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two very newbish question: One on ujoint replacement, one on mid 80s cosmetics

Dabba

Dabba

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First, ill just say it. How do you replace a ujoint? In laymans terms please.:mad: I understand it involves using a vice and sockets to remove the ujoint. But im just not sure what your actually replacing? Just the bear u joint? The whole thing is needle bearings and caps? im not sure of the workings of a basic joint but i guesss ill see when i take one out. My problem is, i dont have a accessable vice. I heard you could use a hammer but how? Ive read guides online for the vice and in the haynes manual. I dislike the haynes manual because most operations they explain are explained in such a way that makes it seemed much more complicated than it is. I know this is a basic operation but i just cant see it in my head yet. ill be replacing my tcase soon so i guess i might as well go for the ujoints too.

Also, i know mid 80s gm trucks came with single headlights and dual headlights. Ive seen interlaping years for these models and ive seem them on all gm trucks so what determined what trucks had the single and dual headlights? I could be wrong with the year thing here but i swear i see both variations.


Ohh i feel so nub,
 
well 73-80 trucks came with the round headlights
73'

show_image_stream.php


74'

Davewater_backround_front_3_qua.jpg


75' Cant find a pic but is the same as 76' if I remember correctly

76'

1976%20Chevy%20a.JPG


77' Is the same as 78'


hears is my 78'
P1100013.jpg


here is a 79'
chev79.jpg


here is a 80' most had square headlights but IIRC you could get round ones
show_image_stream.php
 
Here's how I did my U-joints: I did not use a vice either. I used a flathead and a hammer to blow out the snap ring. Used WD-40, and used a Socket that was the size of needle bearing caps. A few hard blows of the hammer should get the bearing cap to fall out of the other side. While doing this, do not hit the drive shaft as you might break the ear.
Putting then in is a similar process, just be careful not to have a needle bearing go out of place. Make sure the fase is propper, and clean before reassembling. Use lots of WD, and dont forget to repack the bearings. I think I covered everything.
 
One thing to add. Some 1980 trucks had 1 single square head light. 84-88 K5's were quad headlights.
 
I'll just show you the headlight thing. I had the 2 headlight and a four headlight front clip. I liked the four better so i swapped. As for GM determining which for which i think they stopped the single in '85 and went to four in 86' and 87'. then went to the four small headlight design in '88 to '89 and one big headlight again in '90-'91

my Blazer before.. '85 front clip (BTW that's an '80 front clip on the truck)


the Blazer after


I think i know what you're sayin though. It does seem like they put the single headlights on the 86's and 87's but i'm not totally positive
 
Headlights in the '80's were either an option, or part of the trim package.

They won't fit in the same core support, so that also determines what or how you can swap.
 
In 1980, the ''silverado package'' had single square lights all other packages had round lights like the 79 models.
 
80 was the only year to have the single large square headlight as far as I know.
 
interesting. Why have the option. Is there much of a difference other than looks? (i like the duals better, also starting to like 78s)

Okay, i think i understand the ujoint thing. Are you reusing the cap or bearings? Or are you getting all new? When you put it back together, you pack the needle bearings into the cap and tap em back onto the ujoint? Im guessing you use the socket to avoid doing damage to the caps, and when removing, hitting the one side with socket will force the other side loose. After the caps are removed, is it easy to get the ujoint off? I mean it just seems hard to get off, what actually holds the ujoint together on the axle in the end? The caps/clips?
 
I did my ujoints the easy way. Paid a driveline shop $25 to replace it. If you figure out how much of the $25 the joint actually costs, the labor ends up being pretty cheap.
 
Sorry, I should have clarified. I thought the OP was talking about '81+ trucks only. 1980-down had totally different front ends, regardless of what shape headlights they had.

I'm fairly certain you couldn't get the quad headlights as a standalone option (like on a base 1/2 ton non-silverado for instance) so it was probably just a way for GM to get people to step up to the next price level. Just like PW/PDL, gauges, AM/FM radio, etc.

There were single and dual headlights for '81+, as shown.
 
dyeager535 said:
Sorry, I should have clarified. I thought the OP was talking about '81+ trucks only. 1980-down had totally different front ends, regardless of what shape headlights they had.

I'm fairly certain you couldn't get the quad headlights as a standalone option (like on a base 1/2 ton non-silverado for instance) so it was probably just a way for GM to get people to step up to the next price level. Just like PW/PDL, gauges, AM/FM radio, etc.

There were single and dual headlights for '81+, as shown.
Click to expand...


no i was asking about the 81+ im pretty familiar with the different blazer "faces" but again, i was confused on why some had single square lights and others had duals. What options had them? Why even have the difference, which was more desireable.
 
also id like to point out while im a noob, this is not my DD and other than my toy is going to be my learner rig. So expect many more nub questions from me :)
 
thanks. how much will a press run me, im not trying to spend alot of money, just wanna replace the one(s) i need replaced when i do my tcase. i know i need one for the front driveshaft.
 
Are these original joints? If so, if you've got a propane torch, you'll want to use it on the yoke "ears" opposite where there is a little plastic button protruding from the metal.

I use the hammer/socket method quite a lot (field expedient!) and find that with a concrete floor, it's about the easiest way to do it with one person.
 
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