U-Joint Troubles

[gt1009]

The foreward most u-joint in my truck lost a bearing cap when I was doing my lift. I may sound dumb but do I need to pull the driveshaft to change the U-Joint? It seems like a pain to deal with the CV joint of the front shaft. Also, does anyone make just a bearing and bearing cap set, because if I had that then I could easily just put the new cap on.
Thanks,
Greg

 

[GNERGY]

U gotta pull the shaft and you will need a new U joint.
Tarey

 

[toomany]

You don't have to pull the sahft to do it. If you have a ball joint press it can be done with the u-joint disconected from the diff. If you don't have a ball joint press then you should pull the shaft, and go at it with the hammer and big sockets.

I don't think anyone sells just the caps. You could buy a new joint, and use just one of the caps. But that isn't the correct way to do it. Plus if you spend the money on the new parts, you may as well use them.

If it's the factory u-joint, it may have the plastic rings holding it in. If thats the case then you need to melt the plastic before the caps will come out. Trust me, I beat on one for an hour trying to get it appart. It finally came out, but the next ones (it was the CV I was rebuilding) I put some heat to them, and they came right out.