U-Joints and Ball Joints

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Mar 23, 2005 | 10:44 AM

Cool1996

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: Jun 2003

Posts: 340

Likes: 0

From: Livonia

U-Joints and Ball Joints

over my Easter break, i want to do u-joints and ball joints on my truck. i have never done either of these beore and need some advice. It has a wo peice drive shaft with a carrier bearing and its 2 wheel drive with twin i-beams.

Any help is appreciated

Mar 23, 2005 | 12:26 PM

tdg038

New User

Joined: Mar 2004

Posts: 16

Likes: 0

I just did my u-joints on a 95 F150XLT with 2 piece driveshaft and carrier bearing. I went to Harbor Freight and got their 3-IN-1 BALL JOINT/U-JOINT/C-FRAME PRESS SERVICE KIT ITEM 38335-0VG, about $29.00. I have done u-joints before using a vise and this tool made it a lot easier. You just press the joint out with the c-clamp. It has adapters for different size joints. I would also change the carrier bearing while you are doing it. I haven't had to change any ball joints yet, but the tool should make those easier also. One more thing, get joints with grease fittings, they last longer, I grease mine every other oil change. When you get the joints in, make sure they move easy, if they don't something is too tight. If the caps don't feel like they are going on make sure none of the needle bearings have fallen out of place. Press one side in all the way and with the joint in, push the other cap in and slide the joint so that both ends are inside both caps and then press the second cap on. Hope this helps. Good luck..

Last edited by tdg038; Mar 23, 2005 at 12:37 PM.

Mar 23, 2005 | 02:37 PM

MemOrex

Postmaster

Joined: Jun 2004

Posts: 2,665

Likes: 0

From: B/CS, Texas!!

My U-joints were done with just a hammer, a socket, and some pliers.

. Be careful with those needle bearings though...

Haven't done ball joints yet.

Mar 28, 2005 | 11:23 PM

Cool1996

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: Jun 2003

Posts: 340

Likes: 0

From: Livonia

its all done!!! i did u-joints, ball joints, tie-rod ends, midshift bearing and coil springs. it has never went down the road smoother than it does now and my camber issue was taken care of now that the new springs are in and the front end sits up about 2'' higher then it did before. i saved $868.40 by doing it my self

Mar 29, 2005 | 11:55 AM

andym

Post Fiend

Joined: Mar 2002

Posts: 19,402

Likes: 38

From: Bonita Springs FL

Congratulations.... that's a great feeling, isn't it?

I may be doing ball joints on a 2wd soon, but I've never done them before on a 2wd. Any tips? Does the whole steering knuckle come off and then you press the joints out?

Mar 29, 2005 | 02:12 PM

Cool1996

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: Jun 2003

Posts: 340

Likes: 0

From: Livonia

if it has axle integrated ball joints then you have to remove the spindle from the vehicle. you MUST have an impact wrench (not a cheap one) and the ball joint c-clamp looking tool. if i didnt have an impact wrench for everything i did on the truck, i'd still be out there. you take the impact wrench and put it on the tool instead of using a wrench. i pressed the old ones out and the new ones in in less than 20 minutes

Mar 29, 2005 | 10:55 PM

Cool1996

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: Jun 2003

Posts: 340

Likes: 0

From: Livonia

my jobs never end. i just finished putting yet ANOTHER power steering box on the truck. i bought a remanufactured box 6 months ago and it had more play in it than my old one. so i went back today to get a free second remanufactured box. hopefully it is better