Hammer or press U-Joints !

[TJS86TOY]

So what do you do? Press or hammer out your U-JOINTS? Always in the past I have changed many U-Joints in axle shafts and prop shafts with a hammer and an old socket. Recently I got a nice H frame hydro press and was thinking of doing U-Joints on it, until I read that you can easily bend the ears (yoke) on them. I suppose I could build a "tool" that fits under the press that just has contact with the "cross" part of the U-Joint while supporting the bottom of the yoke. Hard to explain without pic's sorry.
Anyway, I don't yet know how to do the poll thingie so please post what you do! Thanks!

[ColoJeeper]

I use a ball joint press I bought from Harbor Freight years ago to do U-Joints. Works great in the garage with the Impact wrench and not too bad on the trail with ratchet and a breaker bar. I find it much easier than beating on them with a hammer.

http://www.harborfreight.com/ball-joint-service-kit-for-2wd-and-4wd-vehicles-63279.html

[Jim]

Hydraulic H-press like you have. I simply pay attention to the force applied / use my eyes for movement and hand on the pump's bar to sense if its stuck and I could put too much force into the parts. Have not had issues (yet).

[Hypoid]

So what do you do? Press or hammer out your U-JOINTS? Always in the past I have changed many U-Joints in axle shafts and prop shafts with a hammer and an old socket. Recently I got a nice H frame hydro press and was thinking of doing U-Joints on it, until I read that you can easily bend the ears (yoke) on them.I have used both, I have tweaked the ears using both. I used a piece of all-thread with a couple nuts and washers to straighten the ears.

Since I have done only a handful of U-Joints with the press, I have adopted the strategy of loading the joint and tapping the ears with a hammer.

I think I have seen a picture of the spacer you mentioned, but I think I could break one of those also. :D

[Spieg]

I also use a HF ball joint press for u-joints. Before that I used a large c-clamp with a couple of large sockets (this is still what I carry for trail repair).

[Brian]

Old socket and a bench vise.

[newracer]

I used the hammer and socket method when I replaced the front u-joints on my JK, never again, that sucked.

[JandDGreens]

I have only done u-joints twice, The first time was a front axle shaft on my XJ when I first bought it (came with a bad one) and just recently my rear drive shaft u-joint at the transfer case side. I did the first one on my buddies press. I think because your handling two shafts to press the u-joint into the press was easier. I did the hammer method with a large c-clamp on the drive shaft and found that was a piece of cake since it was just at the end of the shaft and good practice for a trail repair. (stored an extra couple u-joints and the tools I used for that eventual day on the trail).

[TJS86TOY]

Sounds like a mixed bag of methods, all of seem to work fine with differing levels of difficulty. I tend to lend my opinion towards Michael, I hate doing them with hammer and socket. I also have the HF ball joints press but can never seem to keep it on the yoke while using impact (mabey cause I bent the c )
Thanks to all, was curious.

[Hypoid]

Since I have done only a handful of U-Joints with the press, I have adopted the strategy of loading the joint and tapping the ears with a hammer.I thought I'd add, if the joint has not moved by the third stroke, I'll get out the hammer and start tapping.

[dieseldoc]

have done both, the press is the easy way screw up the ears. I prefer to hammer as its better control.

[flashboiler]

I use the press to remove and hammer to install. The hammer shocks everything and gives it a change to line up.

My press will happily broach out the yokes if the caps aren't perfectly straight.

[Java]

I have a special press that I use for everything.

[TJS86TOY]

Hey! That is the same press I have had for over 25 years! Finally used my hydro press yesterday on some D60 shafts and went super smooth. Would have had a heck of a time with a hammer as the u-joints where original and very rusted in. I have been spraying this rust breaker stuff I got from Firestone for several days now, so Im sure that helped.

Also, looking at that carrier, ran across this video. Not sure I would do it this way but...... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9NY0o7fu8Y

[Spieg]

Sooo much wrong in that video. Auto shops are like restaurants - you may be better off not knowing what the staff is doing in back.

[The StRanger]

That video is like watching a blind man chasing a fly in the house with a baseball bat....

[Chris]

I could only watch the first minute. The old saying of "you can do it fast or you can do it right" came to mind.

[Hypoid]

Finally used my hydro press yesterday on some D60 shafts and went super smooth. Would have had a heck of a time with a hammer as the u-joints where original and very rusted in.The U-joints that made me cry looked like they were installed at the factory... twenty-some years ago. It did not matter if I used a hammer, vise, or press, they made me cry!