<VV> removing u-joints

N. Joseph Potts pottsf@msn.com
Sat, 7 Feb 2004 10:12:06 -0500


I experienced this, and bought a 1.5-ton arbor press from Harbor Freight
(about $25, but WEIGHED a ton and a half) for the job. When I tried it, it
was STILL not enough, but it together with a BFH applied to the top end of
the ram finally did the job. You can fool around with penetrants/lubricants
(I really wouldn't recommend heat, here), but if you can't persuade the cups
to leave, I think you might consider swallowing your pride and taking those
half-shafts on down to a machine shop to go onto their press.
     You WILL be able to get the new u-joints in with a hammer, but why
bother, if you're going to the machine shop anyway? Take the new u-joints on
down, and if they are of the lubricatable type, install them: (a) with the
nipple leaning toward the half-shaft; and (b) so that the nipple hole is
between the two yokes (shaft-side and load side) where the hole is SQUEEZED
and not where it will be STRETCHED when torque is applied to accelerate the
vehicle forward.

Joe Potts
Miami, Florida USA
1966 Corsa coupe 140hp 4-speed with A/C

-----Original Message-----
From: virtualvairs-admin@corvair.org
[mailto:virtualvairs-admin@corvair.org]On Behalf Of John McMahon
Sent: Friday, February 06, 2004 9:46 PM
To: Virtual Vairs
Subject: <VV> removing u-joints


Anybody have any tips for removing the old u-joints from the axles?  I'm
pretty sure I see how they went on, but they seem highly resistant to the
idea of leaving home.  I have removed the retaining clips, but that's all
the luck I have had.  If there is a smart way to do this, do tell!