What tools do I need to replace U joints?

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asked Oct 9, 2020 in Repairs/Maintenance by BannanaSoup (260 points)
What tools do I need to replace U joints?

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answered Oct 9, 2020 by Shelde (49,390 points)
To replace U Joints you only need a hammer such as a ball peen hammer and a pair of needle nose pliers.

The ball peen hammer usually works great for pounder out the U Joint Caps and also for pounding the new ones back in.

Although you can use a regular hammer with something else to help drive the caps out and back in.

You should not use a shop press when removing U Joints as it can bend the driveshaft yoke and cause vibration when the driveshaft is reinstalled.

I just use a ball peen hammer and hammer the U Joints out.

The needle nose pliers are also needed to remove the keeper pins that go above the caps to hold them in.

On some U Joints you may need to use a small torch to melt the plastic out but most U Joints just need a hammer and a bench as well as needle nose pliers.

You have to remove the driveshaft to replace the U Joints so you need sockets to remove the bolts holding the driveshaft on as well.

There are tiny needle bearings as well in the U Joint Caps so make sure you are working on something such as a concrete floor or wood floor or have a bucket beneath the U Joints when installing the new ones because you could lose those tiny needle bearings in the ground.

I have done that and had to get more U Joints.

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