take to replace the U-joints on a 90' 2wd F150?

Can this be done without a press or any special tool that may be hard to come by?

Is it worth to save the time and have a repair shop do the repair?

Is there any tips, or suggestion on how I should do this?

 

If you have a vice, some sockets, punch, and a 32ish oz (ya know, decent size) hammer than you can. Theres 4 bolts on the rear of the driveshaft holding it on, it's a 12 pt 12mm bolt, so take those off. Use a hammer to knock the bracket/yoke off the rear end and free the driveshaft. Just make sure you mark the position of the driveshaft in relevance to it's mounting point on the rear end, and which way the yokes go, make sure you put everything back on the same direction if came off. This driveshaft uses outer clips to hold the u-joint in. Use some pliers and a screw driver to pry them out. Use safety glasses, they can shoot into your eye. Put a socket over the end of the u-joint cap that is small enough to slide through the yoke eye, and then on the other end use a socket big enough to fit on the yoke ear but let the cap go inside it. Clamp them in a vice and try to press them apart. Then if you can't budge them, use the hammer and hit the yoke (try to hit in the most solid place) towards the small socket. This shock impact will help loosen it. Press it out the rest of the way, take off that cap, then use the socket to press it back the other way to remove the other cap. Do the same to the other side. Then use some sand paper to clean the inside of the yoke ears. I also like to take the caps off the new u-joints and put in some extra grease to the needles don't move/fall out when I'm installing it in the driveshaft. Put a new cap on by hand, then slide the body of the u-joint into the cap/yoke. Then put the other end's cap on and press it together in the vice. Make sure the needles don't fall and get jammed. Also don't press too far, only enough to get that locking clip in. You want the joint to have the clips in but still be loose and smooth. If it's tight, hit the ears w/ the punch/hammer to widen them a little until it's smooth.

 

What he said! ^^^^^

Also, make sure you keep those new ones greased. I grease mine every oil change. Good luck!

-Matt

 

Thanks guys!