I distrust those whose vice is a vise. I use the driveway and something like a 2x4 to hold up the other end to keep it square to the socket.
Replacing U-Joints: Do You Prefer a Hammer or a Press?
- Thread starter jjvw
- Start date
OP
Hi, my name is... It's been 51 days since I last used my vise. (Small round of supportive applause)
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For driveshafts, I've never been comfy that I can support it well enough without denting the thin tube which is a recipe for disaster.Hi, my name is... It's been 6 weeks since I last used my vise. (Small round of supportive applause)
I always remove with a ball joint press in a vice, securing by a yoke, not the tube. Put some pressure with an impact, then tap the yoke. They will pop, then you are good to go to town. Then always install fresh ones with a hammer. Never have had a bent yoke.
OP
Open the jaws wide enough to set the yoke on top and let the cap fall through. A large socket as a receiving cup works in a similar way. I don't think I've actually clamped down on anything. At least not recently. The vise is just a hard surface to work on. The back end of the shaft is supported with blocking.
OP
Halfway through my first ball joint replacement, I figured out that tapping the yokes while pressing made the job a lot easier and didn't require as much force to push things around.
I found this too. They inject plastic into a hole in the yoke ears. Heat them with a propane torch and the plastic will flow out of the hole. It will catch on fire and smell bad. They are a mess...but when you reassemble they have the necessary cuts to hold standard retainer rings.
Well I went to change my u joints and noticed this what is your opinion new driveshaft or put it back
OP
I use the Some Other Dude method - Futz around with the wrong tools using the incorrect technique until some other dude watching my ineptitude who actually knows what he is doing impatiently pushes me aside and does it himself.
At that point I cease paying attention to the particular tools used.
At that point I cease paying attention to the particular tools used.
Billwynburger
TJ Enthusiast
I used my 32 oz ball peen on a solid cement block, they tapped right out no problems. Good luck!
Will a hand held MAP gas torch work?
And is it the same procedure basically for the driveshaft rear u joint? Thanks for that explanation, i have a Spicer u joint for the driveshaft I would like to replace.
Hammer the old ones out and then use a big
C clamp to press the new ones in.
C clamp to press the new ones in.
Mapp will work better than propane. Any joint you have that doesn't have a visible snap ring is probably held in with plastic. Not sure why the factories are doing that, but its pretty common.