How to replace middle TTB U-joint?

[JD3020]

Should be getting the truck back tomorrow, and with a built trans and some power i gotta get the weak links fixed up. When i bought the truck we tore the front end apart, repacked wheel bearings, and replaced the shafts and u-joints cause the old ones were chewed up and in terrible shape. In snow i could put it in 4wd and the rear tires would spin before the front tires would move, and it was extremely jerky from the slack in the u-joints. Replacing the outer ones helped a bunch, but we still haven't touched the middle one. Dealer estimate was $3xx to split the front end and replace it.

So how in the heck can i get to it without splitting the front end apart, or is that the only option?

[gaspipe]

I just did my center u-joint a few days back with a ball joint press, while the shaft was still in the truck. Should have took some pics, but it can be done. I had wheel, hub, caliper, rotor, knuckle, and the axle shaft out to the slip joint removed.

Good time to replace the ball joints if you didn't do that yet. Same tool does them.

[dcaddy]

Don't the axels just pull out after you get the spindle off ?


Sent from my Autoguide iPhone app

[JD3020]

I think my ball joints are good for now, gotta check when the truck gets home. Which thats no biggie cause we've done it a couple times on different trucks. Just never messed with this center u-joint.

[gaspipe]

Originally Posted by dcaddy

Don't the axels just pull out after you get the spindle off ?

The last TTB front axle I did had a c-clip retaining the short shaft (inner) in the diff. Had to pull the diff to release it. They did this because of the slip joint on the passenger side shaft to keep the short shaft from pulling out of the diff.

Lots of people used to leave the clip off during reassembly, but added a valve spring into the slip joint to keep the short shaft pushed in the diff. Since I saw no spring when I disassembled my axle, I didn't want to mess with pulling the diff out. So I wrestled with the ball joint press to do this joint.

[JD3020]

I'll have to look in one of those little presses i guess.

Anybody ever just cut or torched the old u-joint out and slipped the new one in?

[ekfinn]

I still have that Kingpin Dana 60...