boustany
Platinum Member
Not strictly tractor related, but useful for all U-joints
I had to replace the rear U-joint on my 4Runner. 4Runner U-joints come in at least 2 types: 'innies' where the U-joint is inside the circ clip and 'outies' where the circ clip is inside the U-joint.
As luck would have it, I had a 'outie' which I had never encounted before. I pulled the driveshaft off, and proceeded to remove the U-joint using the old 'socket and a vise' method for pushing the end cap through. This usually works, though it can be a pain in the butt because the U-joint is heavy and you have to support the floppy part while setting everything up.
Anyhow, because of the dimensions of the U-joint, having to do with it being an 'outie' the shoulder of the joint would bottom before the cap came fully out. I fought with this for an hour, back and for, and it wouldn't give. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
Then I thought 'what am I thinking?'. I pulled the joint out of the vise and decided to ignore hundreds of auto repair textbooks, shop classes, etc., and developed a new technique for U-joint removal. (well new for me ....)
I folded the shaft at the joint, took my 5" grinder and cut the 4 posts of the U-joint. Then I pushed out the end caps.
This took maybe 5 minutes and is guaranteed to work. I will never even try the old method again.
(Patent pending). /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
I had to replace the rear U-joint on my 4Runner. 4Runner U-joints come in at least 2 types: 'innies' where the U-joint is inside the circ clip and 'outies' where the circ clip is inside the U-joint.
As luck would have it, I had a 'outie' which I had never encounted before. I pulled the driveshaft off, and proceeded to remove the U-joint using the old 'socket and a vise' method for pushing the end cap through. This usually works, though it can be a pain in the butt because the U-joint is heavy and you have to support the floppy part while setting everything up.
Anyhow, because of the dimensions of the U-joint, having to do with it being an 'outie' the shoulder of the joint would bottom before the cap came fully out. I fought with this for an hour, back and for, and it wouldn't give. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
Then I thought 'what am I thinking?'. I pulled the joint out of the vise and decided to ignore hundreds of auto repair textbooks, shop classes, etc., and developed a new technique for U-joint removal. (well new for me ....)
I folded the shaft at the joint, took my 5" grinder and cut the 4 posts of the U-joint. Then I pushed out the end caps.
This took maybe 5 minutes and is guaranteed to work. I will never even try the old method again.
(Patent pending). /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif