U-Joint Removal - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

1972K20 · 02-09-2013, 04:57 PM

Hey guys, how do you remove this cap? Aren't the clips under this cap?

76k10 · 02-09-2013, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1972K20

Hey guys, how do you remove this cap? Aren't the clips under this cap?

Take it to a drive line shop and have them replace that U-Joint. Trust me. Unless you have the proper press and experience to change them, you will end up just wasting a bunch of time and/or ruin your shafts. Stock u-joints in old shafts are usually stuck in there very well.

1972K20 · 02-09-2013, 05:08 PM

Ok, but I'm curious, doesn't that cap+clips have to come off before the joint can be pressed out?

Crash_OK · 02-09-2013, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1972K20

Ok, but I'm curious, doesn't that cap+clips have to come off before the joint can be pressed out?

Yes on the inside of the caps..

Transformula · 02-10-2013, 05:13 PM

Look on the inside of the yokes. there will be c-shaped clips in there that need to be removed first. You will probably have to clean up the area first to see them. straddle the opposite yoke across something and press out the u-joint caps. A new u-joint will come with new clips, and some brands even have a female grease fitting on the outside of one cap so you can grease it. If not, add lots of red grease before reassembly. That will also help hold the needle bearings in place! It's a piece of cake!

willett · 02-13-2013, 05:44 PM

You need minimal tools to do u joints:
Dead blow hammer
Vice
Old sockets
Pliers for the clips

There isn't really much to it and you certainly don't need to pay somebody to do it for you
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Redcap · 02-13-2013, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 76k10

take it to a drive line shop and have them replace that u-joint. Trust me. Unless you have the proper press and experience to change them, you will end up just wasting a bunch of time and/or ruin your shafts. Stock u-joints in old shafts are usually stuck in there very well.

lol wut

RastaRobb · 02-20-2013, 01:33 PM

I'm with the other guys, you can do it, and if your going to spend your life with Chevy trucks, you will do a lot of them. A little penetrating oil will help. Old sockets were mentioned--you want one that is just smaller than the hole of the yoke, to place on the end of the joint, then pound the fire out of it.

RastaRobb · 02-20-2013, 01:37 PM

I've even cut a particularly difficult one out with a really thin cut-off grinding wheel. Don't recommend that, but it did get the job done.

RastaRobb · 02-20-2013, 01:39 PM

Once they are out, you will want to clean up the inside of the yoke with a really fine sand paper before putting the new one in. You can do it.

willett · 02-20-2013, 03:21 PM

You get em out?
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76k10 · 02-20-2013, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RastaRobb

I'm with the other guys, you can do it, and if your going to spend your life with Chevy trucks, you will do a lot of them. A little penetrating oil will help. Old sockets were mentioned--you want one that is just smaller than the hole of the yoke, to place on the end of the joint, then pound the fire out of it.

Yeah, you will do a lot of them because you hammered the crap out of them and distorted the yokes. Enjoy when those new U-Joint caps pop out. $30 at a shop, no hassle, no pounding sockets, no ruined axles. To each his own, I'd rather be riding than messing with a front end because I though I could do it myself because everyone said it was easy.

odog · 02-20-2013, 08:21 PM

I've done a few, pretty easy you can use a good vise and some penetrating oil and they should pop out. And uh, I have NEVER distorted a yolk or had caps pop out. I've even used a high and a socket, never distorted or ruined an axle. But to each his own, some of us like doing things on our own. Personally I hate bringing anything to a shop.
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kenbob87 · 02-20-2013, 08:56 PM

ive always done my own u-joints and never have i ruined or distorted a yoke... even on my alum driveshift in my 02 chev... i always hammer them out and use a vise and sockets to press the new caps in. in my opion u-joints are very simple to do with very minimal tools

Rubble · 02-20-2013, 09:12 PM

U joints are funny,some guys won't go near them,Been replacing them close to 30 years,don't think I ever wrecked one & had a few outta round ones and still got it together.Like others said,BF hammer,vise and I usually use a nut just smaller than the cap,works really good.Besides if your out in the bush & need to replace a joint,that machine shop won't do you much good....it's better you learn how yourself...
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1972K20 · 02-21-2013, 01:15 AM

Thanks guys. I played it safe and had a machine shop do it. It was inexpensive and very quick. I watched the guy do it, so I'll know how in the future. It would have taken me much longer without the press that he used.

kenbob87 · 02-21-2013, 01:40 AM

nothin wrong with playing it safe! the very first u-joint i replaced when i was 15 i destroyed 2 of them before i got it right all the needle bearings kept falling over as i was trying to pound the new caps on lol after i finally got it figured out my step dad informed me of doin it the right way with the vise he said he wanted me to learn the hard way first lol

but glad you got it taken care of and now know how to do it

02-09-2013, 04:57 PM	#1
1972K20 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 739	U-Joint Removal Hey guys, how do you remove this cap? Aren't the clips under this cap? Attached Images

02-09-2013, 05:08 PM	#3
1972K20 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 739	Re: U-Joint Removal Ok, but I'm curious, doesn't that cap+clips have to come off before the joint can be pressed out?

