How to change a universal joint without any special tools

If you are ever stuck on the side of the road and need to swap a universal joint with minimal tools this video could be very helpful.
The part with the dremmel rotary tool isn’t entirely necessary but it is a quick way to get any corrosion out of the snap ring grooves. This could just as well be done with a flathead screwdriver or a pick.
Just remove the snap rings and support the u joint in your other hand. While pounding the u-joint out be especially careful not to strike the tubing. It is ok to hit the yoke so long as you don’t distort the snap ring retainers or the the holes for the u-joint caps. I usually aim for the ear of the yoke.
Only hit as hard as necessary to remove each cap. The strikes coupled with the vibration they cause will gradually push the cap out. Then flip it and do the other side.
When you install the new u joint, you only need to tap the cap in far enough to install the snap ring then flip to the other side. I like to pull the cross section of the u joint up a bit to center in the second cap. This helps with alignment and keeps the needle bearings from tipping over.
Once you have the other cap tapped into place and the snap ring set you should support the driveshaft by the u joint one last time and give a couple taps on each side of the tube yoke. The vibration helps align and seat the u joint into place and you may notice afterwards it moves much more freely.
Be sure not to force the new u joint. It should go together relatively smoothly, so if you have to force it there is likely something wrong. This could be that a bearing fell over or something isn’t aligned quite right. This needs to be considered especially on aluminum shafts as the material is much softer than steel.
Hopefully this helps someone get home in a pinch. It’s also handy for the do it yourself types that don’t want to spend a bunch of time and mo eh on a u joint press. On a side note, I do not recommend ever pressing u joints from aluminum components. It tends to destroy the yokes if anything at all is out of alignment.
#aluminum #universaljoint #repair #driveshaft #propshaft #spicer #roadsidefix #quick
‪@DanaIncorporated‬

[@Coa888]

Nice

[@midwestwelding6807]

Thanks