dieselcarpenter

What is the easiest way to remove/replace U-joints from the dirveline? (rear, one piece, 2 u-joints) Around my neck of the woods (family circle) a big hammer and a couple of large sockets is the recomendation. But after a ruind yoke (brother) and several ruined U-joints, I am leary of beating the crap out of my shaft. I don't have any sort of press or large vise. Should I go to a shop or invest in a press? Any other ways of doing this? If I go to shop what will they charge for a U-joint swap (ball park)?

Bookshelf

I bought a press at harbor freight a few years ago and it makes short work out of U joints and many other things. Just make sure you use it safely, 20 tons of force can get dangerous. Using a vice is a bad idea, I broke a really nice vice doing that once. Its a bad idea to be beating the heck out of driveshaft yokes, steering/suspension, spindles etc anyway.

the dude

first just get a torch and cut the old ones out.2nd get a diegrander and put a 80 grit on it and polish the insides of the yoke real good and put a little grease on the polshed surface.3rd take the capes of off the u joints and add a little more grease to hold the needles in better.then take the u joint and put it up through the hole and slide the cap down on to off it. if you have polished the inner surface well all you will need is a small ballpoint hammer and tap it in slowley while holding the u joint in the cap. tap until the shaft on the other side is almost flush and put the cap on it and tap it in until you can det the snap ring back in the grove no problem and good luck

VTblacksmoke

i use a big old vice and a 3/4" socket and a 1 1/6" socket

Tron

Don't polish the inside to much or the cup will become loose and and wreck the yoke anyway. Just a very lite sand just to remove rust. You don't want to remove metal.

JD730

Same here, harbor freight ball/u joint press, cheap, but for the little bit I use it, it'll be fine. Pressed out many a u-joint with it, I always run it with an impact gun. Got another new one on the shelf for when this one dies.

Bookshelf

I have a harbor freight 20 ton hydraulic shop press. Picked it up a few years ago for $145 on sale. I've done a ton of stuff w/ it, u joints, pressed on/off bearings, studs, bushings, etc.

JD730

I have a 20 ton homemade hydraulic press, 100 ton commercial one, 1 ton and a 4 ton arbor press. Only the really difficult ones go to the 20 ton press. I put them back together in the 1 ton arbor press.

andyr354

The HF unit is very handy for joints

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=38335

Bookshelf

I know a 20 ton press for u joints is way overkill, I use it for a lot of other things. I barely have room for this press, let alone any others

SUPRDUD

As I get older and more lazy and maybe smarter, I agree with the torch method to cut the cross out, then press the caps out.

I used to try and try to not use the torch, now I grab it right away!

Free89W350

I also use the Vise and socket trick. Has worked well for me, just make sure all the needles are where they belong. A little grease will go along way.

91.5 beater

I have used a torch to do it dozens of times and works well, but with no torch around i tend to use a vise whit can be a pain, so if you have a torch USE IT!!!

dan1stgen

i use a 4x8 hunk of wood, pull snaps and hammer out i hit the caps on left then right, not ones in shaft, then flip and do it again with a mini sledge. works great fer removal, vice or a a steady hand and a hammer works good fer install.