Front Axle Shaft U joints
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Front Axle Shaft U joints
I have an 04.5 2500 Cummins w/ 68000 miles and it's time to replace the u-joints in the front axle shafts. This is my daily driver so I don't want to get it tore apart and find out I need something else, or don't have the tools, etc. Is it as simple as taking off the hub assembly and pulling out the axle shaft? Anything out of the ordinary for tools needed? Anything else that needs to be replaced at the same time? I've done this on plenty of older dana axles, just not on one of these before. What u-joints are best? Thanks in advance for the help!
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Joined: Sep 2007
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From: MN
Mr.gadgets write up for ball joints
This link should help you. Basically it shows the tools and steps to get the front axle shafts out. After that removing the u joint from the axle shaft is like any other drive shaft. Would not be a bad time to do the ball joints as the labor over laps.
This link should help you. Basically it shows the tools and steps to get the front axle shafts out. After that removing the u joint from the axle shaft is like any other drive shaft. Would not be a bad time to do the ball joints as the labor over laps.
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 351
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From: Western CT
Do Yourself a favor and Replace upper & lower ball joints and both hub bearing units.You have to take all that minus balljoints out anyways to do ujoints.O and USE ANTI SEIZE ON EVERYTHING You take apart or make sure whomever does the works uses it.
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Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Edmonton Alberta
I would not change ball joints or hub bearings unless they are required, honestly its 10-15mins to get the axels out on the bench, its not like your saving any time by doing the other parts(unless they are required)
do not waste your money on precision u-joints, having used them in my truck under commercial conditions, they are junk and will fail quite regularly....
Spicer now makes a u-joint for the 3rd gens it is non greaseable, and in my opinion, greaseable joints have a higher fail rate than non, typically because they dont keep the grease in or the elements out.
when installing the cups DO NOT mix them up, each cup has a pre measured amount of grease, I use a paint pen to mark each cup to its proper pin.
I believe I paid around 65$ canadian for the spicer joints
simple tools will work to get the axels out, you might have trouble getting the hubs off, if they are rusted in, (search power steering tricks to remove hubs) when you reinstal
on instal, as mentioned above, use never sieze!
do not waste your money on precision u-joints, having used them in my truck under commercial conditions, they are junk and will fail quite regularly....
Spicer now makes a u-joint for the 3rd gens it is non greaseable, and in my opinion, greaseable joints have a higher fail rate than non, typically because they dont keep the grease in or the elements out.
when installing the cups DO NOT mix them up, each cup has a pre measured amount of grease, I use a paint pen to mark each cup to its proper pin.
I believe I paid around 65$ canadian for the spicer joints
simple tools will work to get the axels out, you might have trouble getting the hubs off, if they are rusted in, (search power steering tricks to remove hubs) when you reinstal
on instal, as mentioned above, use never sieze!
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,290
Likes: 0
From: MN
I would not change ball joints or hub bearings unless they are required, honestly its 10-15mins to get the axels out on the bench, its not like your saving any time by doing the other parts(unless they are required)
do not waste your money on precision u-joints, having used them in my truck under commercial conditions, they are junk and will fail quite regularly....
Spicer now makes a u-joint for the 3rd gens it is non greaseable, and in my opinion, greaseable joints have a higher fail rate than non, typically because they dont keep the grease in or the elements out.
when installing the cups DO NOT mix them up, each cup has a pre measured amount of grease, I use a paint pen to mark each cup to its proper pin.
I believe I paid around 65$ canadian for the spicer joints
simple tools will work to get the axels out, you might have trouble getting the hubs off, if they are rusted in, (search power steering tricks to remove hubs) when you reinstal
on instal, as mentioned above, use never sieze!
do not waste your money on precision u-joints, having used them in my truck under commercial conditions, they are junk and will fail quite regularly....
Spicer now makes a u-joint for the 3rd gens it is non greaseable, and in my opinion, greaseable joints have a higher fail rate than non, typically because they dont keep the grease in or the elements out.
when installing the cups DO NOT mix them up, each cup has a pre measured amount of grease, I use a paint pen to mark each cup to its proper pin.
I believe I paid around 65$ canadian for the spicer joints
simple tools will work to get the axels out, you might have trouble getting the hubs off, if they are rusted in, (search power steering tricks to remove hubs) when you reinstal
on instal, as mentioned above, use never sieze!
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