Just a SWAG idea on your situation based on the available pictures, and knowing what an intact "Oakie Bushing" should look like (below).

It might be that a PO tried to install an Oakie bushing and buggered up the forward seal end (smooth side surface section beyond the multi-ringed side section). With that outer smooth seal section destroyed, they may have cut it off from the rest of the partially installed Oakie, driven the remainder of the Oakie in, then cut off another forward Oakie seal section and driven it in. I said it was a SWAG (silly wild a-- guess). big_eek

The reason I think this may be the case is the picture showing the gap between the Oakie in the tube separated from the forward seal section leads me to believe the remainder of the Oakie was driven in too deeply, and the other forward Oakie seal section was installed at the proper depth to seal the yoke when installed. That would account for the 1/4" or so gap shown between the two pieces.

It's your call on what you want to do for now to get things back together enough to just occasionally drive the truck, but considering the damage to the torque tube and the possibility that putting it back together this way could lead to a repeat failure of the u-joint, mounting hardware, or worse, I think safe operation of the vehicle might be questionable.

Best to consider the safety of not just yourself but others on the road as well. wink
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Last edited by Gdads51; 06/17/2026 2:31 AM. Reason: add 2nd picture showing gap

~ Dan
1951 Chevy 3 window 3100
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"My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine"
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US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)