severely rusted stuck ujoint help

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yepyep

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hey you guys got any tips for this? i was doing my bearings and noticed the u joints are toast in the front axles anyways took axle out removed c clips from u joints and beat the crap outt them for 2 hours with no luck. do i need a press? or do any of you guys have some tips?
heres some pics of the **** im dealing with.
 

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fast 99

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Do you have a ball joint press? That joint appears especially bad but a press might get it apart.


 

fast 99

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Another way, cut the cross out with a wheel. It is a PITA but it might work. That way the caps could be individually removed either by pushing them in or out. Have had to do it that way when the clips break on outside clip joints.

Know those aren't outside clip joints.
 

Blackbeard44

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soak it down with penetrating oil a couple times a day for a couple days, than get a press and try to get it apart, a C-clamp and a socket helps alot
 

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Have cut U joints out with a torch. Burn every thing out of the middle, then knock the caps out, can carefully cut the ends of the caps out and split one side, if they are still stuck.

Edit to add. Let everything cool back down before you attempt driving the caps out.
 
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AyWoSch Motors

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Wow, those ae bad.

Use a torch, cut them out.
Cut it apart, then heat up the caps until they pop out. Had to do that to mine, and they weren't nearly as bad as those.

And be careful when pressing them back in. The ears on the axle shafts bend very easy. Did that to mine, was a pain to get straight. Lightly sand or use steel wool, and make sure the surfaces are clean and smooth, and add a bit of grease, and just go slow. Also, putting the u joint cup in the freezer for a while, and heating up the axle, will help
 

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wish i had a torch all i have is propane...good ideas ill probly try them all. am i right in assuming that the caps can be punched through once c clips come off? i dont get it its like they are fing welded in.

ill soak it penitrating oil for a day and try again hopefully i wont have to cut it
 

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see the right two pieces? Yeah. That was mine. I personally would source a new axle shaft if I were you.. what i paid for mine with a use ujoint in it(should have changed it looking back now but still) would put you back not that much money for both ends and then you could put your new u joint in that one. and not have to mess with the BS seized parts. also yes, rust like that would definitely do what it has done. if it wasnt for the tight fit as it is, i would say quench the ****** but you stand risk breaking it probably around the ears

At least, I think the axle shaft that sticks in the diff stands more life to be seen while the wheel one is looking a little tired. if you reuse it.. .clean it up and coat it with something appropiate but something that will fill the pitting to make a smooth low friction surface dustr dirt water sand snow ice salt etc cant stick into or onto
 

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Use a ball joint press and a large vise. get the pressure on them and use some heat. But a Tap with a dead blow hammer will get them to release. Make sure all the snap rings are removed.
 

AyWoSch Motors

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wish i had a torch all i have is propane...good ideas ill probly try them all. am i right in assuming that the caps can be punched through once c clips come off? i dont get it its like they are fing welded in.

ill soak it penitrating oil for a day and try again hopefully i wont have to cut it
Yes, they should punch out, but they will only punch out from the inside out, don't try to punch them through to the inside.
 

Grit dog

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OP, even Mapp gas will/should get it hot enough to expand a little. As said, heat the yoke, not the caps.
But even so, those might require destructive surgery. Or you might bend the yokes, they look pretty degraded.
Penetrating oil and a vise may not be sufficient in this case.
Side note/story, have replaced many u joints without an acytlene torch or a press (although both make it easier), but the single toughest u joints to remove ever were on the front axle shafts or our old 07 Dodge Ram. Idk what it was, but I ended up basically maxxing out my buddy's 20T press WITH heat added. And they didn't push out, they shot out! Forcefully enough to ding up the bore on the yoke when they cut loose and bottomed out on the opposite side of the yoke.
 

yepyep

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see the right two pieces? Yeah. That was mine. I personally would source a new axle shaft if I were you.. what i paid for mine with a use ujoint in it(should have changed it looking back now but still) would put you back not that much money for both ends and then you could put your new u joint in that one. and not have to mess with the BS seized parts. also yes, rust like that would definitely do what it has done. if it wasnt for the tight fit as it is, i would say quench the ****** but you stand risk breaking it probably around the ears

At least, I think the axle shaft that sticks in the diff stands more life to be seen while the wheel one is looking a little tired. if you reuse it.. .clean it up and coat it with something appropiate but something that will fill the pitting to make a smooth low friction surface dustr dirt water sand snow ice salt etc cant stick into or onto
ya i was just looking at some on ebay not 2 expensive looking at about 250$ i think for both but im cheap so im gonna try a few more times
 

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