I need to change my rear u-joint......I removed the drive shaft with little difficulty, but now I'm trying to get the old u-joint apart. Not having much luck. Anyone have any ideas??

I got all the retainer rings out, and have tried pushing it out with the C-clamp tool. I've even tried the BFH.

Should I try a heat or maybe a bigger hammer?

Thanks

 

The thing to keep in mind is that there are lips on the inside edges of the driveshaft ears that the joint caps seat against when you go to put the clips in. The caps need to go outwards from the center of the shaft to be removed. Its kind of a pita to get the first one out since you can't just beat on the cap. I had to beat on the ujoint trunion to try and drive it down to pop the first cap. After that one is out a punch and hammer on the other side pops the other one out real easy. Then just reverse for the other side of the joint. Its a pita, but it can be done.

 

the best why to do it its with a vice and sockets. Find a socket that is smaller than the cap on the joint. Then get a socket larger than the cap.

Now using the vice put the smaller socket against the cap on 1 side and the larger socket against the drive shaft flange on the other side. Now tighten the vice. What you are doing is pushing the cap out and into the larger socket.

If it is still hanging up wrap the drive shaft flange with a hammer.

Just reverse the procedure to install the caps into the drive shaft.
be sure that the needle bearing do not fall out of place.

 

I had a local driveshaft guy do it for me. Took the driveshaft down to him and he put a new joint on the axle end and 2 new joints on transmission end (mine has a double u joint on the transmission side) all for $120 and balanced too. Definately worth the money.

 

Did you not read what I typed? Yes on other shafts that would work, but not in this case. The F150 driveshafts use external retaining clips so there is a LIP on the inside edge of the ear that prevents you from pushing in on one ujoint cap to push the other side out. Yes the way you posted is a good way to change joints and is the way I replace joints in my D28 axle shafts if I don't use the press. If the driveshaft used internal clips instead of external clips that way would work, but thats not the case here. I put mine in the press to try the same basic thing you mentioned at first but the caps simply CAN NOT be pushed inward.

 

Powerstroke

I got the manual and looked it up. It said to use sockets, just as I said. Push it so the opposite side comes out far enough to get a pair of pliers on it, then pull the cap out. turn it over an push it the other way till you can get a grip on the cap. I left that part out of my post. But what I said was accurate as far as using a vise and sockets.

Also mark all parts so that are aligned when put together.

I have aways used a vise and sockets, never had any problems.
Pounding with hammers is likely to damage something and is not a good idea.

 

Thanks for all the help!

The joint was really welded in there good....I put the torch to it for no more than 30 sec. and it started moving.

Thanks again.

PS the squeeking was definitely the U-joint.........the needle bearings were shot.

dave

 

I agree with Justfishing

I was listening