Double cardan ball

[thecrow71]

How in the world do I get this ball off to replace it? 1985 Chevy K 20 suburban thank you.

 

[SquareRoot]

Why not just buy a new joint?

 

[thecrow71]

One because it’s part of the front drive shaft. There’s nowhere to take it apart as far as I can see and two I already bought new parts for this one.

 

[75gmck25]

I replaced that part in the front driveshaft of my ‘75, and don’t remember it being very hard. I’ll have to take a look at the manual again to see how it came apart. However, mine had completely self destructed, so maybe that made it easier.

It appears that the ball assembly was bolted on my driveshaft.

 

[thecrow71]

Thanks for your reply. Yeah I see a lot of them are bolted. That’s why they say just to replace that part but I can’t replace that part I don’t know.

 

[75gmck25]

Could the assembly possibly be pressed in, like a ball joint?

 

[idahovette]

In my vast memory, most of which is now depleted, I think that centering ball was pressed on to a stub attached to the main driveshaft????? I had to deform the metal sleeve around the end to get the ball off and then try to reform it after the ball was pressed back on.

 

[RaisedK5]

Once upon a time I had a shaft built for me with a gm 3r double cardan joint in it. Many years later I went to rebuild it and found that the ball on that one was not replaceable, and was in fact a part of the yoke. Bummer. Went down to the junkyard and found a 70s Cadillac with the right joint that had the replaceable ball and had a local shop replace the yoke. Haven't had to screw with it since thank God but I hope you have a servicable one.

 

[1lejohn]

I found this kit on Rock Auto. It looks like there's keepers like valve spring locks that need to be removed.

 

[RaisedK5]

Ya, cause everyone has a J-23996.....

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[thecrow71]

Thanks everyone never got it off, seems impossible, I did get it to spin just barely but that was it. Just ordered new shaft.

 

[Juggernaut]

Looks to me like you really should replace it, it needs to be round and smooth to pivot properly. You'll need a puller to get it off. Harbor Freight has a gear puller set that will do the job, or you may be able to get one from an auto parts store as a loaner tool. Use a dead blow to hammer the new one on, do not use a metal hammer. Also, if you're going to be running any suspension lift, make sure you grind the tabs off. Can't remember off the top of my head exactly where they are, but if you flex the joint very far, you will see where they hit

 

[thecrow71]

Thanks juggernaut I did get it off by heating it until red hot. Put everything back together. It has a 2 inch lift and now about an inch of the spines are showing which I presumes not good.