The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop U-joint removal problem

I got some 4.11 gears for my 1 ton which will make it go a bit better, but, as to be expected, when I started to pull stuff apart, I found a new 'feature' in that the needle bearings in the rear u-joint were less than specification (read many broken). Anyhoo, when I started to try to dissassemble the thing, I found the drive shaft side mounts to be bent! Any suggestions on how to fix this? Right now, I am thinking about cutting the U joint in half, knocking out the parts, then heating the mount up and knocking the u-joint through it while hot to try to get it fixed.

View the squoze up u-joint holder (click me)

Nuthin? No ideas?

Ya chickens!

I might take it over to the driveshaft king here in town and see what he suggests - probably the best idea I have had today....

Yup, looks like it needs some perfessional help... Looks pretty worn as well as being bent, the shop can probably fix you up better than a home job.

-Boyo

My question would be are both sides of the yoke the same (dented)? I think that that it will come out with the aid of a hydraulic press. Then maybe you can reem the yoke back to original size?
Or is there anyone local that builds drive shafts? If so have them weld on a new yoke.

Thats all I have. Good luck.

Most towns have a drive line shop that does work on big trucks. They can build you a new shaft or cut off the ends on your old shaft, weld new ends on and balance for a very resonable rate. Those don't look like they're worth fooling with. Ck with big truck repair shops, they can steer you to a good place. Her in KC there are at least 3-4 drive line shops.

Thanks, I believe you gentlemen are right, and as we say the in the corn-puter trade its easier to design/fix if you have someone to argue with.

I'll get professional help....

then I'll take the driveshaft to a shop!

Let's not sink a ship for the want of a ha'peth of tar....

Final word on this item: I took out the drive shaft from the tranny brake drum to the rear yoke and brought the whole shootin match to a local shop.

$165 to put the whole driveline straight - new C bearing - 3 new ujoints, and the smushed up bits un-smushed.

Drive-shaft King in Dallas, Tx.

My buds have had good work from this shop, so looking forward to getting the bits did.

next time lots of heat push it out the bad side the cup will make the whole round, lots of heat cherry red hot

Sounds like a good deal. The joints and carrier bearing add up to just over $100, iirc.

Thanks for the info Fred. BTW, Warren, the cats down there said they would grind the yokes back to round again. I thought about the heating bit myself as I have a torch, etc, but then the caps might not be stout enough, and I wonder if the heat would change their temper, then again, I wouldn't reuse em anyway, so on 2nd thought, that would probably work ok.

And it was only $147 drive out, plus they balanced the driveshaft and replaced the carrier. Got that in, along with 4.11 gears and I am a happy man. Much better than the 5.26 gears the thing had. I also got my windows back, so hopefully that lot goes in this weekend, and then I will ready for the bed.