Cap1,WEZEL, ford truck u-joints

[TopGear]

I brought my 04 ford 1/2 ton to a mechanic. The rear u-joint was shot and he says he can't change it, needs to go to a machine shop. What kind of joint do they have in these trucks?  I've changed my fair share of u-joints, just don't have anytime right now to do my own repairs.  He said its quite different than what he's done before.  Thanks.

[gyrene81]

looks pretty straight forward to me...

[uptown]

It's probably the type that has the snap ring on the inside instead for the outside, and can't figure out how to get the U-joint out of the yoke.

[SIK1]

I'm looking forward to hearing about this one.  Kind of like the first time I heard about non-serviceable wheel bearing units. 

[rpm]

If it has staked u-joints you're probably going to wind up replacing the shaft. 

[CAP1]

there should be no reason he can't do it there. if he can't, then it's time to find a new mechanic. those can be done literally with a wrench, vise grips, and a hammer.

[TopGear]

If it has staked u-joints you're probably going to wind up replacing the shaft. 

I was on my cell when he called and didn't clearly hear what he called them.  I'm under the assumption that he knows what he's doing and they are not the simple press in type joint.  Guess I'm just curious what makes these such a pain to replace.

[CAP1]

I was on my cell when he called and didn't clearly hear what he called them.  I'm under the assumption that he knows what he's doing and they are not the simple press in type joint.  Guess I'm just curious what makes these such a pain to replace.

 if it's a plain old cross type......4 point......u-joint, it should just press out and back in.

[RngFndr]

Man, I am so glad, to NOT be in the car biz, anymore..

All I have ever known or needed to know is internal or external clip U joints..
But now they have special unrepairable ones that require a new shaft???

Probably save .25c for C/clips on the production costs of their disposable cars..
Makes me wanna puke..

[rpm]

there should be no reason he can't do it there. if he can't, then it's time to find a new mechanic. those can be done literally with a wrench, vise grips, and a hammer.

I looked thru a bunch of forums and finally found one that has a step by step on it. But the replacement u-joints are $100 each???
http://www.f150forum.com/f72/replacing-staked-u-joints-175529/

Probably save .25c for C/clips on the production costs of their disposable cars..
Makes me wanna puke.

While I was searching the forums I read that it cut 2 people from each assembly line. They only had to buy a $1.5M piece of equipment for each line. It was such a disaster that they stopped after 2 years and went back to traditional clip-in and scrapped the machines. Big money savings, huh?

[WEZEL]

Should be just a standard U-joint with external clips, ford has not used internal clips since the late 80's early 90's. my guess you have a F-150, is it a long bed? might have a carrier bearing on and some people just like to touch them shafts.

[TopGear]

It was a staked u-joint. Now we are on a long weekend so I won't see t back til tuesday, maybe Wednesday. A bonus is it went to a driveline specialty shop and they have a policy of every driveline needs to be balanced again before it leaves. Not something I was concerned about but can't hurt to have done.

[CAP1]

i just learned something. i have never seen one of these. thanks for that link rpm. i had no clue anyone would be dumb enough to design a "permenant" u-joint.....but i'm also not surprised it was friggin ford that tried.

[rpm]

i had no clue anyone would be dumb enough to design a "permenant" u-joint.....but i'm also not surprised it was friggin ford that tried.

I hear ya. I'm a Ford Guy to the bone, but they can pull some frikkin' doozies. I think it was actually a Japanese (Honda?) idea from the 80's that they abandoned, but leave it to Ford to try and make it work.

[CAP1]

I hear ya. I'm a Ford Guy to the bone, but they can pull some frikkin' doozies. I think it was actually a Japanese (Honda?) idea from the 80's that they abandoned, but leave it to Ford to try and make it work.

 it may have been....but like i said....i've never seen a staked u-joint like that.

 it helps though, knowing that the nissan gtr uses ford technology in their engine. i'm sure nissan diehards don't much care for that though.