I had a clunking noise coming from the rear end and found out it was the U-joint so I took the drive shaft off today and now I can't get the old U-joint out! It doesnt have a snap ring in it Whats the deal, how do I replace it? I tries searching and I never really got a direct answer. A few treads said it's "non servicable" but I hope that isn't true.

 

Ford makes a special cutter to cut the caps off and let you remove the bearings. It is not always successful, though. You may be better off just replacing it.

 

That would be nice, what does the tool look like? I'm sure it can just be pried off by the home mechanic, and they sell replacement caps at the dealership?

 

I have never seen the tool, only heard about it. The tool also preps the seat for the replacement bearings. I bet Quintin knows something about it.

 

So, the dealer is the only one who has this special tool? If I have to buy a new drive shaft i'm going to be pissed! WTF FORD! why in the world would you make the u-joints where you can't replace them? I was hoping this was going to be a quick DIY job but I guess I have to take it to the dealer and get overcharged for something I could do myself if ford didn't completly F up on this. I have to say, this is the only thing I HATE about my truck.

 

So I called the dealer this morning and they told me the Kit was going to be $200! Told me there was a specail tool used to cut the U-joints out also, gonna cost me $200+88 for 2 hours labor for a grand total of 288 dollars for a U-joint that could have been fixed for no more than $40 if this wasnt the worst design ever made.

 

Not sure what parts dealer has them, call neapco and find out.

I might need some myself, think I have a 1st order driveline vibration at 35Hz, but I'll wait and see what happens first when I get new tires, alignment and road force balancing.

http://www.neapco.com/pdf/3-0488Univ...nt-9901263.pdf

 

I replaced my u-joints with out any special tools... Took out the snap rings and hit the caps down. Once 2 of the 4 opposite sides were down it slipped out.

 

04s had staked in bearing retainer cups. Ford went back to clips in 05.

 

Holly crap, just crawled under my 04 and seen what you are talking about. I have changed many u-joints in my time, but this is ridiculous. I noticed they went back to snap rings in 05, but I mean DAMN, WTF, I hope it lasts till I trade her in. This takes some time and special tools, was going to post pics and removal/repair but decided to leave it, to much garbage to post even though a BFH might work.