So I finally got under my not quite brand new 2006 and looked around. What is the deal with the u-joints? There are no retaining clips in the usual (for the past 100 years) locations at the ends of the bearing caps. As a matter of fact, the caps actually hang out side the yokes. There seems to be some sort of a plastic rod inserted into the caps through a hole in the yokes. How easy is this setup to service, and how durable is this?

I hate "progress".

Tad

 

They are bit different I guess, there still is a retainer it just on the inside instead of the out and can be a bit more of a pita to get out. Just have to press the caps in far enough to get the retainer on the inside VS the out.

T398

 

the plastic has to be melted out when you service the joints. i know for sure all my chevy's had the plastic in the yokes, and my 03 dodge had the plastic in the rear yoke.just heated it up a bit with a torch, or propane cylinder, and the plastic melts right out.the front drive shaft has the plastic too on my 03.
the retainer clips are in the inside as stated above.

 

Does the plastic have to be put back?

 

i was helping my gf's dad work on his old chevy 4x4 and it had the plastic shot in the rear drive shaft. So i took him over to the torch (he never seen any kinda retainer like that before) and i heated it up while he beat on it. As soon as i got it hot enough, it POPed and that scared the wits out off him. never herd so many words in my life....