Changed Axle U-Joints w/ Some Damage

[Deleted member 995608]

I used the BFH method to get the joints out- joints were welded in. Even soaked em in a bucket of WD40.



Managed to slighty colapse the yokes.



Can they be repaired?



Or did I make an expensive mistake?

 

[Hoefler]

Take it to a drive-line shop, have them replaced and balanced. If it is one of the aluminum pop can shafts, just have a new shaft made.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

The U-joints I changed are for the front axle, not driveshaft.

 

[BHanna]

If you can get a new u-joint in there and it doesn't feel like it's binding when you flex it then you should be ok.

 

[brods]

Bummer. If a ujoint was excessively tight, I have used large threaded rod with nuts and washers to carefully expand yokes slightly. There is no control over which ear moves so it is not an ideal solution. Use common sense and if the yoke is too damaged seek a professional driveline shop's opinion or just replace it. Which yoke is tweaked, the inner axle shaft's or the one on the outer stub axle?

I been in your shoes, which is why rather then the BFH I usually do ujoints in a huge vise or, the preferred method, with an arbor press. Sometimes those tools are not readily available and you do what you have to.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I tried the vise. I even tried OTC 8031 C-clamp for ball joints. No luck.



Only the blow from hand sledge moved em out.



Driver side, outer yoke has slighty colapsed ear. One clip won't snap all the way in place.



Passenger side assembled. Rotates smooth in one direction but not the other.



Will take em' in the morning.



Hope all is well. Wife is A little mad because were supposed to leave town with the 5er on Wednesday!

 

[Tejasdge]

I feel for ya. I have a bad habit of doing big projects before big trips, and I know better. I just did my rear shaft and had to really wack it with the dead blow hammer. It really worked well, even though the caps were rusted pretty well. I also hate when the kids hang around keeping me from expressing myself as needed.

 

[mwilson]

By collapsed, do you mean the ears are tipped down on the open end?? If so you can save it. Let me know and I will tell you how to get out of this.

I just noticed that you posted yesterday morning, sorry. It could have been saved.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Thanks. I took the axle's into my gear guy this morning. Said No Problem.....



Heard that before.



Tej- Never fails. Why I wait untill the 11th hour to fix crap, I'll never know.

 

[ryecreek]

people come by our shop al the time to do stuff like that (friends to borrow equip and tools?)

seen 2 dodge frnt axle yokes bent 1 95 -1 2002

we have a 50ton press and ya have to be very careful on that stuff

you can break stuff or if ya have a part blow-out you can DIE

none the less they bent there yokes cause they were not sitting flat and square

i would find a replacement or go to a driveline shop and make sure its good (straight/balanced)

 

[brods]

Did you get my PM? Let me know if you are interested and I'll dig them out.

 

[WStephens]

This works much better than WD-40 for removing seized parts. Kroil and you can get it from this web site. KanoLabs.com

We use it to dissassemble Gas and Steam Turbines I keep a can in my tool box so when I do my own work it is handy.