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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 53
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Oh my god, I hate u-joints...
I've done them many times before (years ago), but tonight I spent WAY too long trying to replace the original ones on my '66.
I'm in the middle of a clutch replacement, and when I pulled the driveshaft, I noticed how bad the u-joints were, so I picked up some replacements today and tried to switch them out. The rear one wasn't too bad, but when it came time to do the front one, I had some problems. First off, these looked to be the original u-joints. My truck is a 70,000 mile original, and has never been apart for anything, as far as I can tell. (I'm the third owner - the first was my friend's great-grandfather, who passed it down to my friend's grandfather, and I bought it after his passing.) When you put new u-joints on, they have these nifty zerk fittings so you can service them. Little tip - these fittings need to point towards the driveshaft, NOT towards the front yoke or they will bind. I didn't figure this out until I had it 75% done. I took it apart and put it back together the right way, and came across the 2nd issue. Trying to get that last cap on, I broke one of the needle bearings. I think it was a combination of trying to hold the driveshaft still on my vise, plus trying to hold the yoke right in the middle while I gently tapped on the cap with a hammer - anyway, I was slightly off, and one of the needle bearings fell in and broke. Now I have to go buy another u-joint tomorrow. So, long story to get to my question - any tips for doing this easier? I'm really frustrated with these things...
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: AL
Posts: 1,828
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Re: Oh my god, I hate u-joints...
i feel for ya son.......... i struggle with those every time too..
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: sacramento ca.
Posts: 1,038
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Re: Oh my god, I hate u-joints...
ohhh i love them too...when putting the caps on with all the little needle bearings and the all fall down inside the cap and the grease while your under the car thats so much fun!!!
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Timmy D. "What that grinding noise?Don't worry about that it will eventually clearance itself!" 1966 chevy c10 Build Thread:http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=485977 1954 ford customline H.A.M.B 54 Build Thread:http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=622142 |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: ND
Posts: 520
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Re: Oh my god, I hate u-joints...
I find using the vice like a press instead of using a hammer works well. I also try to keep the cross as far in the caps as possible to keep the needles from getting knocked free. And making sure there is enough grease to hold every needle in its place doesnt hurt either.
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Name: Les ---------------------- Couple 80s Couple 70s One 68 ![]() |
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#5 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Forney TX
Posts: 4,512
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Re: Oh my god, I hate u-joints...
Quote:
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Troy 1965 Chevy Bagged,361 sbc,voodoo cam,1.5 full roller rockers,patriot 185cc vortec heads 2.02-1.60,vortec weiand polished intake,demon carb my truckhttp://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=332884 Big Red Dog build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=572274 |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Longview WA
Posts: 141
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Re: Oh my god, I hate u-joints...
I don't use a vise at all, I just do it on a bench with a socket a little smaller than the cap and a hammer, a mechenic in Tijuana showed me how he did them and since then I've never had a problem with them.
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#7 |
Senior Car Nut
![]() Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: shellman bluff, GA
Posts: 1,411
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Re: Oh my god, I hate u-joints...
I use Maxxd07's technique, along with a smaller socket. One advantage to Maxx's method is that it's a more controlled process. to me, tapping with a hammer is inviting the needles to dislodge. However, I've broken needles before too, even with vise-as-press method, by not being careful and by forcing the cap when it didn't want to go.
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Larry |
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: arkieland
Posts: 1,070
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Re: Oh my god, I hate u-joints...
I like to toss my joints in the freezer-shrinks them somewhat & keeps the grease more solid so the little needles don't fall out. I put them in on the floor using the socket method above.
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Tucson Arizona
Posts: 165
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Re: Oh my god, I hate u-joints...
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 53
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Re: Oh my god, I hate u-joints...
So, I managed to get them all done last night, with only the one broken needle bearing. I used a combination of the socket-and-hammer technique and the vise technique. The hammer works fine for the rear of the driveshaft, but I had to use to vise for the last two caps on the front end when installing the yoke.
There were several times I thought I had jammed the needle bearings again, and had to remove a cap, but I was just being paranoid. So, it's done. But I still hate those little buggers!
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