Hey All,
Well I started removing the U-Joints on the TR6 last night. One is
broken and I have no idea when the other five were replaced last, so I
ordered six and decided to replace them all.
After starting this job I have to assume (or hope) there is an easier
way to remove these u-joints than what I did last night. The tool I
bought from Sears for removing the circular clips was a piece of crap.
Thank goodness I saved the receipt. I was able to get the clips out with
an All(sp?) and a small screwdriver. Then I get a socket and my vice
and press the u-joint in one direction, put some oil on the exposed cup
and repeat in the other direction. Cups are now nicely oiled but not
moveable without the vice and socket. OK, so I press the u-joint as far
as it will go in one direction and then lightly tap it the rest of the
way with a hammer and socket, (ya right, WAM WAM WAM!). OK, now what?
One cup is pressed out the back of the flang, but the other cup that is
pressed in is still in the flang a bit (NOTE: flang is probably not the
right term, but like the word widget, it is universal). OK, an idea,
lets grab the cup that is press out with the pliers and pull it out. It
comes out, and surprise!, all the roller bearings are held in place in
the cup by the grease (I'll bet I didn't need to replace this u-joint!).
So now we press the u-joint in the other direction. There is now enough
clearance so that the joint can be removed from the flang, but this time
the roller bearings don't stay in the cup (I know, who cares anyway). 30
minutes (maybe more) and I'm half way done with removing my first u-joint
(oh boy, this will take some time).
Now for the big questions. Is this the right way to do this? And if
so, how does one get the new u-joint in without removing the caps from
the u-joint? Are the ujoints suppose to be so tightly fitted to the
flang? Without a vice I never would of stood a chance.
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