Thanks for all the advice guys

 

I replaced my drivers side u-joint about 6 months ago. My experience pretty much mirrors everyone elses. The most difficult part was getting the axle nut off. I dosed it in PB Blaster for several days prior, but didn't seem to make a difference. The socket for the axle nut I purchased at Sears. Trying to bust the torque on that nut with just a breaker bar proved impossible until I found a 4 foot length of steel tubing. As soon as I slipped that on to the breaker bar the nut came right off.

The only other tool I bought was a bearing puller from Harbor Freight that I used to get the hub off. Using that, the hub pulled right off with little effort. Replacing the u-joint itself was pretty straightforward. It took some muscle but wasnt that bad.

Once the new u-joint was installed, it only took me about 15-20 minutes to put everything back together and take it for a test drive. It probably would have taken less, but like a moron I put the heat shield on backwards and had to take the hub back off to flip it.

 

i do no seperate the hub from the axle it saves 10 mins like that

 

Do I just leave the bolts for the hub in? The three 12 point ones? Please explain

 

He means don't take the axle nut off, pull the axle and the hub together. Hub HAS to come out to change that joint.

 

Okay, so maybe I won't have to screw with that rediculous nut after all

 

it is alittle more auqward doing it with the hub on i am used to it because i am a mechanic for dodge

 

Which means you have tools and tables.

Jerk

 

You sure? Dodge dealer's shop in Fitzgerald, Ga had tables in the middle but I didn't see 1 single tool or piece of machinery besides a desktop computer.

 

i use sockets and a hammer like every one else but i have a vice bolted to my tailgate that i can use when not in use for on the trail and i do it the same whay then 2