any tips for getting these out? I've been beating and vice-ing and heating and ... they're being very stubborn. I ordered new axle shafts and I'm going to use the stock ones as trail spares, but one of the u-joints is in serioulsy bad shape and needs to be replaced.. I don't know how it didn't break before.

 

Did you take the retaining clips out? It should not be that hard to remove them. If all else fails cut the u-joint out with a torch then beat out the caps.

 

If they are going to be used as trail spares, why take them apart at all? They are easier to store if left as one unit. You can either cable tie them to the underside of the bed rail never worry about the joints falling apart. Trail carnage that requires this much repair would probably be easier to repair as an entire unit anyway.
Just a thought.

 

Yeah, clips are out.

The driver side I'm going to leave the stock joint in there, but the passenger side joint is probably one mash of the throttle from coming apart, so I figured I should at least replace that one.

 

I've always used a BFH. I've also had to remove a few stubborn ones with a fire wrench. Be careful if you torch them out. I cut one out of my Dana 60 axle once, and when the flame hit the grease pocket, it shot out a flame about 3' high!. My 6 year old son wouldn't come near me until my eyebrows and eye lashes grew back!

 

Ive changed tons of ujoints and never once used anything but a bfh, blocks of wood and a few old sockets and pair of pliers......t\there is always the torch option, though

 

Hmm, I guess I need a bigger BFH, lol.