Maurice

Day 4 of 10, I have spent all day trying to get the U-joints out of the half shafts. I got one side but the other side is pretty rusty and not coming out. I started by hammer and socket method. The ujoint will only come out to be flush with the other side and no farther. I then went and got a vice and tried and same scenario. I then went and bought a propane torch and heated it for awhile and it still isn't budging. FRUSTRATION. I am ready to use the torch to lite up the car. Any new suggestions?

88'Cubka

I've been doing the same...but for over a week now. Use A LOT of penitrating oil.

I'm thinking about taking a dy grinder to and just cutting a side off the U-joint...


[Modified by 88'Cubka, 7:27 PM 1/21/2003]

74FLCONV

For $80, let someone else suffer:

http://www.vansteel.com/axle.html

D. Ocean
Miami, FLA

Maurice

And for another 80 they will ship it to me :). I wish I lived somewhere where the shipping rates were realistic and I could get this stuff for a reasonable cost. I am going to take it to the driveshaft shop tomorrow morning and see what they can do. They said they would remove and install for $10 each (Now that I've spent $25 for a propane torch, $45 for a vice, $10 in Gasoline, and 10 hours of my life, added stress and frustration of today took 6 months off my life)

Stoge

Thats pretty reasonable. Think I'll have them do mine.

Maurice

I was thinking the same thing...But I figured I would be spinning my wheels, I beat on that Ujoint for 3 hours today and I didn't even dent it, I didn't think I could cut it.

Schmucker

I'd just use the press we have that weighs 6000lbs. It pushes much more than that. We have a 20 ton jack that we could rig up to press them out too. Or I would usggest using a real torch, an oxyacetalyne (sp?) and cut the u-joints.

nunus79

I can feel the fun and relaxation that this project is bringing you with every word you've typed......NOT. LOL, you're supposed to enjoy these 10 days. Anyway, because you are junking those joints, its time to break out the nuclear weapon, AIR TOOLS......try the air chisel first, then the pointed one......deform away......you want to try PB Blaster? I have some on my shelf if you want to use it, feel free.

OK, so if after that, you still don't get it out....this never fails.....let somebody else take a wack at it. It will pop right out, guaranteed. :D

Between you and Wendell there's been a recent need for a press. We should have "group purchased" one of those too. Yeah, I haven't forgot about the cherry picker "group purchase". I remind Wendell too.

88'Cubka

I was thinking of just cutting right under the seal. I'll try it tomorrow and tell you how it went. Take a couple pictures even.

88'Cubka

I wouldn't want to use an o/a torch on it. Don't wanna fubar the half shaft up...

Maurice

I GIVE....Will be at machine shop tomorrow morning when it opens. I got ZERO done today..... :cuss :mad :banghead: :banghead:

Larry B.

Hammers won't do it!! Just take a die grinder and cut the cross.. real easy and A real time saver. Got that tip from the forum!! Half shaft U-joints can be VERY tough.

jerryp58

I sympathize with you.

Way back when, I started my "Saturday" project of replacing all 6 U-joints.
I got the drive shaft done in about 30 minutes.
I spent the rest of the weekend on the half shafts :mad
It's a PITB job.

Don't feel bad about farming this one out.
All I had (and it sounds like you're about the same) was a hammer & drift pin.
A press is so much better; for you and the half shafts (you don't want to bend those flanges).

Hang in there & Good Luck.

Gary79

$40 in labor to the machine shop,+ they have the stuff to make sure the "ears" don't get bent up.

BeaterShark

This settles it, I'm moving to Honalulu. I'm really sick of the cold weather here in Dallas and I already have a cherry picker, so I could immediately contribute.

Seriously, if you beat on them that much, I'd take them to a machine shop to have the old ones pressed out and the new ones pressed in. I was able to get all of my u-joints out with the hammer and socket method, but I had to rely on a machine shop for my front A-arm bushings.

Maurice

THAT WAS THE BEST $20.80 I HAVE EVER SPENT!!!! :D <- That was me this morning. It took the guys at the driveline shop over an hour to get them out. The two thing that enabled to get them out that I didn't have was 1: A big freaking hammer, and 2: big freaking arms to operate the hammer.

GrandSportC3

It took my mechanic a few hours to get them U-joints out of them half shafts.... It's a real pain...

:cheers:

Olivier

88'Cubka

Bah! Cheaters! I'm going to cut mine out now like a real man! :jester

nunus79

Maurice
I was RIGHT. If you let someone else take a whack at it, it’ll pop out. :p: What do I win?? :troll

Chris,
You would make a fine addition to the zany cast of Vette-loving characters here in Hawaii. Come on down!!! Besides your cherry picker, a two-post lift would be nice. :D
Norris

88'Cubka

ran out of discs......taking to shop today :p: lol