Hi all, yanked the steering shaft out of my truck last night and have a question:
What is the PROPER way of getting the coupling housing pin back into the shaft? I'm talking about the one that's in the coupling, not the one that holds it to the box.
I don't like the idea of beating the snot out of it with a hammer, so how do the pro's do it? I'm thinking maybe a press? I already chipped a small piece out of the new one by beating on it with a hammer, so i would like to avoid this with the next one.
Thanks
Brent

 

With a hammer and the right size pin punch.

 

I think that would still deform the pin top. I don't really want to do this. Are the rectanglar things ( dont know the name) suppose to be tight or loose on the pin? Or does it not really matter.
Thanks all
Brent

 

Boys at the $tealership said to put it in a vise with a socket so you don't score up the end. They also recommend heating up the shaft before doing this too. I'm going to try a press first and see where that gets me.

 

I wouldn't heat it, you will melt all the grease out.

 

Guess the old hammer and punch worked after all. Took it to a buddy's shop and one of his mechanics put it in a vise, wack it about 15 times and it was done.
I don't know if the new pin was looser or what, but i was amazed.
Truck feels completely different now with that fixed!
Thanks all.
Brent