Posted: 8/29/2007 5:14:21 PM EDT
| I am trying to replace my ujoints on my jeep and am having an aweful time getting them out of the driveshaft. I have already broke a C clamp and am using the biggest F'n hammer I own and I can not get the caps off of the ends when I push them through. Am I missing something or is there a trick to it? Help!! |
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Press it out with a vise and two sockets. Put a socket that is smaller than the round part of the U Joint that goes through the shaft on one side, then one that is larger than it on the other. Press together in a vise. The joint will slide out into the larger socket. |
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Did you drive out the c clips first? Don't do jeeps but "some" US manufacturers use melted nylon injected into the caps. You must heat them up and melt it then immediately drive them out while they are still goo. Kroil and two sockets trick does work as suggested above. I have a 2x4 with a hole cut in it to place the larger socket into. Place the driveshaft on top of the 2x4 place smaller socket on top cap and whack away. First time is a exercise in frustration,2nd time is MUCH easier. Wait til you lose a needle bearing putting on the new caps.  Then graduate to a DBL CV. Oh hell, you've driven them as far as you can, now grab them with some vice grips or a cresant wrench and twist back and forth and pull them out. Do emery paper out the yokes before trying to fit the new caps in. |
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Sockets, a machinist's vise (as big as you can get), and a cheater bar on the vise handle (or even a large 36 inch pipe wrench to turn things). Anchoring the vise to a large table saw (800 lbs plus) also helps. Kroil and 24 hours is a good idea. Once you get them to break loose the force goes down a lot. Hammering is not the best route. It can lead to cracks in places you would rather not have them. A hydraulic press is even better. |
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I have had driveshaft yokes squeezed together using the vice method. I usually take the driveshaft and open the vice so the caps (not yokes) rest on the open vice. Hammer the yoke near the shaft pushing the joint and cap through the yoke. Many times you can grab the cap with vise grips at this point and take it out. If you cant, flip the shaft over and do the same again. At this point, even if the caps won't come out, you can usually get the ujoint out. Then take a punch and knock the caps out. You can sometimes spread the yoke if you are a little too friendly with the hammer, but it is easier to squeeze the yokes than to pull them apart. Sorry if it is confusing, it takes 30 seconds to do, and 5 minutes to try to explain. |
You have to remove the whole shaft first, off the driveshaft... slide it off and out the truck and set it down, in a vise or have a buddy hold it (lol) use a deep socket and a hammer, to get it out. 
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