Replacing U-Joints: Write Up

Hi all, been a lurker a long time and figured I'd try my hand at a write up since I replaced two u-joints on my Tacoma today. I searched on here and the web to find out why my truck was squeaking while I was in reverse backing out of my driveway, and I found out it to be a worn U-joint.

IMPORTANT: Use white out if at all possible, and/or chalk or a marker, but try hard to get white out since its the easiest to see and won't disappear in the wd-40. Use this to mark a line down your driveshaft. You want this thing going back in in the same orientation it came out. I had a marker and I could barely make out the mark I made with a marker at the end.



To start here's the project truck:
2005 Desert Sand Tacoma DCSB



And the work areas:





Tools I used to replace my U-Joints:





O'Reilly Ball/U-Joint Press


To start we need to remove the bolts from the rear differential:



Then the center carrier bearing support:



Then pull the drive shaft out of the transmission and set it on the side:





Next we need to remove the snap rings with some needle nose pliers, I flat head screwdriver comes in handy here so you can slip it under the snap ring to help wedge it out:





Now using your U-joint press, we need to press out the old U-joints:



Once you punch the opposite cap out far enough, its easier to remove the cap with a pair of pliers, just twist and pull outwards:



Then press in reverse now to punch the opposite cap out:



I started with the front U-Joint, so now I will remove the other two caps:



And now we have a removed U-Joint:



Now the rear U-Joint:



AH-HA here is the culprit to the squeaking, rusted out needle bearings:



This is when I noticed after removing the rear bracket that this drivetrain is not stock, Spicer:



So then I went ahead and packed them with some good lithium grease for extra wear protection, these two joints have zerks for future greasing, but just want to get some good grease in there for the time being:



Now before reinserting the new U-Joints clean out your snap ring grooves and knock out any spurs of metal that could impede inserting the caps:



So now begin reinserting the U-joints and caps, make sure your U-Joints are inbetween your two bracket ends before you press in your caps:



After you get your caps pressed just past the snap ring grooves, its a good idea to go ahead and insert your snap rings:



So lets finish this one up with the press here:



Good to go on this one:



Now the last one:



And here we go back under the truck:



To put the driveshaft back in we want to start by making sure to insert the front back into the transmission first:



Go ahead and leave the screws for the carrier loose so we have some wiggle room for bolting up to the rear diff:



Then once you have everything bolted together, you can tighten it all up and go out and make sure your good to go.

Now after redoing these U-Joints, as I've shown you in previous pictures, almost all the smaller components minus the drive shaft have been replaced with spicer parts. Had a feeling once I got this truck it wear faster than others, when i saw the trailer brake controller in the driver footwell.

 

awesome writeup, thank you!

 

Looks as though you replaced 2 out of 3. Why not all so you don'r have to muck around this that job again for a long time?

 

I noticed you said to use white out to make the Match Marks on the drive line components.

I have always used a center punch to mark alignment points on them. You can see and feel them and they will not rub off, ever!

Like This:

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I'm pretty sure toyota used spicer components in the factory driveshaft. I noticed the spicer stamp on mine too in more than one place. Good write up by the way. I used a small triangle file to make a small mark on the flanges so I could line them back up.

 

My question is why you did this barefoot? Lol

 

why not?

you only need sandals for welding

 

I don't know, just originally was going to replace the rear diff U-Joint but I figured the two with the most stress put on them would be the front and rear. In hindsight, should have replaced the middle U-Joint. I don't drive the Tacoma too hard so it hopefully it won't shit the bit again.

More dexterity, my fiance said when she pulled up I looked like a monkey by the way I had my feet straddling both sides of the drive shaft while cranking on the ratchet. I can't tell y'all how much easier this would have been if I had a bench vise.

 

Nice write up. I'm preparing for doing this over the weekend. What did you torque the bolts back to? Also any recommendations on grease to use?

 

Yes this is good write up with the HF u-joint press.

Most write ups use a hammer to pound the u-joint which is not good.

 

I went 65 ft/lbs at the rear and 54 ft/lbs at the carrier housing.

I just used some lithium grease I got at OReilly's when I rented the press.

 

What are the u joint part numbers? I'm going to be replacing all 3.

 

very nice write up!

 

subd for most likely this weekend. Nice write up. Now just got to find somewhere to rent the tool. Don't really want to pay $115 right now for it.

 

x2, I did the same thing. Center punch so I could not mess it up when I reinstalled.

Also, stock is Spicer. When I replaced mine, I used Spicer parts, they're pricey but the Moog ones I bought first were shit and didn't fit very well at all. I fought them the whole way.

 

Just head to oreilly and get one for a deposit. Or really any of the auto stores.

 

I have always used a bench vise.

 

thanks for the writeup! Changed 3 joints and one of them was rusted out just like in your picture. What a difference that made! not only did it fix the low speed vibration and the squeaking and cracking pops but the jerk when i let go of gas also stopped. It drives so smooth now. That makes me think that the rusting had already started when i bought the truck used 3 years ago because it jerked from day one. I am going to be greasing them suckers diligently twice a year from now on. Now if i could only figure out how to get the grease gun fitting on the zerks on the joints on the front drive shaft...

 

What is the part number of the u joint spicer you used?

 

Subd. Doing my u joint soon