wheel joint broke

[josh-the-ranger]

My front drivers side wheel joint on my 84 ranger broke today. how hard of a fix is this, and can anyone tell me how to do it? Thanks, Josh

 

[Sunk]

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Dana28Rebuild.html

This should help... With those 33's you might wanna think about a D35.

 

[MAKG]

Wheel joint? What's that?

A balljoint, wheel bearing, or axle U-joint?

All of these are a massive PITA without the correct tools. None of them are that bad if you have the right tools.

 

[josh-the-ranger]

well at autozone they called it a wheel joint. And it looks like a u joint.....................................................................................................

 

[projectnitemare]

For some reason the parts stores are all retarded and call axle u-joints wheel joints. The first question is did you only break the joint? Most of the time if you were on the gas at all you will have taken out the shaft as well. Check that for damage before you go tearing into it. From there you have to pull the rotor and spindle., you will need the proper socket of to take the rotor off. The spindle will most likely need pounded off. If you can come up with an extra spindle nut spin it on, I use a brass hammer, and pound in an alternating pattern on the nut to get the spindle off. The driver side shaft will slide right out once the spindle is off. The u-joints can be a pain. Pull the clips from behind the caps, then take a hammer and give a few whacks to the yoke on the axle side. Don't go crazy you don't want to bend or break it. This will draw the cap out to where you can remove it wil vise grips, do that 4x. Install the new joint, clean and anti-seize all the mating surfaces and install in reverse of disassembly.

Matt

 

[josh-the-ranger]

well the u joint isnt even there anymore and one of the tougnes? is bent up, so i guess the joint had to much pressure and just popped out.

 

[4x4junkie]

You'll need both the inner & outer axle shafts also if the yokes are trashed.

Easiest is to pick up another assembled shaft & joint for it at a junkyard (any '83-'89 Ranger/Bronco II shaft will fit yours).

+1 on the D35 frontend swap, the stock D28 is hardly even adequate for spinning the stock size tires.