Hello All:

Since I am a U-Joint virgin this is indeed challenging. I have everything off the car, removed the center bearing (found someone else had been there before me and munched the nut pretty well, but I managed to make it work.)

I have tried a bunch of different methods of getting the roller bearing caps out and I have spent many hours with no luck. Here is what I have tried:

The method discussed in the manual, hammering in one direction with a drift. Does anyone actually expect the joints to survive this kind of abuse? I could barely get the caps to crest out of the yolk, only about 1/16".

After some research I thought I had an answer using two different sized sockets and my vice. I much prefer pressure solutions to hammering. Indeed, the cap came out further than before (about 3/16") but not enough to pop out on its own. Using this method you cannot get the other cap out the other end at the same time since it is being used to drive the spider through.

I then tried removing the crested cap with vice-grip pliers as shown in numerous photos on line but I simply do not have enough clearance to get enough purchase on the cap.

I then returned to the hammer method, trying to drive the other cap and spider far enough out that the spider could then slip out like in the manual, but I cannot get the cap out far enough using the hammer method, even with a giant mallet and a very large drift (still only 3/16", despite driving it out further the first time.

Someone please suggest what I am doing wrong. This is taking far longer than it should. Thanks to you all.

Cheers,

Pooch