[LoFrontier]

'93 D150, 147k miles

The driveline is making a lot of noise and I suspect that the U-joints need to be replaced. I'm pretty confident that they're original. I want to replace both of them.

Are there any tricks to this? Any special tools? I've never done these before and just want to get some info before I start on it.

 

[Evildriver-3]

All you need is a hammer and screwdriver, i really can't explain it but when hitting it don't hit the ears either hit the cap or the weld on the yoke

 

[s ǝoɾ]

you unbolt the rear yoke caps. slide drive shaft out of tranny. use screw drive and hammer to pound the caps out from the back side. use vice to press caps back in. then i believe you are supposed to gently tap the d shaft with the hammer to relieve stress caused by pressing.

 

[KThaxton]

then i believe you are supposed to gently tap the d shaft with the hammer to relieve stress caused by pressing.

Yes, this is good. If your the new joint feels a little tight once installed, give one of the ears a tap with a hammer and you'll feel it loosen right up.

 

[macario]

If you are talking about a regular drive shaft, it is not expensive to take it in and just get them done at a shop.

Mac

 

[oldmanram]

I've always had good luck with the vise thing like Joe said. I use it to press them both in and out. Just find a socket big enough for the cap to fit inside, and a smaller one, just smaller than the cap to press it out. Use the small socket to press the cap into the big socket, than flip it over and press the other cap out. To install just line up everything and use the vise to press it together. Be very careful not to slip any of the needles in the cap as you are putting it back together. Buy good, brand name joints, stay away from those GMB ones - actually the after market manuals like Chilton show how to do this pertty well.
And if I remember right you need a vise that opens around 7" to get all this crap in there
And follow the hammer tapping thing the other guys said.
Good luck -

 

[K.C.]

If the u-joints have never been changed, you may have to use the hammer method to remove them. I recently did the u-joints on my front axles. First I tried to press things apart using sockets and a vise. Didn’t budge, so I tried the local hydraulic press and they still would not budge. The hammer method worked as slick as snot on a door knob. Sometimes they just need a good shock from the hammer to start things moving. Like ED3 says, it’s hard to explain how to do it properly with out damaging things. Might be best to take the drive shaft and new joints down to a local garage. Hopefully they will let you watch. When I first saw it done, it seemed like a brutal way to do things, but Dodge even describes this process in their factory manuals. They show the ears being hit with what looks like a brass mallet. If you want, let me know and I’ll e-mail you a link that shows the page from the manual. It describes changing u-joints on the front axle… same general idea for the driveshaft.

 

[ram98q]

'93 D150, 147k miles

The driveline is making a lot of noise and I suspect that the U-joints need to be replaced. I'm pretty confident that they're original. I want to replace both of them.

Are there any tricks to this? Any special tools? I've never done these before and just want to get some info before I start on it.

If you have a good bench vise it makes the job a lot easier on you and the parts. After you remove the retainer clips you can use a socket near the same size as the bearing cap one larger and one smaller. Use the small one to push the bearing cap into the larger one.

 

[Guest]

Don't forget to remove the c-clips first.

And don't use a screwdriver, they're not made for driving things out. Use a punch. My high school shop teacher would be very upset with you guys

 

[s ǝoɾ]

And don't use a screwdriver, they're not made for driving things out. Use a punch. My high school shop teacher would be very upset with you guys

so would mine

 

[LoFrontier]

Cool, thanks for the info guys. This doesn't seem too hard.

It also looks like a good enough excuse for me to buy a bigger vise!