U joints removal problems

[andrewterri]

While at the lake I heard the infamous clicking while turning hard right and left. Checked alignment when I pulled the drive to verify and it is dead on. U joints are bad and this makes sense since 3 years ago I had the drive shaft bellows leaking and it ruined my global bearing. Here's the problem, we have a family 4th of July trip coming up and I can not get the special wrench to remove the locking nut in time so I must change them with the short shaft in place. I made clearance by grinding a very little bit of the locking nut but the u joints are stuck. Tried a c clamp with a socket and that did not work so I went and rented a ball joint remover from AutoZone and they are still stuck. The only way to get leverage to try and remove them leaves the backside of the clamp on one of the locking nut tabs. I am worried about breaking or bending a tab with to much pressure. I think it is so hard to remove because of water intrusion causing rust and the fact these are probably the original u joints from 1989. What do you guys think? Any help in removing these sure would be appreciated. I tried taking a picture with my tablet but i can not upload because i am being told the file is to large.

 

[andrewterri]

Now i am in real trouble. I just bend a locking nut tab. Now the u joints can not pivot left. Am I faced with having to grind that tab off?

 

[Rick Stephens]

You shouldn't have to remove the spanner nut to pull a u-joint. I made an adapter for a ball joint press that has a couple clearance slots for the tabs you seem to have so much trouble with. It can be done. Now that one is bent, might as well just bend it back. Worse that happens it snaps off

Last, you got the inner clips off the bearing caps ok? I can't imagine not being able to press out a ujoint.

 

[achris]

Done literally dozens of them without pulling the bearing pack/drive gear out. I just use a socket and an F clamp... Works every time... Takes about 10 minutes to get the aft uni apart. Then I change the front uni with it on the bench, then put the assembly back on the drive. All up about 30 minutes....

Chris.....

 

[andrewterri]

I will try a F style clamp. I will just try to bend the bent tab back. Worse case i will just buy the wrench and a new nut. Any tips on how to get rusted u joints off or is it just a matter of force? I don't want to use heat due to the proximity of the yoke seal. I can't use a socket to put over one of the caps because there is not enough room. I am putting a 3/4 inch socket on the other cap to push with but can't seem to find a place to put the other end of the clamp and it clearly can nut touch the locking tabs. I habe never had this much trouble with u joints. Thank you for your responses and help

 

[andrewterri]

Rick, yes I did get the c clips removed. I couldn't imagine not being able to press out u joints either until I met this disaster

 

[Rick Stephens]

Instead of using a socket on the side that I want the cap to come out of, I made an adapter with a couple slots to clear the corners of the tabs for the big nut. Could just cut a little out of a socket and do the same thing. This lets it fit better and allows the press to push harder.

 

[andrewterri]

That's what I will do. I have already grinded and trimmed two tabs trying to get a socket on there. I was not smart enough to think to cut the socket instead thank you for the help.

 

[andrewterri]

When I went to bend the tab back on the retaining nut the tab broke off. The break went to where the nut is flush with the aluminum housing. I looked and did not see any cracks that ran the width of the nut so the torque should still be applied to the bearing pack even with the broken tab. On a happier note, thank you guys very much for the help and suggestions in making my own tool. I was able to get the u joints off and replaced. The wife and kids were very excited to hear that we are still alive when it comes to having a chance to take the boat to the lake on our trip (which we would not go without the boat) for the 4th.

 

[Rick Stephens]

Righteous. Breaking a tab off won't matter until you need to reseal the top. Go boating.