U-Joints – Any good tips or tricks to get the da#$ caps out?

[sattech2000]

Evening all! Started another u-joint project tonight and it seems every time I run into this I tell myself I’ve gotta find a better way to get the old joints out.

I’m using a ball joint/u-joint press and have the cross pressed all the way against the axle yet I’m still only left with a little nub of the cap to bite onto.
With heat and a couple dozen slips of the channel locks (and a couple dozen pinches of my fingers from them slipping) I finally got one of three caps out.

Said enough for one night and I’ll finish it tomorrow. I’ve tried both channel locks and vice grips….all with teeth in excellent shape. I’m also certain that the cross is fully pressed against the driveshaft. Ughh such a PITA!!! I’m thinking of welding some type of attachment to each cap that’ll hook to the slide hammer to pop em out. Just thought I would check here first to see if anyone had any better tips or tricks on getting them out

 

[chrwilkins30]

us a small sludge and hit right below the cap on the shaft. It will bring the cap out pretty easily.

 

[wahlstrom1]

If the caps are that far out you should be able to get the cross out, then I just knock the caps out with a hammer/punch.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Dont hit your hand with the hammer

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

^^^^ This.

I've pretty much come to the conclusion that U joint presses are about useless. I can get them done much faster with just a hammer and a vise.

Also If the caps are stuck and you can't get the cross out and air chisel will pop em pretty quick.

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

Hammer and vise is the only way to do it. anything else is using too much effort.

 

[Ak907Girl]

You don't wanna know how I changed my u-joints...... but um.... the old ones were broken by the time I got them out. (of course I was changing them in a tiny conex heated by a homeade wood stove at 60below last winter... yeah.. no fun. The way I did it... probably was a bad idea...................

 

[88SXT]

i usually use a hammer and a socket to press them out, then a hammer and screwdriver to get the caps off.

after working on jets for 4 years you learn that a hammer and a screwdriver or extension is about the most useful combination of tools you can have

 

[Ak907Girl]

True story... I had a pair of vice grips, a screw driver and a a socet set, how the hell I replace my u-joints.... well I'm amazed I did it...

 

[kimcrwbr1]

A large C-clamp is what I press the new caps back in with then a hammer and cold chisle to push the tee both ways back the caps into the retainer clips so the u-joint moves free.

 

[brinker88]

Hammer and a vise, hands down is the best way to get them out.

 

[sattech2000]

Thanks guy's but I've got all these suggestions covered already. Here is a pic with what i'm working with. The top cup is fully pressed out, the cross is now hitting the inside of the driveshaft and will not press any further. As you can see I have just barely enough to bight onto but is big time pain in the A$$ with vise grips, chanel locks, or vice. I've ran into a lot of similar situations in the past.

The cap on the side hasn't been pressed yet, that gives you an idea of how much it's been pressed already.

The second pic is the u-joint/ball joint pres that I used. I've been there, done that, with the c-clamp and or vise and can promise from experience this works a heck of a lot better then a c-clamp. apply pressure, whack with hammer, apply pressure, whack with hammer. Pops em right out until the cross prevents any more movement. My question is looking for tips/tricks to finish removing the cap from this point.

Thanks all!

 

[4x4mike2004]

try using a angle grinder or sawzall to cut the cross out. once you get the cross out, just press the caps through. works like a charm.

 

[john.masce]

Just pay some Dumb ass to do it, and drink beer.

 

[TexCaliBII]

Just had a similar experience with a double cardon front shaft. I happen to have seen a tool shown on Trucks! that looke easy enough to make. It was basically a slide hammer attached to a set of vise grips. Built something just like it and drilled the offending caps with a sheet metal screw and yanked them out with that setup. Don't have picks of it and I'm currently laid up from surgery but it was really easy to fab and worked like a champ. And I've done every other method mentioned. As a side note I personally hated trying to use my ball jpint press for this job. I don't have a vise in my garage but usually a decent hammer, large socket and a chunk of 2x4 are all I need to change out any type u-joint. Good luck!