mr T

I'm gonna change the front drive shaft U-joint tommorow (the one closest to the differential) and im wondering what bolts om gonna need to loosen besides the bolts on the straps of the U-joint...and im wondering do I slide the drive shaft out of the transfer case? or the dif??

thanks

Sidewinder

I just did this last week. If you look at the driveshaft at the transfer case end there is a flange with six (or eight or four can't remember) bolts. If you remove these bolts the entire front drive shaft will come out. I used a small hit (half a second) with an air chisel between the flange on the drive shaft and the flange on the transfercase just to break them apart.

Once it was out - I hammered out the old u-joint, hammered in the new one, put some anti-sieze on the flange and re-installed the entire unit.

CanuckCTD

Just don't break one of those wee bolts(9 or 10mm) at the front like I did!!!

mr T

thanks guys...one more thing do i pack it with grease? or are they supposed to packed (got the NAPA u-joint) there is some grease there but it doesnt look like much to me)

mr T

help!!!! im in the middle of this i have all the straps off and all the clips (inner on this one) off and i cant get the U-joint out...im using a press and all and the thing just wont budge at all...AT ALL!!...the u joint still has spicer sign on it...this had better not be the factory u-joint how am i gonna get this thing off?? its been soaking in pb blaster for 2 days!

BIGBADBOB

This may help, I take a zip disc and cut the ujoint apart makes things easyier to deal with. If they won't press out after that you may have to warm things up a bit. Hope this help you out.
Now back to my turkey eh.
Bob

mr T

ur right on about the turkey!!!...well i soaked it with some more pb blaster and im gonna leave it over night we'll see what happens....darn snow darn salt!! this thing is seized

Sidewinder

Look on the inside of the U-joint - there will be some "C" clips that you have to remove. To see what they look like open your new u-joint and you should see what they look like. (new ones were included with the u-joint i bought)

YOU MUST REMOVE THESE FIRST!! I not you will be hammering for a long time.

Sorry I forgot to mention that in my original post.

robert chilton

This is a no no that may work. Put the driveshaft back in the press and put as much preasure on Ujoint as possible then smack the flange (ear) of the driveshaft with a hammer. Make sure that you dont hit the tubing as it is thin and dents real easy. I have seen this work more than once.

mr T

i have the c clips removed sidewinder....this is thing is just seized...i got it to move about 2 mm...so we'll see tommorow

P.O.R.

use a little heat,torch or map gas torch like used for soldering,most of the time propane doesn't get hot enough.

mr T

if worst comes to worst i was wondering if I can drive around without a front drive shaft for a couple days???

dodgediesel4x4

Not a problem. You just won't have 4wd.

I've had problems removing u-joints also. I just got an angle grinder, and well the you should be able to guess what happened next. After 20 mins of grinding, whalaa, a u-joint divided in to a "l" joint.

Crimedog

Mine was pretty sticky, I just used a pipe on the floor, had someone hold the shaft and used a big punch and a BIG hammer, it'll come out. The hitting it while it's in the press works, too. My buddy also had to cut his out, making it into an I joint. Good luck! It'll come out eventually.

mr T

i got it out finally...everything looks good...no damage...didnt have to cut it...but im gonna drive without the front drive shaft for a few days till i have some free time again.....gotta get clean for the turkey...thanks guys....happy columbus day