I crawled under the truck to pull out the front driveshaft so that I could replace the center u-joint today. Only to find that there was no room to cleanly access the bolts holding the driveshaft to the transfer case. (Glad I started there and not at the axle).

How do you guys get into those bolts? The transmission crossmember is in the way, and even then there is very little access. Sockets are a no go due to the shape of the Double Cardine Joint. I can get a wrench on 1 nut at a time, but only have room to move the wrench about 5mm before it hits something...never mind I can't get any leverage to break the bolts loose.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. What have you done in the past?

 

Turn the shaft so the bolt you are working on is at about the 4 o'clock position. You should be able to get a socket on it there. (I did......) Gonna need an extension on that....... Just drop the truck into 4wd to lock the shaft in place while you break the bolt loose. First time around, just break 'em loose, quarter turn or so, then move on to the next one, once all are broke loose, take 'em off.

 

Disconnect the front ujoint from the diff yoke first. This way you can swing the shaft out of the way to gain access to any bolt at almost any position. Then rotate it and put the TC in 4x4 as Heyyou suggested.

 

Zman. Good point on swinging the driveshaft out of the way. I will try that and see if I can gain access.

Taking it in and out of 4wd is where having an extra set of hands available is nice. Although, my wife will benefit from the extra situps.

 

Take that shaft to a local driveshaft shop and have them replace the joints. They can also rebuild the dbl cardan joint. Trust me on this. It has to be right.

 

If you are just changing the pinion cross joint just use the balljoint/ujoint tool and leave the driveshaft in the truck. If you are going to service the dbl cardan joint do as Zman17 has suggested and take it to a shop.

 

So, changing a u-joint in the double cardan joint is complicated compared to doing other u-joints?

I am sitting here typing because I am giving BP Blaster a chance to work on the front yoke. Apparently the front u-joint loves the yoke and doesn't want to part with it.

 

Yes....

 

Roger that!

Shaft is buttoned back up and I am researching Driveshaft places here in KC.

Thanks

 

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