Changing U Joints In Aluminum Drive Shafts

[KyRob]

I am going to change U joints and wonder if I should do it myself or pay to have it done. I have heard it is very easy to bend the yokes on the AL shafts. Anyone do their own and how did it go?

 

 

Thanks,

Rob

[2000DV4.8]

I bent the yolk on mine, but that's because I didn't have it supported correctly, and a 15.5 ton press will bend aluminum pretty quickly. I got the one in fine, then I was rushing with the last one, and I f*cked it up. Just take your time, pay attention, and you should be fine.

 

One thing I wouldn't recommend on the aluminum shaft is beating them out with a hammer, since the wall of the shaft is pretty thin. You also might have trouble pressing them out with a vice, since the steel bearing cups and aluminum yolks oxidize, and get seized in there pretty damn solid.