Front U joint

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Jan 31, 2002 | 09:16 PM

topo4u2

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Front U joint

Hi: Has anyone had the pleasure of changing the front middle u joint on the front driveshaft between the front wheels. It looks like a bugger. The one end will not come out of diff without a lot of work. Has anyone done this job?

Mike

Feb 1, 2002 | 11:35 AM

Franklin2

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From: Virginia

Front U joint

Yep, it's not fun. You have to start way out at the passenger side wheel and work your way in.

Pull the locking hub
take the rotor off
take the spindle off(if the u-joint won't fit through the hole).
slide the axle out of the splined yoke joint.
take the retainer plate loose from the side of the differential.
jerk the short piece of axle out of the differential.

When I was doing this, there was about 12 inches of snow on the ground. I actually had to shovel the snow away from each side of the truck so I could work on it. I ended up taking the whole pumpkin out, because the short shaft didn't want to come out and I thought it might have a clip or something inside the diff. Come to find out, I just wasn't pulling hard enough. I had to pull mine apart because the slip joint splines were wore out and I stripped them trying to get in the driveway. I had to order a whole new axle shaft and yoke. It was during one of those big snows(1996?) and the main distributor for Ford on the east coast actually had these on back order. I guess everybody broke theirs that year.

Feb 1, 2002 | 07:38 PM

topo4u2

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Front U joint

Hi: Thanks for the great reply. I'm not sure what you mean by the retainer plate at diff? Are you sure the short shaft will come out? I have heard of people doing that joint in the truck but they used a ball joint press and torches. Man it sounds pretty butcherie to do it that way. I need to do man this spring as I just found out mine has some play.
By the way do you know much about how to tell the engine years on a 300 from numbers on the block?

Thanks again: Mike
85 F150 4x4 auto 6 reg cab,lots of rust

Feb 1, 2002 | 10:20 PM

Franklin2

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From: Virginia

Front U joint

I'm going from memory, but I think where the shaft went in the side of the pumpkin, it had a metal ring around the hole in the housing with some bolts in it. When you pull it out, a small tapered support bearing will come out too. It's pressed on the shaft.

As far as casting numbers, all I know is the number will usually start with a letter, then a number.
D is for the 60's
c is for the 70's
E is for the 80's

The second digit will be the year of that decade.

E2 would the year 1982

Feb 2, 2002 | 08:28 AM

ford86

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Front U joint

Feb 2, 2002 | 06:24 PM

mudslinger_82

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From: Cleveland USA

Front U joint

Question if you wouldn't mind me asking about how much did that whole shaft end up costing? i have one in the front of my truck that well snapped the end off the splines on the slip joint.

Mike

Feb 2, 2002 | 08:53 PM

Franklin2

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From: Virginia

Front U joint

I believe I paid $150.00 for the shaft, and something like $80.00 for the yoke. Don't go by that though because I was able to get a deal through a friend who could get it wholesale. Also, that was a long time ago and maybe the manufacturers make them cheaper now. I remember when I first got my truck, they wanted like $150.00 just for the tie rod on the front suspension (the long one). Now, somebody makes them for about $40.00.