Tools Required

Notice: Never clamp propeller shaft tubing in a vise. Clamping could dent or deform the tube causing an imbalance or unsafe condition. Always clamp on one of the yokes and support the shaft horizontally. Avoid damaging the slip yoke sealing surface. Nicks may damage the bushing or cut the lip seal.

1. Support the propeller shaft in a line horizontal with the table of a press.
2. Mark the propeller shaft as to which end is the transmission end and which end goes to the rear axle.



3. Place the universal joint so that the lower ear of the yoke is supported on a 30 mm (1 1/8 in) socket.



4. In order to shear the plastic retaining ring on the bearing cup, place J 9522-3 on the open horizontal bearing cups. Press the lower bearing cup out of the yoke ear.
5. If you do not completely remove the bearing cup, lift the cross and insert J 9522-5 between the seal and the bearing cup you are removing. Continue to press the bearing cup out of the yoke.
6. Rotate the propeller shaft. Press the opposite bearing cup out of the yoke.
7. Mark the orientation of the slip yoke to the tube for proper reassembly.
8. Remove the cross from the yoke.
9. Remove the remaining universal joint parts from the yoke. If you are replacing the front universal joint, remove the bearing cups in the slip yoke in the same manner.
10. Inspect the retaining ring grooves for plastic.
11. Inspect the bearing cup bores in the yoke ears for burrs or imperfections.
12. Clean the remains of the sheared plastic bearing retainers from the grooves in the yoke.
13. The sheared plastic may prevent the bearing cups from pressing into place and thus prevent the bearing retainers from properly seating.

1. Remove the bearing cups from the universal joint.



2. Assemble 1 bearing cup part way into 1 side of the yoke.
3. Turn the yoke ear toward the bottom.
4. Assemble the cross into the yoke so the trunnion seats freely into the bearing cup.
5. With the trunnion seated in the bearing cup, press the bearing cup into the yoke until the bearing cup is flush with the yoke ear.



6. Assemble the opposite bearing cup part way into the yoke ear.
7. Ensure that the trunnions start straight and true into both bearing cups.
8. Press the opposite bearing cup into the yoke ear while working the cross all the time in order to inspect for a free unbinding movement of the trunnions in the bearing cups.

Important: If there seems to be a hangup or binding, stop pressing, and inspect the needle bearings for misalignment in the bearing cup.

9. Press the bearing cup into the yoke until the bearing retainer groove clears the inside of the yoke.



10. Assemble the bearing retainer in the retainer groove.
11. Continue pressing until you can snap both retainers into place.



12. If seating the retainer is difficult, spring the yoke slightly with a firm blow from a dead blow hammer.
13. It may be necessary to lubricate the snap ring with a slight amount of chassis grease so the snap ring seats in the bearing cup groove.