U joint help.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 245
Likes: 2
From: Jersey shore NJ
U joint help.
I will be putting in new u joints all around and need to buy a vise to press them in. Does anyone know how wide i need to open the vise to fit the u joint and the sockets to press them in? Most vise's i see only open 4 to 5 " and I'm not sure if thats enough.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
I used an 8" heavy-duty C-Clamp clamped into a vise to press out the old and press in the new U-joints. A regular vise will barely fit the u-joint and a socket but I found it hard to align the joint and deal with the half-shaft moving around. Even if you decide to use a C-clamp buy a vise anyway. They come in handy for all sorts of things.
Rick B.
Rick B.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,156
Likes: 3,965
From: Connecticut, USA
Once the joints are out and the bores cleaned up you don't need much. I just did a set of shaft last week and got the caps in flush by lightly tapping them and then used a socket to install so any vise would have worked. Now to remove them is another story and you're better off cutting them out with a O-A torch or die grinder. You have to bolt them on a solid plate first.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 245
Likes: 2
From: Jersey shore NJ
Thanks for the replies, I did read one post that showed bolting the flange to a plate, then I saw one from van steel that showed using a hammer to tap the caps in and I looked for the flange bolted to a plate and it did not look like they used one?
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,425
Likes: 0
From: Seattle Wash.
Are you replacing the half shaft or driveline u-joints? I had to bring my half shafts to a driveline shop to R&R with new spicer joints. Those ****'s were in there good and tight. I tried using a C-clamp u-joint removal tool and they wouldn't budge. Be advised, sometimes the u-joints on half shafts don't want to play nice. Good luck. 
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 5
From: Minnesota
I'll agree that getting them out is a much bigger problem than getting new ones in. A torch or grinder work well but you have to be careful what you cut and not bend anything. Nothing complicated but if you have a reasonable shop in the area I'd recommend you take them there, especially if you don't have the proper tools.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,156
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From: Connecticut, USA
Use the plate.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,458
Likes: 1
From: Collinsville MS
St. Jude Donor '08
make the plate, the half shaft u joint flanges cost about 70 bucks apiece. THEY WILL BEND. I used a piece of 3/8ths steel plate and made a template of the flange and drilled the holes and bolted it to it. worked like a charm the 3rd go around!
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,930
Likes: 15
From: Calgary Alberta
I bent one of my flanges even with the backing plate. I was able to salvage it and straighten it out.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...849398&page=23
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...849398&page=23
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2008
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From: panama city beach Florida
David
