U-Joint Replacement

Anyone know if there is a write up on this? about to replace one in the rear and looking to read up on it real quick before I dig in.

Thanks!

 

Haven't seen one but there's a couple YouTube videos that give a quick walk through. Google: 05 tacoma ujoint replacement

 

If you want to wait I'll make a write up tomorrow night.. I'm also replacing them. Just picked them up yesterday, getting home too late tonight to do anything but will be doing then tomorrow evening.

 

Anyone have recommendations for a replacement u-joint? I need to replace the one in the rear closest to the differential also.

I was looking at the options on Rock Auto. I see Spicer Life u-joints which I think I've read are supposed to be some of the best. But it says they came in sealed and greasable versions, and it's not giving me the option to choose and doesn't tell me what I'd be getting.

 

Moog is a pretty good option if you're not gonna be doin anything crazy and need some kinda competition thing... just did mine the other week with a $15 replacement Moog ujoint, greasable (with the zerk fitting NOT on the end of that cap where it's likely to be hit), inexpensive, well made and easy to install.

 

I replaced the one at the rear diff some time ago, very easy to do, mine was frozen to the yoke so I had to get a 6" piece of heavy pipe that was about 1/4" smaller than the diameter of the sleeve and beat the crap out of it after soaking the whole thing in WD40 for about 15-20 mins, the rest is just plain simple stuff.

Just make sure you mark the flanges before you tear it down so you maintain the correct drive shaft phasing when you put it back together.

Get the OEM stuff, don't cheap out on this part, a broken u joint at speed is no funny stuff, and make sure you grease that new one until the grease comes out, the grease in the new part is just so it doesn't rust before you get it from the parts store.

 

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tJWEVGqP6s
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Udm39WHuiHw
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DekWjflBfp4

 

Nice video, I did mine without removing the drive shaft from the truck, way more simpler and faster..............

 

How often should you replace u joints? I grease mine every oil change.

 

Mine started clunking when I neglected maintenance, as long as you maintain them greased they should last a very long time..............

In over 30 yrs driving, only have replaced 2 of them, 1 for an old bronco and 1 for this tacoma......

 

ARB: ujoints are a replace-as-needed item, they don't have a standard fail rate and could last the life of the vehicle (could). Just keep them breezed and happy and if you start to feel driveline vibrations and determine it to be a failing ujoint, replace it...

Mandy: I'm not sure how you managed to replace it while leaving the driveshaft IN the truck AND thought it was easier but if you say so....

 

Yep, whole job took me about 35-40 min working plus the 15-20 minutes soaking in wd40 the frozen u-joint to the yoke, so is safe to say around 1 hr.

Wasn't the most comfortable position to work, but was done rather quick, I've seen similar repairs in the trail, mine was with all the tools and in a level concrete floor with jack stands and jack.

 

damn... you've got me beat! even if I was on the trail, I'd rather take out the extra 6 bolts and put the damn thing on a rock or tailgate before I lay up under there trying to beat it out..

 

Didn't take the time to watch the vids but here's what I did.

Crawl under the truck with a 14mm wrench and ratchet, undo the 8 bolts for the driveshaft (single cab) and pull it out where you can easily work on it.

Remove the retaining rings (4x with needle nose pliers)


Put a 3/4 in socket ontop of the cap and pound it until the opposing cap is protruding from the driveshaft.




Pull the cap off (I used channel locks)


Put the socket on the side with no cap and pound the other cap out the other side. At this point half the ujoint is free.



Do the same thing to the remaining 2 caps



Pull the ujoint out and put the new one in. Installation is the opposite of removal.







Those were the only pics I took. It's a super simple job. As others said, maybe half an hour from start to finish.

 

The Moog joints are not that good. You can get Dana Spicer Life 1330 series for around $20 from a driveline shop.

You should use a Harbor Freight U-Joint press kit instead of hammering on your driveline.

 

I was thinking about using a c-clamp but you'd be surprised how easy they come out. I'm not real worried about it.