Guest dat73sun Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 im trying to replace my u joint on a 71 240 z half shaft. i already removed the clips but am now at a loss. i dont know how to remove the caps to get the u joint out. has anyone done this before or know of a good link that can show me how to do this?? the half shaft is the driver side one off of a 180 differential. im going to replace it with the stronger spicer u joint from MSA. i just cant remove it! how do i do this??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtmny1999 Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 Press them out or in, then remove the inner part once you take the caps off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willembop Posted July 10, 2008 Share Posted July 10, 2008 You can use a big vice to press them out, using appropriately sized chunk of pipe (or socket wrenches). It can be pretty difficult to do, and if I hadn't seen it done, I'm not sure I would have tried. You have to press one side inward to press out the cap on the other side to get the old ones out. Pressing the new ones in is pretty easy. Now I use a press I bought from Harbor Freight, which makes the job a bit easier: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=38335 Regards, Bill in San Diego Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dat73sun Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 yeah i thought you would have to press them in and out. I dont know about the trick you suggested, sounds very iffy! i will however go and buy that press you recommended! i appreciate the help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpyvette Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=33497 well worth the cost if you have the room if you were closer Id suggest running them by the shop, here, but since I see your in Kalifornia, you can take them to a local machine shop, most charge about $10 to remove and $10 to install each u-joint PLUS the cost of the new U-joints on a corvette theres 6 u-joints (two on each half shaft and two on the drive shaft) so buying a decent press is a no brainer, as it costs $130 on sale, (HF) and just the machine shop charges are almost $128 alone before you buy the u-joints. and I own 3 vettes so I bought a cheap 12 ton press years ago. BTW http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=38335 these work ok, but once you use a decent press youll soon see the extra cost of a hydrolic press is well worth it if you do this type of repair frequently.....andf you will if you race a high hp car with an independent rear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woldson Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 I was using a 20 ton press when I did my 82 half shaft. They were really in there. One of them caused almost an explosion when it let loose. Parts went every where. The next one I did I took to a diesel place cost me $15 for both joints that I provided. Mind you I was not using heat or penetrating oil. Sounded like a gun shot, was surprised that I did not bend the yoke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpyvette Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 a decent rust breaking penetrating oil sprayed on about 30 minutes before you use the press on the u-joints helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zthis Posted July 13, 2008 Share Posted July 13, 2008 all i ever did was hold the axle in my left hand and hit the axle on the thickess edge and the u joints will usually pop after 5 or 6 good smacks with a 2 lb hammer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dat73sun Posted July 14, 2008 Share Posted July 14, 2008 I was looking at the different parts at autozone online and i saw a side note that said you cant replace the U-joints in a pre-1975 Z?? thay said you HAVE to buy the whole half shaft. This sounds like another clever trick to make me spend more money but i want to be sure. remember my z is a 1971 with a normal 180 rearend and stock half shafts. so what you all are saying is yes they can be removed from the half shafts and only replace the u-joint right??? i just want to be sure i dont mess anything up and do it right the first time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowlerMonkey Posted July 14, 2008 Share Posted July 14, 2008 Good table with good vice and a hammer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zcarnut Posted July 14, 2008 Share Posted July 14, 2008 I was looking at the different parts at autozone online and i saw a side note that said you cant replace the U-joints in a pre-1975 Z?? thay said you HAVE to buy the whole half shaft. This sounds like another clever trick to make me spend more money but i want to be sure. remember my z is a 1971 with a normal 180 rearend and stock half shafts. so what you all are saying is yes they can be removed from the half shafts and only replace the u-joint right??? i just want to be sure i dont mess anything up and do it right the first time. Yes, it’s the 1974 and earlier driveshafts that have the replaceable U-joints. The 1975 and up driveshafts require that the u-joints be machined out on a milling machine. This is standard practice on most 1975 and up Nissan driveshafts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dat73sun Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 sweet so i CAn replace the ujoints only.Thanks i appreciate it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevor Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=38335 If you don't have a lot of storage space... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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