The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Oakie blues

I replaced my axle seals on my 53 3100 as grease leaked on both wheels. Replaced brake shoes also. Soo,I figured that I should check the bushing and seal in front of the tube. No dowel pins to remove pulled the original brass bushing and installed a new Oakie. It went in with a fight,heated tube and after a few hours it was in flush to the tube. Felling pretty proud about this. Now I I go get my u-joint------will not slide on to the shaft. The brass bushing in the Oakie stops the joint from sliding on the shaft.
So after reading Twin Jimmys story and the other horror stories------I will take a break from this----I even think that at this point if I had another dilff I would change it out. Will update on my progress.

I had a similar experience installing my Okie bushing. After installing the bushing, the U-joint yoke would not slide on. I ran a deburring tool around the inside lip of the bushing and I wire wheeled the yoke to get it as clean as possible. It started to fit, but still tight. I then used some emery cloth (fine sand paper), added some gear oil and I was able to get it to slide all the way in.

I also had an issue getting the yoke to fit. I think it gets distorted from hammering it in. I found a piece of pipe that fit in the length of the brass bushing and wrapped the pipe with some emery cloth and sanded the inside brass bushing to fit.

. Thank you for the suggestions I will try as you say. Will post a follow up.

Got the yoke to fit after useing emry paper and my dremel tool to enlarge the bushing. Thanks for all the tips!

Glad you got it 👏

Mine fit, but seemed too tight for my liking. I'd crawl under after a run and grab that part of the torque tube and it was pretty hot...almost couldn't keep my hand wrapped around it. So I took the yoke back out and dressed it down some with emery and made it ok, warm but not hot, it's been 6-7 years now and all is still well with it.

But begs the question...how hot would be too hot/too tight/too much friction?

How long of a run? When I get mine back on the road, I think I'll test the temp on mine as well. Although, I was able to turn the U-joint yoke by hand.

I will check the temp on the tube after a long run. Right now in Pa . Wilbur does not want to go outside as the roads are too dirty with salt dust and stone chips on the roads.
Dave

Drive shafts spin pretty fast, especially in the lower gears, so 10-15 minutes around town should be more than enough I'd think.

The driveshaft speed is dependent only on truck speed, not transmission gear, but yeah a short run around town should be enough to see if it's heating up excessively