lupinsea
03-23-2009, 03:13 PM
The previous weekend I was going some routine maintenance on my Jeep by replacing the front axle u-joints and ended up bending the yoke ears on the axle shafts. Of course, I only figured this out after I was trying to re-install the new u-joints and discovered the grove for the retaining clip was covered up by the bent ears.
After talking with some more knowledgable persons, it seems this can occasionally happen since you need to press the u-joint in or out of the yoke ears. If things stick a bit, the ears can get bent. To fix this I ended up fabricating my own spreader tool. It was made out of a bolt, nut, and steel sleeve with the sleeve cut to the proper length.
The tool is then intserted between the yoke ears and then a pair of wrenches is used to unscrew the nut. This forces the sleeve against the yoke ears and spreads them out.
Worked like a charm. I was able to straighten out the yoke ears to 0.001" of parallel. The u-joinst fit right back in and the circlip groove exposed enough to snap in the clips.
http://homepage.mac.com/jgreening/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2009-03-22%2022.34.45%20-0700/Image-DCBAEA63176B11DE.jpg
Note at the lower part of the photo where the u-joint fits into the yoke ear
that there is a groove partially covered by the yoke ear.
http://homepage.mac.com/jgreening/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2009-03-22%2022.34.45%20-0700/Image-DCBB04E6176B11DE.jpg
My special, high-tech yoke ear spreader tool.
http://homepage.mac.com/jgreening/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2009-03-22%2022.34.45%20-0700/Image-DCBB26DC176B11DE.jpg
Tool in use. Worked great.
http://homepage.mac.com/jgreening/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2009-03-22%2022.34.45%20-0700/Image-DCBAA9DC176B11DE.jpg
And for giggles, my u-joint press-out set up. Bench vice to hold a Harbor
Freight u-joint tool and a jack stand to support the other end of the axle
shaft. Worked great.
http://homepage.mac.com/jgreening/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2009-03-22%2022.34.45%20-0700/Image-DCBACE3B176B11DE.jpg
Old u-joint caps and bearings. Dust is a poor lubrication for needle
bearings. Good thing I checked these when I did.
.
After talking with some more knowledgable persons, it seems this can occasionally happen since you need to press the u-joint in or out of the yoke ears. If things stick a bit, the ears can get bent. To fix this I ended up fabricating my own spreader tool. It was made out of a bolt, nut, and steel sleeve with the sleeve cut to the proper length.
The tool is then intserted between the yoke ears and then a pair of wrenches is used to unscrew the nut. This forces the sleeve against the yoke ears and spreads them out.
Worked like a charm. I was able to straighten out the yoke ears to 0.001" of parallel. The u-joinst fit right back in and the circlip groove exposed enough to snap in the clips.
http://homepage.mac.com/jgreening/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2009-03-22%2022.34.45%20-0700/Image-DCBAEA63176B11DE.jpg
Note at the lower part of the photo where the u-joint fits into the yoke ear
that there is a groove partially covered by the yoke ear.
http://homepage.mac.com/jgreening/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2009-03-22%2022.34.45%20-0700/Image-DCBB04E6176B11DE.jpg
My special, high-tech yoke ear spreader tool.
http://homepage.mac.com/jgreening/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2009-03-22%2022.34.45%20-0700/Image-DCBB26DC176B11DE.jpg
Tool in use. Worked great.
http://homepage.mac.com/jgreening/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2009-03-22%2022.34.45%20-0700/Image-DCBAA9DC176B11DE.jpg
And for giggles, my u-joint press-out set up. Bench vice to hold a Harbor
Freight u-joint tool and a jack stand to support the other end of the axle
shaft. Worked great.
http://homepage.mac.com/jgreening/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2009-03-22%2022.34.45%20-0700/Image-DCBACE3B176B11DE.jpg
Old u-joint caps and bearings. Dust is a poor lubrication for needle
bearings. Good thing I checked these when I did.
.