Getting the old u-joints out.

[Cutter26]

I don't have a press so I have to bang on the caps and use a slug of round metal to bang it out the rest of the way. I've never delt with u-joints were the clip is on the bottom of the cap. I've got the clips out, but the caps won't budge.

 

[Yellowsplash]

Go to your local parts store (advance, auto zone) and rent the balljoint/u-joint press. Its a loaner tool, so you just pay for the deposit of how much its worth (probably around $100-150) and when you return it you get the money back...soo its actually free to use. Most people just put it on their credit card so there is no money transaction. It comes with different sized cups and a c-clamp type press to press the caps out.

 

[97BlackBetty]

Yellowsplash hit it on the head, however, before you go to rent the tool, hit those suckers with some sort of penetrating lubricant. Be it WD-40 or PB, it will make the job much easier.

 

[Fx4wannabe01]

block of wood on the floor, joint hanging in the air w/ the shaft on the block of wood, a craftsman socket that'll fit just in the yoke and beat the snot out of the cap with a 4lb sledge.

prior to beating, i'd spray on some penetrating lubricant like wd40 or tc11.

 

[kunar]

if you have a big bench vice, you can use a couple sockets and the vice. a large socket on one side that the cap will fit inside of, and a smaller socket on the other side that is slightly smaller than the cap. clamp that down with the vice, use a little heat if you need to. the smaller socket will push the u-joint through, and the bigger one will 'catch' the cap so it doesnt just hit the jaws of the vice. also, you can get the same exact ball joint press from harbor freight if you would rather buy one to keep. they are much cheaper than the ones from autozone though. i've used them for u-joints and ball joints, well worth the $33 to buy one.

 

[Destroyer000]

i like to use a grinder with a cut off wheel an cut the mout then pound caps out.. pretty easy to do.

 

[Fx4wannabe01]

i like to use a grinder with a cut off wheel an cut the mout then pound caps out.. pretty easy to do.

you take a cut off wheel to your yoke??

 

[roughranger]

I believe destroy is saying that he cuts the caps off of the u joint then pound the caps out

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

All I ever use to replace axle u joints (at home and at work) is a bench mounted vice, hammer and a small chisel to remove the half clips. I don't like using the u joint presses as i've had them bend the ears inward on the shafts.

 

[Destroyer000]

yesh roughranger has it...... i had a typo.

 

[razrwild]

hammer and socket method here. Sometimes I use the propane torch if they're really stubborn then again no vice in my driveway

 

[Twitch57]

craftsman socket x 2

 

[86ford]

All I ever use to replace axle u joints (at home and at work) is a bench mounted vice, hammer and a small chisel to remove the half clips. I don't like using the u joint presses as i've had them bend the ears inward on the shafts.

not to mention crack the yoke in extreme cases. did that on my brothers mustang.

86

 

[Cutter26]

I've banged the heck out of my cap, heated it, and lubed it, and they hardly moved. Its cold up here and my garage doesn't hold heat well. I'm giving up this time and brining the axels down to a garage to get the u-joints changed. Only $80 plus tax. I hate u-joints. I never did like changing them. These are the most difficult ones I've come across.

 

[Shran]

I've banged the heck out of my cap, heated it, and lubed it, and they hardly moved. Its cold up here and my garage doesn't hold heat well. I'm giving up this time and brining the axels down to a garage to get the u-joints changed. Only $80 plus tax. I hate u-joints. I never did like changing them. These are the most difficult ones I've come across.

They may suck to replace, but you can't beat them if you wheel your truck. CVs last about 3 seconds.

I do sympathize, though, I did one on my pickup yesterday that was not too easy. Fortunately I have a stash of u-joints that I got for free so the only cost to me was an hour of my time.