Thanks guys....got it off.

Now I have to find a friend that has a vice big enough to push the caps out. So far two vices..two vices too small.

 

take a 9/16 deep socket, and get the drive shaft propped up and supported so it wont move and use the 9/16 socket and a hammer, and get them out that way. thats the method i used to put a cap in on my front driveshaft, took all of 2 seconds to do so.

 

i also had to use socket and BFH to drive it out. vise wouldn't budge it.

mine was equally hard going back in so I used some sandpaper and honed it out a just a smidgen.

 

Also, there can be tension on the Dshaft when trying to remove it. Putting the trans in neutral (or tcase if 4x4) can help it come out freely.

 

All you need to remove the joint is a tailgate, a hammer, a socket with extension and some man power.

I just put the driveshaft in the back of the bed, took the clips out and went to town.

Use WD-40 and a cheap extension becaus eyoull probably ruin it.

 

A concrete floor/driveway works even better, as it doesn't absorb the impact like hollow metal.

 

There was another thread, involving a special tool I used on the u-joints of the front axle. Now, I'm not positive if the driveshaft u-joint caps and the axle u-joint caps are the same size, but I said I'd post a pic of my tool. (Get ur minds outta the gutter.) So here it is... a transmission input shaft cut short, or just a tool used for lining up the tranny to the motor, before installation from a semi. The nipple on the end of the shaft fits perfectly into the axle yokes, (possibly driveshaft yokes), and with the assistance of a BFH, makes popping those caps in and out a breeze. No vices, no sockets, no wasted extensions. This thing is 7-8 lbs. solid metal, and with a 2 inch or so wide top, makes it much safer than trying to smack a socket extension, with your hand directly underneath it. I would highly recommend anyone that messes with u-joints regularly, to have one of these in their tool box. All of my buddies come to me to borrow this tool, when u-joints are on the agenda.



Just wondering, but can anyone confirm the u-joint cap sizes being the same from the axle and the driveshaft. I'm going to be doing driveshaft u-joints soon, and, ofc I will try to use ma tool on the driveshaft u-joints, but would be cool to know ahead of time, that the cap sizes are the same. When i did axle u-joints last time, the parts store accidentally gave me the u-joints for the driveshaft, and when I went to install, I noticed the difference in caps, before trying to jam them in. But I didn't pay close attention to if they were the same diameter/ circumference

 

You can get the DOdge part number in the parts manual and have them cross reference it on their system.