A drive shaft is used in rear wheel drive vehicles as a means of transferring power from the engine and transmission to the rear axle differential. The drive shaft is a hollow metal tube that has universal joints (or U-joints) attached at each end. The U-joints compensate for the rotating motion of drive shaft, as well as the up and down motion of the rear axle as it is negotiating bumps in the road. U-joints have moving parts that will wear, necessitating their periodic replacement.
Raise the rear of the vehicle with a floor jack. Place jack stands under each side of the rear axle. Lower the floor jack.
Crawl under the rear of the vehicle and remove the nuts on the rear drive shaft clamps with a socket and ratchet. Hold the drive shaft up with one hand while sliding the clamps out of their mounting holes. Lower the rear of the drive shaft to the ground. Slide the drive shaft to the rear of the vehicle until it clears the transmission tail shaft. Lower the front end of the drive shaft to the ground and remove it from under the vehicle.
Place the drive shaft on a work bench or other suitable work area. Remove the snap ring clips from the bearing caps on the universal joint you wish to replace, using a pair of snap ring pliers. Discard the old clips--a replacement universal joint comes with new hardware.
Place the jaws of a universal joint removal tool over the bearing caps of the joint where it attaches to the drive shaft. Turn the handle of the tool in a clockwise direction until the universal joint has been pressed from the drive shaft. Remove the tool.
Place a new universal joint in between the mounting holes on the end of the drive shaft. Place the jaws of the removal tool over the bearing caps of the U-joint and turn the handle in a clockwise direction until it is fully seated into the drive shaft. Remove the tool. Insert new snap ring clips over the bearing caps using a pair of snap ring pliers.
Repeat the above two steps to replace the universal joint at the other end of the drive shaft, if necessary.
Place the drive shaft under the vehicle.
Crawl under the vehicle. Raise the front of the drive shaft and insert it into the transmission tail shaft. Raise the rear of the drive shaft and hold it into position with one hand. Insert the bearing cap clamps back into their mounting holes. Thread the nuts back onto the ends of the clamps and tighten them with a socket and ratchet. Wipe up any transmission fluid that may have leaked out of the tail shaft. Remove the jack stands and lower the vehicle.
