Scott03HO

Well, i've got some noise in my front U-joint on the 4x4 3500 I have. I called the dealer and it's only $98 for the joint, and NAPA doesn't carry one for the 2003+ yet.

What size socket to i need to remove the outter axle end from the Hub??

Also - the dealer told me the outter axle end and hub and bearing sometimes sieze together and cannot be removed intact (he said 75% of the time this is the case), and that parts and labour would come out to over $1000! Is this true - am i looking at a new hub and wheel bearing aswell??

John Faughn

I think the 1st is go to a driveline shop and ask for a spicer u-joint , I here they are stronger, next is a between a geasable ? weaker vs. stonger ? none greasable , spicer is stronger [ they say ] , I paid 60 about , next is not having done it before set a weekday aside so you have time, and to go back and get the right one the secound time. mine is a 3/4 so I'm not sure that they'er are the same but mine is 1& 11/16 ,torqu 80 lbs. then if you have access to a wheel puller , if not some guys are losing the 4 bolts on the back side and leave them in 3-4 turns and use a socket to push them out using the steering linkage , eng. running for power [ use 2 people one to watch that your fingers do'nt get caught and 1 to turn the wheel slowly ] this is way I like the wheel puller method, the last is never ever go there again , a $1000 is way out of line , unless the'er telling you up front that it could be that bad , and it starts at maybe 200-300 , in shop conditions it could be done in about 2hrs. shop rate 80 =160 , parts double 120

Scott03HO

Thanks for the info John

Yes, the dealer told me that there is a 75% chance that the outter axle end will be siezed in the hub and i will need a new hub/wheel bearing assembly (about $600). I think with a bit of heat and an impact hammer i should be able to free up that hub easily, since the truck is only an 03.....and this is also the dealer that sold me "friction modifier" for my rear end along with the gear oil, even though i supplied him with the truck VIN number. (friction modifier isn't needed for the 3rd gen AAM axle trucks - as i later found in the owners manual).

I have the 9.25" AAM front axle on my 2003 3500 4x4. Can anyone confirm the size of the socket i need to remove the front outter axle end??

John Faughn

Do'nt use heat or there while be no chance of saving the hub , becouse you'll cook the grease and melt the seals , the impacked hammer will take a lot of finess , becouse the only way I can think of using it , is to still push on the retaining lose bolts from an angle you mite end up bending them , but lets back up a bit , douse the area with penatrating fluid a few times at lest a day or so ahead of time, when I did mine [ 1 side 2mnths other 1mnth ago ] they came out fine with a wheel puller [ rentable ] and mines a 94 with 215,000 miles on it .