This is ok. The clips came out in about 10 minutes. Not exactly sure what happened to the old one but there was a good 1/4" chunk missing from the capYou could try a little heat, not too much, don't turn the metal red.A forum community dedicated to Jeep Wrangler owners and enthusiasts. Done correctly, the clips were set back against the inside of the yoke to center everything up and let the joint float between the two caps on opposite ends.
I use a small chisel and hammer to knock against an edge of the clip, keep hitting until the whole clip shoots off and either grab it with pliers or just pull it off. To remove the snap rings, squeeze the ends together with pliers or a special removal tool. The drive shaft will drop easily once this is removed. The steps are the same whichever clip your vehicle uses. It seems pretty rusted in there. I had some pretty siezed up u joints a couple weeks ago.
This will make the bolt easier to loosen and will be especially useful if the bolt is rusted in place.
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The other type is standard C-clips and they are quite easy to remove as well. Do not try to save one that's rusty. These are located on the inside of the ears and are often rusted in place. I always get out a hi-speed or a dremel (same thing really) and grind the MF'r out when they get that bad. Take the press and set it up so that you are trying to press both caps together on the u-joint.
The other type is standard C-clips and they are quite easy to remove as well. Compare the new u-joint to the old one to ensure that its exactly the same size. Thanks for all the help, guys. Shaft Shivers. The steps are the same whichever clip your vehicle uses.
Sometimes them suckers come right out, other times you can be messing with it for a half hour.I do it the easy way.
Already soaked in WD-40, Marvel Mystery Oil, etc and heated the bejeezers out of it. Then place the yoke of the driveshaft on a block of wood and loosen all the cups so that they are coming out the end of the yokes. I have it soaking in PB blaster right now, but is there anything else i can do to free it up?ATF and acetone 50-50 is better also Kroil if you can find it. Spicer Snap Rings are one type and are pictured in this article. Spray penetrating oil under the bolt head and around the nut. Had to cut the joint on both sides. TIA
Your method worked great. Anyone got ideas on how to get the u-joint … Its pretty awkward holding and aligning everything. First, they seem like they have never been changed and seem pretty seized into the metal, and second, the way they are rotated / aligned, I can't get my screwdriver in there to hit them out with a hammer as I did my first two clips. I've been pounding with a screwdrivers big and small, tried prying with a needle nose plier and tried edging them away from the yokes with taps from a thin screwdriver, but nothing seems to work. I've had to use as many as 15-20 to get a badly rusted one out, though. After the cap is out as far as the press will push it and if it's still stuck, I remove the press and then clamp the cap in a vise.
3 or 4 good hits and they're usually out. No, but thats an idea. Ok, got the second c-clip off the opposite side. If your driveshaft attaches with axle type bolts (a circle of bolts with either hex or Allen heads), proceed to remove that end of the driveshaft like the photo above.