Easy U-joint fix? **PICS**

[MattG88]

Hey everyone. I own an 88 K5 with a 3" Superlift and 33's. Tonight on my way home from work, my driveshaft decided it wanted to touch the ground. I've never broke/fixed a U-joint before so I was wondering if I could get some opinions if this will be an easy fix. Hopefully I can get some help. Let me know what you think. Thanks

 

[stayaway]

Yep that is a easy fix just a broke ujoint take the c clips out on the driveshaft get ya a socket bigger than the cap size set the shaft on it and bang away from there you should be able to see what is going on

 

[unclematty]

Thats not Carnage! thats just a broke U-joint, I always use a soket anda hammer , a vice works too, just press out the old one and press in the new one, even a new guy like yourself should be able to figure it out in under an hour! your in the right place for the chevy that ails you!

 

[55Willy]

you're gonna have to get a torch for that one. looks to be the stock u joint which GM used a plastic injected in a groove to hold the caps. the new joint will use snap rings which are tons easier to change. I'v used the same socket technic listed above.

 

[MattG88]

Thanks for your help guys. Thats all I figured I needed to do. But with me new to the truck world, I just wanted to be 100% sure. What exactly are those caps called so I dont look like a total newbie when I go to AutoZone to get new ones? Just 1U-Joing caps?

 

[bigjbear]

You buy the whole joint, not just the caps. Buy a manual while you are there, too. Trust me, you'll need it sooner or later. I used to always do the hammer and socket method, but after doing an axle shaft joint or two I became a beliver in using a vise or Very Large c-clamp. Also check your front yoke coming out of the x-fer case for damage.

Next time change when it starts making that noise (before it breaks)

 

[mikayak390]

If your changing one, I'd buy the front and rear joint and replace both. It will save you the trouble in a few weeks. Oh and buy the brute force or anything with a lifetime warrenty. Cheap ones tend to break a year later.

Oh yea as said above its an easy 20 minute fix. A hammer a punch and a large socket are all you need.

 

[walla2k5]

Also,be careful with the needle bearings,don't want them falling over inside the cap.

 

[Emmettology 101]

I'd buy new u-joint straps while you're at it too! Looks like it spit out a cap and the joint came out. So your u-joint straps may be worn or out of whack.. Plus they are expensive.

 

[trailblazr81]

U have a grease gun? Gotta lube those U-Joints. Get the best ones u can buy. I buy mine from a local truck parts shop. They cary Dana Spicer joints while auto parts store had crappy Precision brand. I use a press to do my U-Joints. Hammering out U-joints is fine but hammering in can cause some problems if you get over-zealous.