u-joint bellow replacement

[dishwillow]

i have a Volvo SX drive and am in the process of replacing the u-joint bellow. are there any secrets to doing this? the drive is already removed.

following the steps in the manual, i need to remove the pivot housing and gimbal ring. removal of the gimbal ring requires a "tiller arm puller" tool. do i need to track down this tool or is there an alternate way of doing this?

 

[wags]

Re: u-joint bellow replacement

I just got done doing this. Go to local auto parts and rent a slide hammer puller. replace both the Gimbel bearing and the seal. I used a peace of 3in pvc to set new bearing. I have a sx-a and the bearing is maint. free, but u may have a grease fitting to align up to so scratch the side of bearing and align the holes. pretty straight forward.

 

[dishwillow]

Re: u-joint bellow replacement

@wags: thanks for the reply. However, we are on 2 different subjects --gimbal bearing vs gimbal ring.

 

[Don S]

Re: u-joint bellow replacement

Not sure what manual your reading, but you DO NOT have to pull the gimbal ring just to replace the bellows. The pivot housing, aka bellhousing yes, but not the gimbal ring.
You really don't have to pull the pivot housing either.
Just disconnect the exhaust bellows from the pivot housing
Remove the big plastic nut on the water pickup hose from the pivot housing, and push it out of the housing.
Then disconnect the ujoint bellow from the pivot housing, and unclamp it and remove from the gimbal housing.
Carefully pull the old bellows out the bottom and put the new one in. Be careful and gentle so you don't poke a hole in the new bellows.
Then put it all back together.

 

[dishwillow]

Re: u-joint bellow replacement

Not sure what manual your reading...

It's the VP Workshop Manual VPA 7743008 07-2003.... pg34

you DO NOT have to pull the gimbal ring just to replace the bellows

my assumption was that it could be done without removing the gimbal ring. that's what i get for reading the manual 1st.


thanks again for the wealth of knowledge. one of these days i'm actually going to get this project whipped!