New member, first posting!

Ive done a bit of searching around before posting my question and cant seem to find anything related.

Anyways....just removed the front driveshaft on my '03 2500 5.7 and I need to replace the front U-joint. Since ive been hearing it is "un-serviceable" I'd like to know if anyone has replaced this ujoint before and if they learned any tricks to getting the thing out. Figured Id check before the grinder comes out!

Id like to just buy a new shaft but dont have the $$$ to spend right now. Any thoughts would be appreciated!

 

first off , welcome to DF
second i myself havent replaced a u-joint but i have seen it done . seems to be a easy job.
keep a eye out hear, we have some real good guys on hear that can help out a bit more .

again welcome man.

 

Welcome to DF,
I have replaced my front joints. They are serviceable. Federal-Mogul makes "Precision" super duty u-joints with grease zerks in them. The caps on the originals are staked with injected plastic to hold them in---they're a b***h to push out.
If you use a propane torch just to warm them up some, they'll push out easier.
I got mine at Napa.

The new ones have C-clips that snap in to the inside of the cap, rather than the typical end clip. They work well!! If you get the super duty joint, and if I remember right, that's the only one available, the zerk is in the end cap.

 

The front drive shaft should be much like the rear they all have four bolts holding u- styled clamps if the same is onthe other end then you do that as well. (the other side should pull out of trans fer case) when done you should be hholding a drive shaft two u-joints and a yoke. The other ends are pressed in with a vise. you simply put the ends inthe vise with a nsmaller dia end too push it out one end /don't forget too pull the hairpins on the ends othewrwise your gonna get frustrated. I usually use a spare socket 3/4 or 5/8 th's should work for the vise work. then reassemble usinthe vise . pretty straight forward really. welcom too df

 

One word of advice-----before you disassemble the shaft, run a stripe of paint down the entire shaft, this way you get the yokes back in the same location in relation to each other and the shaft----very important in order to maintain the balance---or regulation, of the shaft.

 

Thanks for all the tips. The shaft is already out, that was this afternoons project...I did stripe it after reading some more posts on here about dis-assembly! I was wondering what that plastic was on the joints. I will heat it up tomorrow and try and get it apart with some vice/hammer work and let you know how it goes.

 

cool keep us posted .. good luck

 

when you heat it up wear a mask, ive heard horror stories of people inhaling that. the plastic is really bad to inhale.

 

ahh that takes the fun out of it lol .... but you are right saftey first

 

im in no way a safety nut but when it comes to wearing a mask or spend the rest of your life drooling ill wear the mask.