The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop U-Joint Removal ?

I have replaced many U-joints on many different applications, but I ran into a new problem doing the U-joint on the rear shaft slip yoke on a 1-ton application. Here's the deal, I was able to press out all the U-joint bearing caps, but I could not remove the U-joint from the Yoke! The only thing I can think of is I may have bent the Yoke while removing the U-joint, although it looks fine. I ended up cutting the U-joint to remove it, but that won't help me putting in a the new U-joint (I do not have the new U-joint yet). Has anyone ran in to this before?

Jim

If the clips were still in the yoke it probly not bent. When pressing the cups out of the slip yoke be sure to remove the zerk they will stop the cup. The cup won't push all the way out sometimes and will need a little help from a pair of vise grips. I just did a set of shafts for a 46 1 1/2 ton and ran into the same problem. I think the new joints are a little beafier on the cross than the older ones making for a tighter fit.

I had all the cups and zerk fitting removed and I still could not remove the center section of U-joint from the yoke. I had to cut the U-joint to remove it.

Jim

What year 1 ton? Does it have the plastic injected lock that requires heat to disassemble the joint?
Scott

Did the new joint fit allright. The old one might have been encrusted with old greese that held up the exit.

What year? That's a good question Scott. My truck is a 54 GMC, but none of my drive train is original. It all seems to be from a later model year Chevy's, but I do not know the exact year. It did not have the plastic injected locks. It had the metal clips in the ends.

ttodd, I was thinking that as well, so I totally degreased the yoke/U-joint and then media blasted the assembly and although the U-joint was totally loose and with out its caps it still would not come free from the yoke. I ended up cutting the U-joint to remove it. I have not yet purchased the new U-Joint yet, so I do not know if I will have any problems re-installing it.

Jim

cujo8...there is a remote possibility that you may have inadvertanly bent the yoke. You may want to check the hole flanges for straightness. I mention this because I have seen it happen.

53moneypit, I will check this out. I am thinking that this is the only rational reason for this problem. If it is bent I wonder how much luck I am going to have trying to staighten it out.

Jim

I would replace the yoke if it is bent. Think you will have future problems if it isn't perfectly straight. It isn't all that expensive

I received the replacement u-joint and after removing two of the caps I was able to install it in the yoke from one direction only. I then took off the other two caps and tried installing it with all the possible ways. I found if I faced the u-joint so the grease fitting was facing up and away from the yoke, I could install it in all four ways with this orientation. I then flipped the u-joint over so the grease fitting faced the yoke and I found I could only install it from one of the four orientations! :rolleyes: I do remember that the old u-joint was installed with the grease fitting facing the yoke, so maybe the person who installed it had forced the u-joint to fit. This may have been possible since the yoke has a tappered edge where the u-joint fits in during installation. I did check the yoke to see if it was bent and it was straight as far as I could tell. Anyway the mystery is solved and it's time for me to move on to the next mystery. Thanks.

Jim

Hy cujo8, thanks for letting everyone know how your problem resolved itself.