This has to be easier than I'm makin' it

I dropped my front drive shaft to put a new grease fitting in the front u-joint and got a case of might as wells. Since I have new u-joints on hand, might as well put them in to replace the 35 year old originals.

I got the C clips off OK, but there it stopped. Is there a trick to this, or am I on the right track with lots of kroil, heat, and a big ball peen?

 

I've always used a socket (impact preferably) that just fits in the eye of the drive shaft. Drive the U-joint to one side or the other (some shafts you're limited to one way) until you have enough room to remove it. Do so and finish driving out the cups (one is already out). Clean up the eye and reverse the process (use a little lube and it will be easier).:v6:

 

Sparky beat me to it. Guess I need to type faster or get less windy. :v6:

 

Try 2 sockets and a bench vise.
Of course one needs to be bigger than the caps.

 

Hmmmm. I like that bench vice idea. Gives me a use for that 2" socket I have.

 

R)

Just be carful with the ears on the ds.

 

Watch it with the bench vise. They're only cast iron. I broke a big vise trying to this same thing. HF sells a U joint C clamp that's really beefy. On sale, I think it goes for about $40. I bought one but haven't had occasion to use it yet. Looks a lot beefier than a vise. :smash:

tommy b

 

The sockets and so forth will work, but after removing the clips I get things started by smacking the outside of the yoke with a hammer.

The inertia reaction of the cross will float the bearing cup outwards.

Pete