I have a bad u-joint on my truck, so I figured while I have the driveshaft off I would replace all of them.

I have a c-clamp style press tool (the kind you see used a lot for ball joints) that I'm using to press them out, and I can move the joint up and down with the c-clamp in the driveshaft.

But I can't seem to get the cap off once I get an end of it to poke out. Its soaked in PB blaster for about 2 days, and neither cap will budge. I've even tried locking the cap in the vice and using the whole driveshaft as leverage to twist it free, but no luck there either, it just slips in the vice.

I don't have a torch that would get everything hot enough to break it free.

Any other tips and tricks before I take the shafts to a shop and have them do it?

 

I usually grab them with channel locks and start to work them. A MAP gas torch will usually heat them up enough to do some good as well. It's $40 well spent!



note: propane in the blue cylinder is almost worthless

 

I always just take a grinder or portaband and cut the 'center' of the u-joint out, then punch each cap out separately. If the joint is already screwed up, just cut it apart.

 

Last time I had that problem I was driving the cap inwards with a big hammer and a socket, the center punched through the cap I was driving in. Then I could pull out the inward cap and center, then drive out the other cap. No heat, no oil, and no press needed. Bottom line, get mad at it!