U-Joint Removal Tools

[tstaude]

I am just curious what everybody else uses for doing u-joints. Here is the rust belt they can be a total PITA. Usually I just use a small piece of round stock to hammer the piece through and a large socket to receive it.
This morning I had one that was just not coming through even with heat, after a few times of heating and hitting back and forth it finally came out.

I know that pressing them is best, but our local machine shop shut down a year ago. I want to see what you guys have fabbed up for U-joint removal.

 

[signcrafter]

I just use a snap on ball joint press. You can also fab up some brackets to use a bench vice to press them out. Or just go buy a HF 20 ton press.

 

[BLACK DEATH]

Press & whatever sockets that fit or make my own stuff.
A press & heat is the best bet.

 

[Smiliesafari]

I have a 50 ton press. It either moves it or breaks it. I've done both.

 

[bobcatdan]

A good hammer and a vise to beat on has never failed me. Personally I don't know if I would heat a u joint yolk, I kinda consider it a do not heat component like most suspension parts. This message sent from rusty trusty Wisconsin.

 

[Buckgnarly]

I use the Snap On BJP1, or my old ball joint tool. If they fail, I have also torched the really bad ones out.

 

[dawg69]

A good hammer and a vise to beat on has never failed me. Personally I don't know if I would heat a u joint yolk, I kinda consider it a do not heat component like most suspension parts. This message sent from rusty trusty Wisconsin.

^^^^^

This

An old timer showed me this method years ago after watching me fumble with a ball joint press. Once you get the hang of it, it's waaay easier and faster. A short handled 4# cross peen hammer works best for me.

 

[MG44]

Hammer & two sockets. I heat the aluminum drive shafts (ex, Ford) because the bimetal corrosion is bad and they won't budge.

We press them sometimes, but it takes more work to get it setup in the press and to prop the shaft up on a chair or stool then just to hammer them out.

 

[lilredex]

Here is what I have used...the helper stand holds up the other end if you are working alone. It saves a lot of the fumbling associated with sockets.

Homemade U-Joint Press - HomemadeTools.net

Homemade U-joint press constructed from angle iron, pipe, and a steel rod. Intended for vise-mounting.

www.homemadetools.net

 

[Piece-it Pete]

You've got to heat a number of old GM ujoints to get them out, they've got a kind of plastic or nylon retaining system. Heat them up and they go bang! occasionally shooting out a piece then you can press them out hopefully.

Pete

 

[RECox286]

Never had any problems with my OTC ball joint press and

a vice. As mentioned above, the ones held in with nylon

or plastic need to be heated first, so the goo will worm out.

Uncle Bob

 

[Ruger_556]

We have a Tiger Tool u-joint press at work

 

[Two Door]

The other day I was reading through a GJ thread on what impact hammers were good for. One person said they were his favorite method for u-joints, far better than sockets and a vice or hammer.

 

[jeepinerdeep]

On little ones ( Pickup and Jeep ) I just torch the cross out and push the caps inward with an air hammer. This keeps the ears from getting buggered up. ( Provided you are good with the torch )

On big ones ( 1610 and up ) Tiger Tool is the way to go.

 

[tstaude]

Does the tiger tool work pretty well on the really stubbor u joints? Do you use heat along with it?

 

[jeepinerdeep]

Does the tiger tool work pretty well on the really stubbor u joints? Do you use heat along with it?

You can normally just put some pressure on it, smack the yoke and it will pop, moving a little. May have to repeat the with super rusty ones. Clean ones just press right out with a ratchet on the press screw.

I don't like heating the ears.

 

[Ruger_556]

Does the tiger tool work pretty well on the really stubbor u joints? Do you use heat along with it?

I try to avoid heating some things and yokes are one of them... Just run the press with a 1/2" impact and it works pretty well.

 

[Rookie2]

On little ones ( Pickup and Jeep ) I just torch the cross out and push the caps inward with an air hammer. This keeps the ears from getting buggered up. ( Provided you are good with the torch )

On big ones ( 1610 and up ) Tiger Tool is the way to go.

