u joint installation
u joint installation
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 473
Likes: 0
From: mn
Remove the caps on the new u-joint and place it into the shaft. Then stick the 2 caps onto the outside of the shaft and you will be pressing them into the shaft. Stick the shaft into a vise with the vise wide enough to clamp both caps. With one hand hold the new u-joint in the center of the shaft and use the other hand to start slowly closing the vise. As you close the vise keep the u-joint in the center so caps go over the new u-joint shafts smoothly. Close the vise so the caps are flush with the driveshaft and you can slip the inner snap rings in.
Before you even start this though add quality grease inside the caps. The grease that comes in the new u-joint isn't enough in my opinion. Also wipe the holes out in the driveshaft with WD-40 or similar and check them for smoothness. You might have to use a very fine sandpaper (400) in the holes just to clean out any dirt buildup. Good luck.
Before you even start this though add quality grease inside the caps. The grease that comes in the new u-joint isn't enough in my opinion. Also wipe the holes out in the driveshaft with WD-40 or similar and check them for smoothness. You might have to use a very fine sandpaper (400) in the holes just to clean out any dirt buildup. Good luck.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,961
Likes: 1
I had a vibration at highway speeds that I suspected was my U-joints (I was right) and I changed out the U-joints on Saturday.
It let go WOT at 70mph on both the front and rear. I must not have gotten the retaining clips all the way into the grove on one cap each on the front and rear U-joints. Sounded like an explosion under the truck then like I had 4 flat tires. I was lucky to only be about ¼ mile from home. I limped home, pulled into the garage and the rear of the drive shaft fell on the floor. One of the caps was also missing from the front U-joint. I had a friend run me to the parts store and AGAIN replaced the U-joints making sure all the clips were well seated.
Take it from me; make sure all the C-clip retainers are completely seated. Also, make sure you check them after the first run. I have never known anyone else to have this happen and you would think they would stay in with a pressed fit. I have 410 gears so I guess that drive shaft is really spinning at 70MPH. No one to blame but myself; I am lucky I didn’t do any serious damage.
It let go WOT at 70mph on both the front and rear. I must not have gotten the retaining clips all the way into the grove on one cap each on the front and rear U-joints. Sounded like an explosion under the truck then like I had 4 flat tires. I was lucky to only be about ¼ mile from home. I limped home, pulled into the garage and the rear of the drive shaft fell on the floor. One of the caps was also missing from the front U-joint. I had a friend run me to the parts store and AGAIN replaced the U-joints making sure all the clips were well seated.
Take it from me; make sure all the C-clip retainers are completely seated. Also, make sure you check them after the first run. I have never known anyone else to have this happen and you would think they would stay in with a pressed fit. I have 410 gears so I guess that drive shaft is really spinning at 70MPH. No one to blame but myself; I am lucky I didn’t do any serious damage.