U-Joint job starting at 11pm... UPDATE: need help at 1:45am

[diesel4me]

Lucky you had clips ,not that injected plastic crap..

I've had some battles getting those apart even with heat and a press..when I used to do them at the parts store's machine shop I'd tell the customer it might take me 20 minutes,or all day to get the shaft back to them,depending on how bad it was to get apart..
When they were in a big hurry,I just used the cutting torch to cut the cross in two and bash the caps out.....but sometimes the ears bend on the shaft when they are still hot and you rushed to install the new joint..

Last U-joint I did was an outer axle joint on my '82 K2500,my most hated ones to replace,I'd rather do the driveshaft ones anyday..taking the hub apart in 15 degree cold sucked,and I was lucky the spindle came off easily for once--never had it apart before,didn't know what I'd run into...

The yokes on the axle were rusted down to nothing and very thin,I feared I'd destroy them taking out and installing the new u-joint..and I plowed with a very light foot all winter!--especially when cornering and pushing a full blade,you get that herky-jerky crab walk feeling and fear it'll blow the joint right out...
I should have matched the axle up to some spares I had,but I forgot..be nice to know if they'ed work in a bind or not..
I'd like to have one with fresh u-joints ready to throw in the next time..

 

[Blue85]

NONE came out. The one pleasant surprise. I didn't jack the back up.

Check the T-case fluid level, dude! If you have Auto 4x4 mode, you may need the GM-Dealer-only blue oil.

 

[6.2Blazer]

Thanks MT.

I tried removing it, and one cap got stuck. It may have gone in at a slight angle because after much going back and forth, a tiny round sliver of metal came out and I could feel a slight ridge inside the yoke with my finger.

.

Sounds like one of the needle bearings fell out and got lodged in the top of the cap........you did reinstall that needle bearing, right?

 

[jonrpick]

Check the T-case fluid level, dude! If you have Auto 4x4 mode, you may need the GM-Dealer-only blue oil.

What t-case? [emoji14]

Sounds like one of the needle bearings fell out and got lodged in the top of the cap........you did reinstall that needle bearing, right?

Nope. I checked that when I got it apart again. Still not sure why it wouldn't seat.

Either way, it made a 400 mile round trip this weekend with no issues.

 

[diesel4me]

I've had a few u-joint caps fight me going in,because I put too much grease on the needles ,to help keep them from moving during the install--it couldn't compress,and had nowhere to go,it finally oozed out of the cap around the seal when I forced the cap on..it had a "springy" feeling to it almost..

 

[Blue85]

What t-case? [emoji14]

Does not compute

Still, if tranny fluid doesn't come out, what is lubing the slip yoke? If you were low on tranny fluid with any significance it wouldn't drive normally.

 

[paratrooper307]

Does not compute

Still, if tranny fluid doesn't come out, what is lubing the slip yoke? If you were low on tranny fluid with any significance it wouldn't drive normally.

Probably a 4x2 Yukon...

There definitely should be some fluid coming out.

 

[Blue85]

I have to "renege" on my previous statement. I had the lucky surprise of getting to put U-joints on my '05 tonight and no fluid came out. The back bumper was raised maybe 1 foot. Back on the ground T-case fluid level checked out fine. The last time I got like a cup or two of blue juice in the pan.