Ok, so my truck has 130k on it and i can hear my u joints rattle when i go over big bumps and when i shift fron Drive to reverse. I bought this truck used but i believe they are the stock u-joints. Is there anything i need to know about replacing the stock ones with napa replacments? Thanks

 

There is a glue that holds the ujoint caps on and you must use a press or a torch to heat them up and then press them out. Other wise its the same as any one.

 

Ok i have a trorch with map gas. If i heat the caps,do i just bang out the u-joints with a hammer?

 

U can but i wouldnt. u have to be very carefull that you dont bend or hit the tube. If i was you and i didnt have a press then i would use a big vise and a couple of sockets on the caps to push them out. If you dont know what i mean pm me.

 

you can prop it up on a 2X4 and put a socket on it and beat the socket to make sure you don't hit the drive shaft and to gaurantee a square solid hit.

you'll have to heat it up until the stuff starts coming out, remember those little snake fireworks things that you light and the start growing? that's what it's going to look like.

 

Ok so i have a good amount of experience with working on cars but i still have never attempted to change a u-joint. Do i just pull the driveshaft and then get the u-joints out? When i pull the driveshaft, i do i need to worry about any tranny fluid coming out? Thanks

 

tranny fluid won't come out unless you have the truck unlevel, if the rear is lower than the front then it will leak some. otherwise it might drip a couple drops at most. if you have to raise the truck to get under there then lift the rear.

it takes an 11mm to remove 4 bolts at the rearend and it slides out of the transmission from there, be prepared to have a socket and a wrench, you can use either, but sometimes one may be easier than the other.

EDIT:
VERY IMPORTANT****
chalk the tires and set the parking brake - don't forget the truck can roll away even in park with the driveshaft removed.

 

Thanks for the help. I am going to do it later this week. I hope it goes smooth. Thanks for the help