Without taking the whole side of the truck apart? If I got a little u joint press in there would I be able to get the old one out and the new one in? Don't feel like taking the whole knuckle apart if I don't have to. Thanks

 

The shaft MUST come out to change the u-joint, however the knuckle does not have to be removed to do it. After removing the brakes,rotor,locking hubs, bearings and spindle the shaft will silde out thru the outer knuckle. A special socket is needed to remove the locknuts holding the bearings in. Not overly expensive, $30? The rest is basic hand tools. This would be a good time to clean and re-grease the bearings as well. A basic maunal(Chiltons/Haynes) should give you a good step by step on how to do it.

Have fun!!!

 

Oh crap I just re-read the title, now I'm confused, are you talking about the axle shaft u-joint or the steering shaft? I'm guseeing axle shaft and the steering shaft doesn't have a u-joint as far as I remember. Just that stupid edit factory thing.