U-joints are like fuses and are designed to fail so you don’t cause more serious damage to your axles in the event of a break (usually). Knowing how to service and replace a u-joint is akin to knowing how to change a tire and something anyone venturing off road needs to learn.
First we need to make a few assumptions. I’m assuming you have u-joints on your vehicle, and not CV-joints. CV-joints are used more often in independent suspension applications, although not exclusively. Next, I’ll assume you have the shaft out of the axle. The removal differs on each vehicle, but basically you’ll need to jack up the corner you want to work on, support the vehicle safely, remove the tire, remove brake components (at least out of the way), and then remove the axle shaft from the axle housing. Finally, some common hand tools are needed, such as a hammer, flat-blade screwdriver, pliers, and a socket.
Let’s get started. To remove the old u-joint, first remove the 4 c-clips by pushing or tapping them out with the screwdriver. Next you need to push the u-joint to one side within the two ears of the joints. Pick a side, it doesn’t matter much, and hit one cap with the socket and hammer until the opposite end cap can be removed, using a rag or pliers. Turn the axle over and hit the removed side until you can pull off the first cap. Now you can remove one half of the axle shaft (either long or stub side) and then repeat the procedure for removing the caps on the remaining two.
To install the new u-joint remove the four caps and ensure the needle bearings are in place around the perimeter of the cap. Put the new u-joint, without caps, on the ears of one half of the shaft. Slide the u-joint to one side and slip on a cap, again paying attention to the needle bearings. Tap the cap on and then do the same to the other side. Don’t forget the c-clips; these hold everything in place once assembled. Repeat this procedure for the other half of the shaft and get everything centered in place.
Once all four c-clips are on and you’ve greased the new u-joint, you can replace the shaft in the housing, get your brake components in place and replace the tire. Lower the vehicle and be on your way! U-joint replacement is not hard, but it is a vital skill to have when wheeling. Carrying spare u-joints is cheap insurance to have with you to keep your day of fun moving along smoothly.
本文转自：China Industry News