U Joint Help in Sandy?

[dentedvw]

I pulled my D44 front axle apart, replaced seals, and now I am trying to replace the U Joints, but I left the hydraulic press I use is in Michigan, it didn't fit in the bus. :greg:
So, I went to Harbor Freight and bought the ball joint/U joint service tool. It stinks. Surprise!
I am just having trouble, my bench vise is mounted on the rolling tool box because... go ahead, guess. Yup, the benches and cabinets didn't fit in the bus either. So, the shaft will rotate out of the vise, or the tool slips off the yokes, and it's frustrating. :-\
Anyone have a hydraulic press I could borrow? I could strap the shafts to my motorcycle I suppose, and ride just about anywhere.
I have a "thing" tonight at seven, so it would either need to be before then, or tomorrow. I am free all day tomorrow. All day.
I am sunk without it, I don't think I can get this tool to push the joints out.

Please? Purty please?

 

[dentedvw]

Oh, right, I am not living in the bus. It didn't make it past Laramie Wyoming, where I sold it on Craigslist. Heh!
I am NOT down by the river.

 

[Herzog]

My tools are currently about 2 hours away so I'm of no help... but I'm pretty sure I spotted you driving yesterday heading South toward 2100 S exit. I noticed the Michigan plates.

Good luck. Hope somebody chimes in to help you out soon.

 

[gijohn40]

take the vise and clamp down on the ujoint and then pound on the shaft ears until the joint comes out... easy as pie... then take the cap off and turn the shaft around and pound the other way....

 

[Spork]

I've always done it with a socket, a big hammer, a C-clamp, and a 2x4 (it helps if the 2x4 has a hole a little larger than your U-joint cap).

Remove any C-clips, with a socket that is the same size as the U-joint cap rest on the 2x4 with the other side so it doesn't hit anything while you pound the socket until the cap pops out the opposite side, flip it over and pound out the other side, once it's all apart I use the C-clamp to seat everything to the correct depth with the new joint.

 

[dentedvw]

They were stuck in there so good, I had to put pressure on them with the HF tool, then hit the cap with the air chisel. Moved it about 1mm at a time, then repeat.
So, now I am thinking that I have the wrong U Joint. I cannot put the clip in two sides opposite each other. Dangit. It's is fit tight, and centered, as best as I can tell. Clamped as hard as possible, tapped with deadblow. Tapped with hammer, swore at it, begged. Not happening. Oh boy but do I hate axleshaft U Joints.

Still one shaft to go, and this one is a bust. Might take two more days at this rate. I should just take them to a driveline shop and have them do it probably.

 

[dentedvw]

I'm pretty sure I spotted you driving yesterday heading South toward 2100 S exit. I noticed the Michigan plates.

Yeah, that was probably me. I went to the big NAPA store, and then to Six States to get the seals. Cost about half as much as the dealer. Whee, I can continue eating. At least, that was the plan, until I need to take these to a driveline shop.

Now I remember why I sold my last Jeep. :greg:

 

[Chevycrew]

Sometimes the ears get bent in when the joint is really hard to get out... Or a needle bearing fell over.

I do all mine with a small socket, big socket, and BFH.

 

[Cascadia]

Last time I changed joints my ears were tweaked enough that I could get both clips on. I got it in as much as I could which had the clip almost completely in. Once I had that I just tack welded it twice. Never lost that joint or shaft.

 

[BCGPER]

If you dare venture to the west side, we could probably knock em out PDQ tomorrow afternoon. I should be off around 1ish.

 

[jeeper]

I am in midvale, and could give it a shot tomorrow if you want to bring it here. I also just use the socket and BFH

 

[dentedvw]

Oh, I could have bent the shaft's ears?

Crud, that's probably what happened then. It took a LOT of pressure to break the joint free.
So, ahh... what do I do now? I have my welder here, but no electrical outlet for it, as far as I can tell. But now the joint seems a bit stiff in those sides, because I tried to squeeze it more in order to get the clips in.
If I hit it with the air chisel a bit, maybe it will straighten out?

Bugger. And bugger again.

I can't see any way that a BFH would have gotten this done. I remember well doing this a few times with the old YJ that way (I took spare shafts on trips), and they came apart easy, which is why I was really stumped when it didn't happen that way this time. Which is why I went to HF and bought this tool. Which is why the shaft's ears are now probably bent.

It's a new day, and maybe things will go much better.

 

[dentedvw]

From my googling, I find that it's not uncommon to bend the ears with this tool, or any method actually, especially with the OEM U Joints.
Some have had luck bending them back out with a huge bolt and nut. But, without another to measure against, I don't have any way of knowing if it's right. Hmmm... I will try the air tool first.
And on the next shaft, I am going to put the propane torch against it for a while first. If that doesn't work, I have a few folks that offered me some help, thanks.

 

[rholbrook]

On my TJ I had to heat mine up to melt some plastic around it, then out it came. It still had the stock u-joints in it still.

 

[1995zj]

Sometimes the ears get bent in when the joint is really hard to get out... Or a needle bearing fell over.

I do all mine with a small socket, big socket, and BFH.

That's exactly how I do mine. The press just loves to bent those ears in.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

Ummm, why not just take it to Six States?

 

[dentedvw]

I would have, but I am really pretty busted. Heh! My moving plan was blown when I had to sell my bus in WY, and I am running through the reserve reserve pretty quickly.
Ahh, adventure!
With less than $100 left in the ol' bank, I shouldn't be forking any more out if I don't absolutely have to. I figured I might as well forge ahead, since I am almost done. The long shaft came apart easier, but I still used the air tool once. Not too bad. Didn't appear to do any damage to the ears this time, because all the clips fit in.
Whew! So, I don't need a press any longer. I thought I would be out there a few more hours, like yesterday, trying to get it apart.
Now I am just down to putting the shafts back in. Which is where I am stuck. I slid each one in gently, suspending it as best as I could in the tube until it stops. They both stop at the same place. Not far enough in.
I am sure most everyone was new at these things once, but since it's been so long since I had done it, I don't remember the tricks I used last time. It's been 12 years! I thought it must be far enough, because it won't go in any further, but the hub won't fit on. :-\ Hmm... time for a sandwich. And a think.

 

[dentedvw]

Ummm, why not just take it to Six States?

$$$ is a consideration. Plus, I didn't know about six states until I had my mind made up that I need to do it myself.
<------- New here.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

$$$ is a consideration. Plus, I didn't know about six states until I had my mind made up that I need to do it myself.
<------- New here.

For future reference, Six States will swap them out for free if you buy the joints from them and bring in the axle to them, usually done the same day.

 

[dentedvw]

Oh my gosh, that's awesome. I really do wish I knew that. Could have saved a HUGE amount of work.


FWIW, I seem to have gotten it. I still couldn't get two clips in, so I will have to clean it off and put a spot of weld on it before too long. I drove it around the block, and it's silent again. Sweet! No binding noises, and I only needed to persuade the axles in the rest of the way with a plastic deadblow. Worked a treat.

Thanks everyone.