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U-Joint Repair In 5 Minutes - Four Wheeler Magazine

Sean P. Holman Contributor

We are not sure what it is about U-joints that seems to confound wheelers, but since we're showing you easy installs that will make a difference, we thought we would show you how to replace a U-joint. We asked Mel Wade, owner of Off Road Evolution, to share with our readers how to replace a U-joint on the fly. So we gathered up a TJ axle and a new Spicer joint and took some photos.

easy U Joint Fix c Clip Removal Photo 27385385

1. We started by first removing the C-clips from the U-joint ears. PhotosView Slideshow 2.Once the C-clips were removed, a quick strike of a hammer was enough to pop them out of the yoke.

<strong>2.</strong>Once the C-clips were removed, a quick strike of a hammer was enough to pop them out of the yoke.

<strong>3.</strong>We freed the U-joints on one yoke and separated the stub axle from the shaft.

<strong>4.</strong>With the stub axle removed, we repeated the above steps and removed the U-joint from the axle yoke.

PhotosView Slideshow 5.Just to show size, from left to right is the TJ Dana 44 axleshaft we had just worked on, a JK Dana 44 axleshaft, and a Dana 60 axleshaft.

<strong>5.</strong>Just to show size, from left to right is the TJ Dana 44 axleshaft we had just worked on, a JK Dana 44 axleshaft, and a Dana 60 axleshaft.

<strong>6.</strong>Before we could install the new U-joint, we pulled off the caps and were careful not to upset the needle bearings.

<strong>7.</strong>Next, the U-joint was placed into the axleshaft yoke.

PhotosView Slideshow 8.We then installed the caps back on to the ears. The trick to doing this cleanly, without upsetting the needle bearings, is to make sure that the ear sticks out past the yoke as far as possible.

<strong>8.</strong>We then installed the caps back on to the ears. The trick to doing this cleanly, without upsetting the needle bearings, is to make sure that the ear sticks out past the yoke as far as possible.

<strong>9.</strong>A careful, quick tap of the hammer seated the caps.

<strong>10.</strong>You can see here that the cap we are working on has been tapped past the surface of the yoke to facilitate installation of the opposite cap and make installation of this C-clip easier.

PhotosView Slideshow 11.With the U-joint seated into the axleshaft, the stub shaft is installed using the same steps as above.

<strong>12.</strong>We also took this picture to show you the difference between a C-clip and a full circle clip. It is amazing to us that C-clips don't cause more problems than they do.

<strong>13.</strong>The finished product is ready to be reinstalled into the vehicle.

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U-Joint Repair In 5 Minutes - Four Wheeler Magazine

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