What is the secret to replacing u-joints?

Granny's 69 · Feb 23, 2003

Hey all,

The never ending trans. swap continues on s-l-o-w-l-y. (That's because I'm a newbie and only get 1 day a week to work on it...)Finally got the shifter prob. straightened out(went back to original cable & adjusted shifter...)

Anywho, I decided to replace the u-joints while I had the driveshaft out. I have discovered that replacing u-joints is no fun...

When I get one side hammered in, those dirty little needle bearings fall out as I try gently ping in the other bearing cap.

I must have installed one side of the u-joint 3 times before both caps appeared to seat in the yoke.

Only to discover that I can only G-clip one side fully.The other G-clip will start,but won't seat fully in it's groove.

Any tips/secrets for a frustrated newbie??

Thanks,
Mark P.

Kyvox · Feb 23, 2003

Two possibilities:
1- A needle bearing has fallen over, and is keeping the cap from going all of the way on.
2- While hammering the caps in, the yoke has bent in slightly, preventing the clip from having enough room to seat fully.
Hammering the caps in isn't really the best way to install them. A bench vice, or even a large C-clamp to press them on is better. Try this; take a punch, and tap on the ends of the yoke to see if it will spread enough to get the clip in. If it doesn't, you'll probably have to take it apart again to see if one or more of the bearings has fallen over.

Snatchin'gears · Feb 24, 2003

Clean the seating area of caps and clips. A small wire brush that looks like a tooth brush works fine.

Everett#2390 · Feb 24, 2003

John & Snatch offer some very good suggestions, those needles falling out is a pain.

My suggestion is get a large vice and sockets the size of the yoke and cap to help press in/out. Also, to prevent those needles from falling out, place finger full of axle grease into the cap to hold the needles against the side of the cap.

If using a large vice, grease the screw threads of the vice.

mark69rs · Feb 25, 2003

I took mine to a machine shop, they pressed them in for five bucks.

Granny's 69 · Feb 28, 2003

Hello all,

I've been away for a few days on business. I was wondering if someone with a Th350 could measure thier yoke width from outside edge to outside edge.

The reason I need the measurement is to see if I have accidentally bent my yoke while trying to install my new u-joints.

I appreciate all your help.

Thanks,
Mark P.

Kyvox · Feb 28, 2003

You can measure the width of the u-joint, and then measure the distance between the grooves where the clips go.

red69camaro · Feb 28, 2003

I'd take it to a shop and have them install the new joints and balance the shafts. Its like 30 bucks

What is the secret to replacing u-joints?

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