TTB axleshaft/U-joint question

[Creager]

i've never popped open my D35 pumpkin, but i can pull the axle shafts out the hogs-head with the spindle off... i guess i dont have C-clips then? it wouldnt of come from the factory like that would it?

 

[Josh S.]

ok here's the caps I'm talking about. I don't know about those grease caps or whatever, but I don't think that's the problem. its just that i overflex that joint, causing the stock pressed in things in the pic to get blown out. I will take apart the u-joint and grind on it to clearance it then put it back together and back in. Now, my question is...where can I get some of those stock pressed in caps(in the pic)?? Do they sell that **** at autozone and crap or what? I might be able to get some off of the one on the truck, but I'm not sure.

After i put it together I think i should tack those stock pressed in caps(in the pic) on. i'm not sure what caps you guys are talking about welding, and i'm not sure how it would be possible to tack on the grease caps without messing up the grease seal.

i guess I really need to cycle the suspension and clearance that joint until it clears. I'm not sure if I can clearance it enough to make it work tho. from what I remember in cycling it a long long time ago, it would max out really quickly.

these stock pressed in caps...where can I get them and can I just bash em in with a hammer to "press" them in?

Now whats all this business about a D44 shaft now??? man I'm confused lol can these things flex more than the d35 one I have? i basically need a high clearance shaft in there, then i can drop down those limit straps and really get some flex!!

 

[RangerX]

The caps you circled, and the ones you keep blowing, are the grease caps.
The bruteforce joint you have has the caps on it. Try carefully pulling on one. It should slide off easily. You just don't want to deturb the needle bearings inside. You can look and see if they are all lined up.

Have you looked at those links I gave? Once you take out the old joint, things will be a lot clearer! So get busy!

Forget the D44 talk for now. Just focus on that joint.

 

[Rick]

Once he pulls apart the Brute Force joint things will become a lot clearer

"Just focus on that joint."

Sounds like the quote of the day!

 

[RangerX]

LOL, Rick! :smoke:

 

[james t]

Be careful tacking the caps. You only need 4 little tacks. Take your time, and dont try to make one long burn or you will melt the seals. Ive been running welded caps on mine for a while and it flat out works. Many times the ujoint will break because it will spit the cap out first. Tacking the caps (or running full circle clips if you can on your application) will cut down on the breakage.

 

[Josh S.]

Ok sounds good guys. I think I get it now. I went out and pulled off the cap on that brute force(such a gay name) u-joint I got and saw what was goin on. I had done that before but didn't realize that those stock pressed in caps are the same thing as the ones i pulled off the new u-joint...right??? nice. So I will take the old shaft off the rig, then throw the new joint in the spare one(to put on the truck) and put 4 tacks on the caps.

Now for the other part...to get the old u-joint off, I am going to take off the inner retainer clips, and then the thing just kind of wiggles out or what? I did the u-joint on my front driveshaft yoke, but can't really quite remember how. haynes manual doesn't seem to say a whole lot about it

 

[410Fortune]

Hammer

 

[Rick]

After removing the clips, hold the axle flange in a vice while protecting it with a cloth so it doesn't get dinged up from the vise. Get a socket barely smaller than the U-joint cap. Then you can start hammering

 

[Josh S.]

thats a big 10-4 on the BFH

will try to attack it this weekend...or should I take up the buds on a crazy-fest in Laughlin

 

[Kirby N.]

Josh,
If you are breaking joints I wouldn't put in those brute force joints. I have read some bad things about them breaking. I only use Spicer joints. It is worth a few extra bucks not to have to do it again. I get them at the driveline store in town. If you can't find them some of the national driveline places could send you some. Also, tacking on the caps is really suppossed to help shafts hold up better. It keeps the caps on. I have heard of many guys running old ranger Dana 28s with the caps welded and them holding up to some serious abuse. I would take the advice and clearance that yoke too.

 

[410Fortune]

hmmmmmmmmmm. I have never had a problem blowing U joint caps.
I think if your yokes are not worn out the cap should not spin or pop loose, the retainer clip should be enough to hold it together.
But the welding sounds like a good way to make it work anyways

 

[Josh S.]

ok...sometimes I amaze even myself with the things I do...I was trying to press the u-joint out with the clips still in LOL

Anyways, I finally realized I still had the clips in and tried to press it out again, but two of the sides wouldn't even budge with it in a vice and me(200+lbs) on a breaker bar!...One of them(the one with the blown cap) I was able to press it out almost on the way, but not totally. pissed me off. I might go down to the Baja Shop tonight to use a big press they may have, but I dunno. Hammering didn't seem to do a whole lot either...hard to keep the ******* in the vice. Any more tips?

 

[410Fortune]

fight that SOB with the hammer, I have not met one I couldnt get out....
A vice or press works well too, remeber that ball joint press you rented? You can use that sucker....

 

[Josh S.]

Ahh **** I just broke down and cruised it down to my mechanic buddy at the local tire place. He got it out for me with his high-powered air chisel with a u-joint extractor tip So now I just have to grind it down and put it back together. I'm going to go outside right now and see if my evil stepmom(total f'n *****) will tolerate some angle-grindage

I noticed(by looking at my old one) that I will only need to grind down the square recess on the outer section of the shaft, and the "legs" of the inner shaft. hopefully it will be enough to clear it a bit. I'll try not to take off so much so that it will become weak. Then tomorrow, probly skip the race and tear the whole damn frontend off

So for sure, no c-clip eliminator mod???