So I'm putting u joints in my truck and realized I can't remember how the clips go in after all the frustration I had getting the old one out. Anyway, here are some pictures for reference.


That is how it looks. Seems like to me the clip would go in the slot. However, it seems like once I put it on the slots don't come all the way through so you can't get the clips in those slots.

However, if you pull back the black rubber piece there is another slot. These are plenty far through.


Do I put the clips in that slot under the black rubber piece or do I keep beating the caps on until I can put them in the slot in the first picture?

 

The slot under the seal is for the seal lip so it stays in place.
I would probably put one of the rings on and then tap the U-joint down until you can seat the other.
If you've beem pounding on it, I hope you haven't bent the driveshaft ear, or had a needle bearing get jammed up in the cup.
When installing new joints, it doesn't hurt to lightly clean up the driveshaft ears with emery cloth to remove rust and machining lips so the new joint snap rings will seat better.

 

neither.
leave that rubber seal alone. don't distort it.
the clips should go in the yoke, on top of the u-joint cap.

edit - i type too slow.

i used a dremel with a sanding drum to clean inside the ears and open it up just a couple of thousand's. but don't overdo it. mine were so tight i about busted a gut beating them out.

 

The slot under the rubber is to seal the rubber gasket..
you need to press the cups down farther to get to the top slot.
2 things here though if you cant get the c clips in

1 you have the wrong universals
2 when you pulled the cups off a needle bearing moved and is now on the top of the cup preventing it from pressing into place....(it does happen)
the clips will be tight but if you can't see the groove then something is wrong...

 

I believe these are the front axle universals, not the driveshaft universals.
but if they are the driveshaft uni's the Dhvaughn is correct...

 

oops. my bad. clip goes in the outer groove.
here's a nice pic.
http://www.pavementsucks.com/tech-article-5.html

 

Ok so I got one clip on but no matter what I do I can't get the other cap to go that far on. Not far enough for me to get the clip on. I've tried beating it on. Then I used my press and it got so tight I couldn't turn the bolt on it anymore with a breaker bar so I used my IR 2135TI impact wrench and it got until it wouldn't turn anymore and it's still no where near being far enough on to get the clip on that side. Any tips?

 

take it back apart. you probably have a needle bearing down in the bottom of the cup

 

Needle bearing was the problem.

Now for a problem. When taking it back up I scared up the yoke if that's what you call it. Is this piece now ruined too? Or can it just be filed down?







You can see there in one side how it went in a little when it wasn't straight and messed up the metal some. Can this just be filed down or do I now need to replace this piece too?

 

looks like you bit off a little more than you could chew!! j/k

it's says in the hayne manual not to do that.. but i guess the only thing to do is try it