I have changed a few over the years. I rode along with a neighbor to a tractor/truck repair/supply co. with his brush hog pto shaft, handed it to the repair guy and before I could finish my free coffee ,He said watch out its still a little hot ! Damn ! I beat those damn things out for years.....LoL

 

[jmm]

We have a Tiger Tool u-joint press at work

Those things are the best!

 

[MattPersman]

Nah you don't have to heat the nylon ones just a bjp1 and hammer

 

[MattPersman]

I have had the tiger bend on me it was then a paper weight cause their warranty stinks

 

[Jason280]

The other day I was reading through a GJ thread on what impact hammers were good for. One person said they were his favorite method for u-joints, far better than sockets and a vice or hammer.

Interesting, never considered using an impact hammer..

 

[chris142]

All I have ever used was plyers to get the clip out, 2 sockets and a brass hammer.

 

[toufue_yang17]

All you need is a 3lbs blacksmith hammer, bench, and a vice. I've done well over 500 u-joints. From 1000 series to 1810 series.

 

[BK13]

A good hammer and a vise to beat on has never failed me. Personally I don't know if I would heat a u joint yolk, I kinda consider it a do not heat component like most suspension parts. This message sent from rusty trusty Wisconsin.

Huh. Never thought about rusty U-joints. Of course, EVERY U-joint I have ever replaced were on Jeeps. They were... well lubricated. Yeah, that's what we'll call it. Well lubricated.

 

[BajaBound]

Tiger tool is great and specifically designed for it.

 

[tstaude]

Here is something I whipped up on break yesterday, I did not try it out yet but I think it will help with holding everything steady. The piece of round stock slides freely and there is a piece of tube on the bottom acts like the receiving socket.

 

[HaroRider]

Can anyone recommend me a strong punch for doing u joints?

 

[devoncoolman]

Do it many different ways depending on my mood, size of joint, and difficulty. Some come out with a ballpeen and a punch. Sometimes i use my old skool snap-on u-joint press. Sometimes i use the otc balljoint press and for the big guys on light trucks i use the snapon bjp1 ball joint press. Big trucks i use the associated puller designed for that specific shaft/u-joint combo.

 

[fleetcomm]

I have used an air hammer alot and sometimes on really tough ones I have taken a cutoff wheel and cut the ujoint into so that I was only driving one cup out not both of them at the same time.

 

[toufue_yang17]

Can anyone recommend me a strong punch for doing u joints?

A differential pin is great.

 

[tstaude]

FYi
I finally had the chance to use this u joint fixture and it worked great!
I did the front joints on my suburban 2500, they were original so I melted out the plastic to get started.
The greates advantage was that I did not have to fumble around with a hammer, sockets and a pin to get them out. I had everything done (2 joints) in about 20 minutes!

 

[Cope]

I have both an OTC Ball Joint/U Joint press and a vintage Snap on U Joint press, but I've done a couple joints with this little Blue Point tool. Not sure if it's still available.

 

[rtole]

I did it old school until I got the snap on bjp1 press. We have tiger tools at work......I don't touch them anymore. The snap on press is that good. Is it worth it from a cost/speed perspective? I don't think so. But it makes the jobs I use it for more pleasent. I also use it for a torsion bar tool as well.

 

[jayoldschool]

Ball joint/U joint tool from Princess Auto (Canadian Harbor Freight) to take apart, hammer and socket to put back together.

 

[wafrederick]

Except for driveshafts with staked u joints,I have seen them in Fords and some Jeeps.Basically you throw away the driveshaft away when an u joint fails buying a new driveshaft or having one made with replaceable u joints.

 

[Shadowdog500]

I've done them a bunch of ways over the years. I picked up a HF 20 ton press in the last year so I do them on that now. Eventually I want to get a decent arbor press and will do them on this video.

Chris