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Universal Joint Replacement |
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A lot of the problem lies in the fact
you are using a hammer to install these. Two problems with that: One is
that there is the potential to hit the yoke and peen over the edges of
the holes... and the other is that the impact will knock the bearings
loose. If you do that, just re-seat them and apply a little grease
inside the cup to help hold them in place better. Don't loose any! And
look at the bottom of the cup for the lone needle bearing that will
inevitably keep you from seating the cups on the u-joint.
Really the best way to change u-joints in the field is with either
a nice 6" bench vise with a wide throat or a nice big C-clamp. I've
used both a hundred times. I typically use sockets the size of the cup
from my socket set as drive tools. Essentially, if the two cups are
pressed in using two parallel surfaces, they will follow the hole in
the yoke.
So to install the yoke I would place the two cups in at the same time
and get them started parallel into the holes. Then as they start to go
in I hold the u-joint in between them as I continue to press in both
cups at the same time. Eventually the cups will go over the machined
portion of the u-joint and you'll be able to slide the u-joint
(slightly) back and forth proving everything is in line. Keep pressing.
When the cups and the yoke are flush at the ends, I then add a socket
to one side
and press in one cup until the groove appears on the other side -- then
install the clip (this is true with internal or external clip type
u-joints). Now transfer the socket to the other side and press the
other cup in until the clip can be put in on that side. You may find
you don't get smooth movement yet, but that's OK. Just get the clips
in, then, using a rubber hammer or some heavy non-marring hammer, rap
on both sides of the yoke in the direction of the u-joint and cups to
"seat" the clips and cups against the yoke. This will give the
clearance needed on the inside of the cups between the end of the
u-joint and cup and all will be moving smooth.
Be sure that before you do any of this you have clearance for the
grease fitting. You may have to install the u-joint flipped the other
direction to point the grease fitting forward or backward -- whichever
is best for your situation.
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