So I took my 98 1500 to the body shop today (I know the guy who owns it) to have him check out the clunking sound in my truck. He said I needed new U joints and tie rods put in. Unfortuneatly he said he's too backed up to do a job like that right now. I'm not mechanic... I've done basic things like spark plugs, starter, alternator etc... How hard of a job is it to change them? I've been doing some googling and it seems that everyone is saying it's an easy fix. Also, if anyone has had it done by a professional what did it cost you? I've part checked it and the parts are pretty cheap, I hate to take it to a mechanic for them to really shaft me on labor if it's an easy fix.

 

4x4 , 2wd ?

 

its definatly not an easy fix. i have the same problem and the only place in town that can swap u joints is 4 wheel parts and they are backed up till november....

 

It's 4x4

 

start with the easy stuff , tie rod can be a pain but with the tool called a pickle fork will make it easy , take the couter pin out ,take the nut off and put the pickle fork right where the ruber boot is and hamer the hell out of it..Now the ujoint axle ? drive shaft ? start with axle tire off next is the caliper 2 bolts use a torx 3/8 , the rotor pulls off no tool is needed next is the hub take the couter pin out and losen the nut spray it (pb blaster , wd-40) air racket would be better to brake it lose or a breaker bar that bolt is on there behind the hub you got 3 more bolts those are torx to and again you will need to spray and use a breaker bar and you will need to turn the wheel to get at them , next hamer the hub out and use a chisel to help to seperate it once you get that off the axle pulls out then you will need a screw driver to get those clips out on the ujoint 4 C clips then you use a socket bigger then the head of the ujoint set the axle on it and hammer it all 4 sides till the caps come off , Now this is just an idea NOT A DIY ... depends how good you are with the tools and if you got the right ones and if any one say its easy there BSING you....

 

So basically what pa's tryin to say here is take it to the shop. haha. i dont know about your area but there are alot of people here that are scared to touch a 4x4's u joints. Front left axle shaft u joint is bad and no one will fix it.exceptthe stealership which wants 250 dollars, when i have the part. thats a FUNNY joke.

 

It's just nuts and bolts man. Do it yourself. You do it this time, you'll have the tools and the knowledge of how to do it again if you have to. Otherwise you'll have to pay someone else, and then the next time it happens you might end up paying someone agian becase you still don't know how to do it. Also go buy a chiltons or a haynes manual. They have good directions.

 

It'll take an afternoon if you've n ever done it before.

In my opinion its really easy.

Just take the unit bearing off and pretty much slidr the shaft out, then press the u-joint out and back in like any other u-joint.

 

lol I love how I get some guys to say "it's no problem, piece of cake" and others "not an easy fix take it to the shop"

I'm going to give it a go and try it myself... hopefully I don't break anything else in the process lol i'll let you know how I did.

 

Buy yourself a chiltons or haynes manual. Rent whatever tools you need from an auoparts store, which you get all your money back after return anyways. If you haven't done something like that before, obviously you'll probably think you're in over your head. Think of it this way...if you have directions and the right tools, anyone should be able to do it. Try it yourself first, i've done all the work to my own truck, and have saved a lot of money. If you run into a problem, there is this forum and you can always ask a mechanic, from my own experience, mechanics love people who do it theirselves, so they will probably be glad to tell you how to do it.

Tie rod ends are a sinch, all you do it take the nut off, use a pickle fork, and either bang the joint out of rent a puller. As for u-joints, it depends on what kind you're doing. Driveshaft u-joints are easy, axle joints are a little harder because you have to take the whole axleshaft out. Like i said, with the right tools and directions, it can be done.

Also, MOTORBRREATH, where do you live, i've never heard of a shop turning a job, like an axleshaft, u-joint down. I know a lot mechanics and people who own shops, and they will basically do whatever you want them to do to your vehicle, as long as you have the money. It's a business and about making money, simple as that.