Press out/in U-Joints - Bellevue, WA

[bouncytruck]

Does anyone know a shop in the Bellevue/Kirkland area that can/will press out a u-joint? None of the autoparts stores do it anymore and I don't have a vice big enough to do it myself.

[denny5625]

I don't know of anybody over there but look up a driveline shop for rebalancing, shortening, etc. They can do it for you.

[bouncytruck]

Good idea Denny.

[pmpski_1]

I had this done a few years back at a place called Eurotech right across the street from St. Eds State Park in Kenmore ( http://local.yahoo.com/info-22099010-euro-tech-kenmore )

They didn't do it at the shop, but there was an older guy that rented out space in the back of the shop and had a small machine shop set up. I don't know if he still has a setup there, but you may want to call them and ask. The guys name was G.W. I still see him driving around up here in an old ochre F250, but I don't know if he's still working.

[rsavage]

Web shows 3 Fleet Pride shops - Auburn, Kirkland, and Seattle. They do drive shafts. I don't know if any are close to you, but when I searched "Fleet Pride Shops near Bothell WA", it showed 3.

[Steven B]

I usually run them up to a machine shop.

[bouncytruck]

Thanks for the input guys. I'll check out the guy by St Eds (it's only a couple miles from home.) I'll also check out Fleet Pride in Kirkland.

I tried looking up Machine Shop on Google and it gave me stuff like Sewing Machine Shops. I gave up and came to the experts (that would be this board)

[Classic Heartbeat]

If you want to make the trip, you can borrow my press to do the job... Sounds like you have it covered though.. WES

[drunkbus]

You can go down to an O'reilly's or other auto parts store and rent a tool like this.

[ChevLoRay]

Press 'em out? I have always had to use a hammer. Take a socket that is big enough to allow the cup to fall into it, and place one side of the yoke on it. Take another socket that fits into the yoke, after removing any clips, and hammer it out.

Bench vices make it easier, but it's not the only way.

[Raider Rudy]

Originally Posted by ChevLoRay

Press 'em out? I have always had to use a hammer. Take a socket that is big enough to allow the cup to fall into it, and place one side of the yoke on it. Take another socket that fits into the yoke, after removing any clips, and hammer it out.

Bench vices make it easier, but it's not the only way.

This is the same way I have always done it & it doesnt take much time at all! I have the drive shaft back on in an hour more or less.

[bouncytruck]

Originally Posted by drunkbus

You can go down to an O'reilly's or other auto parts store and rent a tool like this.

This might be the ticket. I'd rather not have to haul the driveshaft around.

[bouncytruck]

Originally Posted by Classic Heartbeat

If you want to make the trip, you can borrow my press to do the job... Sounds like you have it covered though.. WES

Thanks WES. A bit too much of a drive.

[drunkbus]

Originally Posted by bouncytruck

This might be the ticket. I'd rather not have to haul the driveshaft around.

I have a kit like this myself. It's a combination ball joint, u-joint tool and it works pretty slick. The same theory as the bench vise and sockets but in an easier to manage setup.

[bouncytruck]

Originally Posted by drunkbus

I have a kit like this myself. It's a combination ball joint, u-joint tool and it works pretty slick. The same theory as the bench vise and sockets but in an easier to manage setup.

Auto parts stores up here aren't like they are in Coos Bay. When my parents had their store in Empire, my dad had did pressing, turned drums and rotors, rebuild carbs, etc. Up here, (at least in the seattle-eastside metro area) all the parts stores are just order takers to fetch parts from the shelf.

It kills me when you have to give them the size of the engine for something like a light bulb (just happened to me when I had to get new dome light bulbs) or window crank. They can't find it unless the computer tells them and the computer won't tell them unless you give them all the exact information.

[drunkbus]

Originally Posted by bouncytruck

Auto parts stores up here aren't like they are in Coos Bay. When my parents had their store in Empire, my dad had did pressing, turned drums and rotors, rebuild carbs, etc. Up here, (at least in the seattle-eastside metro area) all the parts stores are just order takers to fetch parts from the shelf.

It kills me when you have to give them the size of the engine for something like a light bulb (just happened to me when I had to get new dome light bulbs) or window crank. They can't find it unless the computer tells them and the computer won't tell them unless you give them all the exact information.

That's exactly why I started looking online myself for the correct part number when I need something. That way I skip all the BS with the idiot behind the counter. Down here when Schuck's switched over to O'reilly they actually started offering more services like turning drums and rotors and having specialty tools available to rent or borrow with a deposit. I remember back 20 years ago when I would go into the parts stores with my dad and the employees actually seemed like they knew something about cars and trucks. Maybe it just seemed that way since I was just a kid.

[RED72blazer]

Sent you a pm bouncy.....

I have that ball joint/u joint kit and a crap load of tools.