so i have a u joint going out on the rear driveshaft of the truck........i have em on order from napa and plan on installing tomorrow if the weathers ok........does anyone have any suggestions on how to make this as painless as possible. thanks



i have done a search but couldn't really find a how to thread or anything.

 

If you've done them before, no big deal just a bit bigger than most vehicles.

If not get a friends help who has. There are a bunch of pitfalls in u-joint replacement, dropped roller bearings, bent yokes, mushroomed surfaces, etc. A press is handy but a large vise works well.

 

Here's a link to a play-by-play for rear driveshaft replacement that I put together:

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...s-t236691.html


Some important tips are found in steps 11 & 12 if I remember right.

Lemme know if you have any questions.

 

What are the napa part numbers for the u-joints? I have an 05 and an 03 that need new ones. And are the u-joints the same for both years models?

 

Yeah find a good local drivetrain specialty shop, drive there.Unbolt said shaft, and have them take twenty minutes while you wait reading a magazine, pay the $10 - $20, bolt the shaft on, and Smile knowing you just did good and saved yourself an hour or more of cursing. Many things are worth doing yourself. This isnt one of them. This is who i use locally. http://www.industrynet.com/info.asp?CID=1145008
Unless you have the specialty equipment, save yourself the time. How much is your time worth to you? If it were a front axle joint id say go ahead as it requires a bit of labor $$ to tear apart.
If this is an excercise in empty pockets, have at least a big bench vise, some BFH's, some pb blaster, couple of worthless sockets, a few beers, and a few hours...

 

Has anyone had to deal with a u-joint that does not have retainer clips? It appears to have holes filled with wax dots sticking out on each side of each cap, but no clips. There are grooves that look like they should have clips. It's an 06' Dulley Long bed. Been messing with that and trying to get the Pinion Flange off, I was able to remove the Pinion Nut, but the flange seems to be permanently attached. The U-Joint oblonged the Pinion Seal and it's leaking oil all over the place.

 

Zumie,
you have to heat the yoke and melt the plastic/nylon out. Then change the joint as normal. When you install the joint you will need to use the supplied clips.
Good luck,
Topper

 

Thanks Topper, I thought I was going to break my vice trying to press those out. I drilled the nylon out but I'll try heating also.

 

Had my driveshaft u-joints changed last month. I tried heat and hammer but was unsuccessful. I took it to a driveshaft shop - cost $37 bucks for them to press out the old ones and put the new ones in. Took about one hour. Well worth it in my opinion.

 

Be very sure to wear safety glasses during the heating. The plastic can heat up and build pressure while trapped within the yoke, then spurt out the hole with some force. I know of a tech who got some molten plastic in his eye that way. Apparently it's not pleasant. Don't be too alarmed, it was a fluke but it can happen.

 

There is more than just in the holes you see.With out a press you are risking too much.Take it to a shop and pay a few bucks

 

I got it done, but won't do it again. Heating helped, and soaking over night with Penetrating Oil made a difference too. It's back in and not shaking anymore, but next time it's going to the shop. Thanks for all the input.

 

Yeah I hear ya. I just did my rear most joint and it took so long that I never did the front one. Oh yeah, and the vice blowing apart didn't help either (good thing it was my buddies, haha).

Next time it is going to a shop. Not worth the time and aggravation.