Hi guys...I searched through some old posts and determined I have a clicking noise coming from my front axle U joints. Yesterday, I was able to take the hub nut off, the caliper off, and the the 9/16 bolts off...but nothing wanted to budge. I'm assuming once I take those 3 - 9/16 bolts off that the outer housing should come off and I can slide the axle/ujoint out for replacement. Am I correct? Do I need to take the upper/lower ball joints off and the whole slide the axle out along with everything else or should I just keep on pounding away at that outer houseing for the bearings? Those three 9/16 bolts should hold that on...correct?

Thanks in advance!
Oh-its a 1995 dodge ram 1500.

 

yeah the hard part is over withit should come right off. be carefull with the shafts when you are taking them in or out because there is a seal in there that is almost impossible to find at a part storeI had the same problem a few days ago.

 

Thats what I thought. I figured once I took those three 9/16 bolts off everything should come apart (with taking the ball joints off -ect) but its not. Does that outer cover (thats held on with the three 9/16 bolts) take some force to get off? Maybe its rusted on? Any hints/ideas?

Once you took your bolts off, it was easy to get off and you can get to your bearings and/or slide your axle out?

 

The clicking could be the hub itself that is what the problem with mine was

 

The clicking you are hearing is the u-joint correct they usually dont get greased and thats why they wear out. Did mine about 6 moths back if i recall correctly you pull the wheel remove the caliper, leave the hub on unbolt the three bolts pull the hub and front axel as one piece , then ist just remove the u-joint and reverse for install. I hope this is right if i could see my truck right now i could tell you better but its pouring outside right now. I can tell you this driver/side took me about 4 hrs i pulled the hub and reset it , passangers/side less than 1 hr had it down by then.......... If you still dont have any luck LMK and when it stops raining i can look at my truck and help you better

 

I don't think so...there is a TOn of play in the U-joins...they are shot. I can twist the axle by hand and make the clicking sound right from u-joints - they are bad! To much beach driving with salty air. Thats why I think that outer cover is giving me such a problem.

 

yeah a hammer and some WD 40 should do the trick

 

I would hardly say the hard part is over if your hubs are rusted on like mine were. Getting the hubs/bearing assy off is the hard part. After they come off, then the axle shafts just slide right out. The first one I tried I did not get it off myself. After seeing how a mechanic friend got it, it did get the second one off with a jaw puller and lots of chisel pounding between the hub and knuckle. If you want to reuse the hubs this is not the best method. There is a tool out there that Autozone has called a slide hammer, looks like it would work well but you have to have the correct size hub puller attachment. The one I brought home from autozone did not fit on my 8 lug hub. I think it would work well if you had the right setup. The Ram hub design is pretty unfriendly. I replaced both front hubs and used anti seize lube, hopefully I will never struggle with those again on this truck.

 

hit it with liquid wrench that should help

 

IT WORKED!! Great... a can of WD-40, some chizles and a sledge hammer did the job.

Now next question....WHATS THE SECRET ON GETTING THE U-JOINTS OUT????