U-joint replacement
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Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 19
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From: Gwynedd Valley PA
U-joint replacement
Here's a great video I found on how to safely remove u-joints if you don't have a press. Worked great for my '81, where the half shafts don't have a flange to contend with when removed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOEdu...ure=plpp_video
You don't have to cut the joint or risk distorting the flange pressing out the joint with a vise and two sockets.
If the above video has been deleted by the time you read this, the trick is to support the shaft by the ears of the joint *not* attached to the shaft (with the caps removed) between the surfaces of your vise. That is, just hanging loosely in the vise. Then, take a socket large enough to span the diameter of the *cap* you want to remove in the shaft but small enough to rest firmly on the flange edge. Strike the socket with a large hammer to push the *flange* down along the cap's surface until you can't go any more. The opposite cap can then be easily removed with vise grips or pliers. You won't bend the flange because the ears of the u-joint that were attached to the flange on the wheel are taking the punishment, and you are throwing the joint away anyhow.
Be sure to remove both clips before starting. I soaked my joints in PB Blaster for a couple days, too. They came out with absolutely no bending of the flange, and those joints were the originals (31 years old). Really rusted in there.
Finally, my '81 is a 4-speed and the bolts were E-10 Torx. Don't risk using something else. Once they're rounded, it's too late. Tap the Torx on with a small hammer to get a good bite. Soak the bolts in PB Blaster, too, for a couple days before starting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOEdu...ure=plpp_video
You don't have to cut the joint or risk distorting the flange pressing out the joint with a vise and two sockets.
If the above video has been deleted by the time you read this, the trick is to support the shaft by the ears of the joint *not* attached to the shaft (with the caps removed) between the surfaces of your vise. That is, just hanging loosely in the vise. Then, take a socket large enough to span the diameter of the *cap* you want to remove in the shaft but small enough to rest firmly on the flange edge. Strike the socket with a large hammer to push the *flange* down along the cap's surface until you can't go any more. The opposite cap can then be easily removed with vise grips or pliers. You won't bend the flange because the ears of the u-joint that were attached to the flange on the wheel are taking the punishment, and you are throwing the joint away anyhow.
Be sure to remove both clips before starting. I soaked my joints in PB Blaster for a couple days, too. They came out with absolutely no bending of the flange, and those joints were the originals (31 years old). Really rusted in there.
Finally, my '81 is a 4-speed and the bolts were E-10 Torx. Don't risk using something else. Once they're rounded, it's too late. Tap the Torx on with a small hammer to get a good bite. Soak the bolts in PB Blaster, too, for a couple days before starting.
Last edited by bigbird3533; Oct 28, 2012 at 09:51 PM.
