Heating the Axle While Changing U Joints

[Chevelle Kid]

Ok, I have a question. I heated up my axleshaft to help separate the u-joint cap so I could replace my 18yr old joints. Job went well and I will say there were no signs of problems. I went wheeling today and BOOM axleshaft broke at the ear where I was heating. Did that cause the axle to become brittle?

thanks
Ben

 

[4x4junkie]

It very well could've... Heat can change the metallurgy of the shaft.

Best way to remove a stubborn u-joint is to give the yoke a good whack with a regular hammer while it's under pressure in your press. This should pop it loose (often with a helluva *Bang!* too lol).

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

depends... how hot did you get it? if it changed color it was way too hot. if using heat you should only heat the u-joint cap until its dull red and not the ears get hot.

then let the u-joint cool and it will probably fall right out. when you heat the ears rather than the u-joint it just makes it even more stuck cause it swells around the joint and when it cools back down the metal is supposedly supposed to have shrunk smaller than its original size.

 

[Snoranger]

depends... how hot did you get it? if it changed color it was way too hot.

Thats the key right there. You can heat them but not too much. Remember the injected plastic retainer that chevy used? You had to heat it too melt the plastic out before you could remove the joints.

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

Thats the key right there. You can heat them but not too much. Remember the injected plastic retainer that chevy used? You had to heat it too melt the plastic out before you could remove the joints.

yep, do that all the time. doesn't take much heat at all though. the heat makes them so easy to get out though lol

 

[Chevelle Kid]

Aaah, yeah they looked like they were one piece so I heated the fawk outta them.

Thank god for spares!