02-10-2013, 05:13 PM	#5
Transformula Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada Posts: 160	Re: U-Joint Removal Look on the inside of the yokes. there will be c-shaped clips in there that need to be removed first. You will probably have to clean up the area first to see them. straddle the opposite yoke across something and press out the u-joint caps. A new u-joint will come with new clips, and some brands even have a female grease fitting on the outside of one cap so you can grease it. If not, add lots of red grease before reassembly. That will also help hold the needle bearings in place! It's a piece of cake! __________________ T.Y.N Custom Works..... Because "Stock" Sucks! 1971 K 10 GMC Long Bed 1977 Formula T/A Frame off Resto-Mod 1995 FXDL Harley Low Rider 1985 C10 ShortWide 91 Burb front.

02-13-2013, 05:44 PM	#6
willett Another Day, Another Dollar Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: North Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,316	Re: U-Joint Removal You need minimal tools to do u joints: Dead blow hammer Vice Old sockets Pliers for the clips There isn't really much to it and you certainly don't need to pay somebody to do it for you Posted via Mobile Device __________________ -78 K20 Cheyenne 454 long box, 4" lift, 35" MT's, '84 cab, '80 box "its hip to be square"

02-20-2013, 01:33 PM	#8
RastaRobb Registered User Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Sweet, ID Posts: 157	Re: U-Joint Removal I'm with the other guys, you can do it, and if your going to spend your life with Chevy trucks, you will do a lot of them. A little penetrating oil will help. Old sockets were mentioned--you want one that is just smaller than the hole of the yoke, to place on the end of the joint, then pound the fire out of it.

02-20-2013, 01:37 PM	#9
RastaRobb Registered User Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Sweet, ID Posts: 157	Re: U-Joint Removal I've even cut a particularly difficult one out with a really thin cut-off grinding wheel. Don't recommend that, but it did get the job done.

02-20-2013, 01:39 PM	#10
RastaRobb Registered User Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Sweet, ID Posts: 157	Re: U-Joint Removal Once they are out, you will want to clean up the inside of the yoke with a really fine sand paper before putting the new one in. You can do it.

02-20-2013, 03:21 PM	#11
willett Another Day, Another Dollar Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: North Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,316	Re: U-Joint Removal You get em out? Posted via Mobile Device __________________ -78 K20 Cheyenne 454 long box, 4" lift, 35" MT's, '84 cab, '80 box "its hip to be square"

02-20-2013, 08:21 PM	#13
odog Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Wendell, Idaho Posts: 608	Re: U-Joint Removal I've done a few, pretty easy you can use a good vise and some penetrating oil and they should pop out. And uh, I have NEVER distorted a yolk or had caps pop out. I've even used a high and a socket, never distorted or ruined an axle. But to each his own, some of us like doing things on our own. Personally I hate bringing anything to a shop. Posted via Mobile Device __________________ 1969 4x4 Nothing beats a good rock drill and some dynamite

02-20-2013, 08:56 PM	#14
kenbob87 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: South Haven, MN Posts: 109	Re: U-Joint Removal ive always done my own u-joints and never have i ruined or distorted a yoke... even on my alum driveshift in my 02 chev... i always hammer them out and use a vise and sockets to press the new caps in. in my opion u-joints are very simple to do with very minimal tools

02-20-2013, 09:12 PM	#15
Rubble Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Big Valley. Alberta Posts: 674	Re: U-Joint Removal U joints are funny,some guys won't go near them,Been replacing them close to 30 years,don't think I ever wrecked one & had a few outta round ones and still got it together.Like others said,BF hammer,vise and I usually use a nut just smaller than the cap,works really good.Besides if your out in the bush & need to replace a joint,that machine shop won't do you much good....it's better you learn how yourself... Posted via Mobile Device __________________ 1977 Chev C30 454/465/14ff DRW 1974 Chev C20.350/465/14ff " Rock n Roll ain't noise pollution"

02-21-2013, 01:15 AM	#16
1972K20 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 739	Re: U-Joint Removal Thanks guys. I played it safe and had a machine shop do it. It was inexpensive and very quick. I watched the guy do it, so I'll know how in the future. It would have taken me much longer without the press that he used.

02-21-2013, 01:40 AM	#17
kenbob87 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: South Haven, MN Posts: 109	Re: U-Joint Removal nothin wrong with playing it safe! the very first u-joint i replaced when i was 15 i destroyed 2 of them before i got it right all the needle bearings kept falling over as i was trying to pound the new caps on lol after i finally got it figured out my step dad informed me of doin it the right way with the vise he said he wanted me to learn the hard way first lol but glad you got it taken care of and now know how to do it



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