Ok so my project truck is a 2001 Ram 1500 4x4 5.9l with only 63k on it. The down side to this truck is that is has sat for several years a couple different times. Long story short the driver front needed a new bearing assembly and u joint. I was able to remove the bearing assembly and axle. I used a ball joint press from Auto Zone and was able to remove all the caps to the u Joint. The last cap was very rusted in. I used PB blaster, Freeze Off and liquid wrench. Also used heat and tapping the yoke ears. After trying the air hammer I again used the press. The cap release was violent and resulted in the yoke ear being bent. It is visually noticeable even my wife can see it without prompting. The question is should I replace or attempt to straighten. The stub axle is going to be replaced due to the flange ring having rusted off. I was not shocked to see that the dust/debris shields were completely rusted away.

 

You can 'try' to bend it back in to shape.... it might work. I would just replace it though.

Moving this to the correct forum as well.

 

getting it straight enough to get the u-joint back in may be more trouble than its worth. you could try it, by putting it in a vice and heating it up with a plumbers torch. i'm not sure how you'll know when its straight; maybe get a piece of pipe about the same size as the u-joint cap. you could take it to a drive line shop, but that might cost more than a junkyard axle.

the front axles are pretty common in junkyards, especially if you have a u-pull-it. i'd just get a replacement

 

I had the same issue (really rusted, stubborn to remove U-joint bearing caps) when I replaced my front u-joint. I picked up a good, heavy brass hammer and beat the yoke back straight again against a piece of 2x8 wood. The price of a new stub axle gave me all the motivation I needed to fix what I had. Unfortunately, this is a Ford and Chevy truck loving area, so finding the stub axle used around here is tough.

 

I'd also replace it. No way you'll get it back right and will just be destroying new ujoints and the seal(which is no fun to replace). Try contacting these guys for a price on a used one, they have great customer service and fair prices. http://www.mintonmotorsinc.com/index.html