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@#$%@!@#^^%$# U-Joints!! How do you get them out of the half shafts? Thought "Oh...while the diff's out...I'll put in new U-joints"! You've got to be kidding, this is tough!! Help please!! :eek:
With a press. Large socket on the back and small on the front. The back socket should be large enough ( or use a piece of pipe) that the cap will slide into it yet small enough to support the flange. The socket on the front should be small enough to slide through the flang. Push the cap out as far as it will go. I will NOT come out all the way so don't try. Grip the exposed cap in a vise and work out. Flip over and repeat for the other side.
A press is one approach, but you can usually do it in a large vice as well. Same approach, using a socket just smaller than the yoke hole size on the end you are pushing and a socket just larger than the yoke hole on the other side. You can also go the quick route using a hammer and the socket with the shaft supported up off the ground (on a piece of wood). Remember to remove the clips on both sides of the yoke before you start (using pliers or small screwdriver and pliers). :smash:
Be careful when intalling the joints on the outborad flange end- the flange can bend inward if the bearing cup binds. I use a piece of 1/4" steel that I bolt the flange to to prevent this. HTH.
Mark is correct about the bending. I have 3 flanges here that were taken off used 1/2 shafts and they are all bent. Sometimes you can't get the clips in,other times you can get the clips in but the joint will bind by hand. I use a piece os 5/8 steel I drilled 4 holes in that I mount the flange to before pressing the joints off. Also using a oxy/acy torch could burn the cross out and then you can pop out the caps.
If you need flanges I bought a new one from Bair's. I don't know of anyone that "rebuilds" them.
Gary