Replaced U joints, but they're too hard

[Blazer79]

Replaced U joints, but they\'re too hard

I finally was able to replace all 5 U joints of both of my drivelines with new Spicers. When I installed them, they were pretty hard to move with the hand, especially the front U joint of each driveline. Is this normal? I drove them about 30 miles today and they were more than warm, especially the two I mentioned.

Is this normal or did I do something wrong with the installation?

PS they were greased well before installation.

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[Grim-Reaper]

Re: Replaced U joints, but they\'re too hard

Well baring any problems with the needle bearings getting into the bottom of the cups it is normal. I was shown a little trick a while back that you may need to do. This sounded funny to me when I was told to do it but it works incredibly well. Give the yoke on the drive shaft a good pop with a hammer. The resulting shock allows the cups to fully seat against the c-clips, center and they loosen up. The fact that they sayed tight after the joint was popped in is a good thing. It indicates that the holes in the yokes are not wallowed out. The fact that they are getting hot is a bit of a concern though. warm would be normal but peoples perseption of "hot" is different.

Diging it in the dirt with my K5's
Grim-Reaper
http://grimsk5s.coloradok5.com/

 

[MudFrog]

Re: Replaced U joints, but they\'re too hard

Very normal. Every one I've installed has done the same but they become looser as they are used.

89 K5 Silverado
http://mudfrog.coloradok5.com

 

[Blazer79]

Re: Replaced U joints, but they\'re too hard

Thanks for your comments guys. You gave me peace of mind. I'll try to pop them with a hammer too.

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[EDGE]

Re: Replaced U joints, but they\'re too hard

How do you tell when you need new u-joints and how much were they?Where do you buy them?

 

[MudFrog]

Re: Replaced U joints, but they\'re too hard

You can tell by climbing underneath the rig and shaking and twisting the driveshafts. If there is play in the ujoint you should probably go ahead and change them. If they are really bad you'll probably feel some really bad vibrations on the road at fast and slow speeds.

You can buy ujoints at Advance Autoparts or AutoZone or probably almost any other kind of automotive store. I think they usually run around $15 or so each here but not sure. (My dad sells them so I get them for like $4 each).

89 K5 Silverado
http://mudfrog.coloradok5.com

 

[BurbinOR]

Re: Replaced U joints, but they\'re too hard

I hope I'm wrong in your case, but beware if those u-joints last no more than another week. I made that same mistake a few years ago, until I too learned the trick Grim describes above. Hope you get away with it, but if not, replace them and pop them with the hammer to seat them.

<font color=black>'79 K5 - 406 w/IROC TPI -<font color=orange> K5#5 - <font color=blue>http:// [url]www.blazzinor.coloradok5.com [/url]

 

[Blazer79]

Re: Replaced U joints, but they\'re too hard

MudFrog has it right on how to tell if they are bad. I got rid of ALL my vibrations now that I replaced them.

I got them from http://www.napaonline.com. Three were $21.99 each, and the two in the CV joint were $19.69 each. All Spicer. I had bought another two spicers before for the front axleshafts from http://www.offroaddesign.com Still haven't replaced those two, though.

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[87Blzr]

Re: Replaced U joints, but they\'re too hard

Every time I used to do u-joints they would be hard and I would use the hammer trick and they would loosen somewhat and never had any problems, even if they did stay hard. My father in law used to get great deals on Snap-On tools so I had him get me a expensive ball joint press. I end up using this on u-joints now and there is no banging to get the old ones out or the new ones in and they are not tight at all using this when done. I never had a problem when they were tight but it is possible to do the job without having tight results or using a hammer.


87 K5 Siverado, 68 SS 396 Camaro