front axle u-joint replacement

[pamike]

i just noticed my u-joints have alot of slop in them. after i take the hub assy. apart do the shafts slide out or do i have to pull the cover and take c clips out. i have the CAD so does the vac shifter assy have to be taken off? i've had my front axle apart before but i can't remember it's been a while.

[mvusse]

The driver side will slide right out. The passenger side outer part will also, but the intermediate shaft from the diff to the CAD may have a C clip depending on year.

 

But that shaft does not need pulled to replace the joints.

[pamike]

cool, thats what i wanted to hear. thanks

[kyleag89]

I need to do the same thing. Will I loose any diff fluid when I pull the DS shaft?

[deziped]

Not if you raise the axle tube high enough so it doesn't flow fluid downhill past the inner seal.

[terrawombat]

You shouldn't lose any diff fluid, but I just did this repair last week and my axle tubes were filled with 22 years of dirt and crud so when I was reinserting the axles into the tubes, they picked up all kinds of crap. I wound up pulling the diff cover and cleaning out the dirt that got in there.

[pamike]

one more question (i think)

is it better to try to remove the axle nut and seperate the hub and shaft or just let them together while changing the u-joint?

[Automan2164]

Take them apart. It will be easier.

 

Rob L.