10 Bolt Axle Shaft U Joint (at knuckle) How Hard to Change?

[Chris in Idaho]

Can I change the U joints at the knuckles of my 10 bolt with basic tools or does it require a press or something like that? What U joints are they? 1310?

 

[jms]

Get a u-joint/ball joint tool kit - basically a big C-clamp with a bunch of thingamajig adapters. Makes life a lot easier than the hammer-and-socket approach.

 

[6.2Blazer]

You definitely don't need any special tools but they can come in handy. The only time I have used an actual press was removing some really stubbord u-joints. As far as reinstalling the joints I usually use a bench vise or a c-clamp to push the caps back in, and have used only a hammer many times before also. Just be careful to get the caps on straight and not knock out any of the needle bearings.

 

[diesel4me]

Probably the hardest part of this job,is getting the spindles off ,after removing the 6 bolts--you might have to use a sharp chisel wedged between it and rge backing plate to get it loose,and use a block of wood & hammer on it to wiggle it free--once its off taking out the axle and replacing the u-joint is the same procedure as doing one in a driveshaft basically..be sure to look at the needle bearing in the spindle and see if its good and needs greasing..good idea to put a new seal on it if it needs one too..