How to replace U Joint

Universal joints are one important component in your vehicle. Although these precious parts of your vehicle fail due to many reasons, is that a big deal? NO. The big deal is how can you replace universal joints effectively even after they fail. Read on to discover how you can install U-Joint without blunder.

What Is A U-Joint?

A universal joint, sometimes referred to as a U-joint, is the type of mechanical coupling that permits two shafts to be joined and transfer torque while maintaining their freedom of rotation and moving in different directions. In other words, a universal joint is a shaft coupling that is capable of transmitting rotation from one shaft to another.

Symptoms Of A Damaged Universal Joint

When your universal joint is damaged you’ll notice symptoms that serve as indication. Here are some signs that you have a damaged U-Joint:

Clunking, Banging, or Chirping

A clunking, banging, squeaking, or chirping sound made when you’re transferring from drive to reverse indicates that your universal joint has gained additional clearance, causing it to rotate further before abruptly stopping. These may be due to the consequences of your joint bearing not being properly greased and lubricated.

Squeaking Or Clicking Sound

Universal joints have a bearing that is pre-greased for smooth motion. Less lubrication results from this grease evaporating or sleeping when it shifts throughout the driveshaft’s rotation. The squeaking sound is produced as the drive shaft rotates because of the increased friction between the metallic components.

Difficulty In Moving Your Vehicle

When your vehicle is unable to move, it means that the power is not reaching the wheel. This might occur as a result of a permanent failure of your universal joint, which will separate it from your vehicle’s back axle. In conclusion, it can completely stop your vehicle from moving and will necessitate a drive shaft repair.

Shaky And Vibrating During Ride

This is another indication that your vehicle’s universal joint is damaged. When the drive shaft deviates from its rotational axis, it is a sign that the bearings are gradually wearing out. Because the universal joints rotate at a faster pace than the wheels, the vibration will typically be higher in frequency.

Leakage Of Transmission Fluid

Another sign that your engine has a damaged U-joint is when there’s leakage of transmission fluid from the rear of the transmission. You’ll notice that the cause of damage to the output shaft seal of the transmission occurs through the wearing out of the tail shaft bushing, thus causing the transmission fluid to leak.

Loss Of Speed And Power

Although these will not affect any of your engine electrical systems, they will reduce your moving performance. If you notice that suddenly your vehicle cannot climb hills, or your engine does not accelerate the way it used to before, it can be due to your engine’s damaged U-joint.

Drive Shaft Failure

When you have a broken U-joint, it can cause your driveshaft to become loose from other vehicle parts. Anytime this occurs, there will be a stoppage in delivering power to the wheels. When you experience this, it is advisable to fix your U-joint as soon as you can to prevent further damage to your driveshaft, transmission, and the beneath of your vehicle.

Causes Of U-Joint Failure

A failed U-joint will do lots of havoc on your engine system. Here are some causes of U-joint failure:

Normal Wear And Tear

Over time, almost every component of a functional car will break down, and U-joints are not excluded. U-Joints are subjected to wear and tear, mostly in cars that are regularly towed or go off the road.

Misalignment

Adjustment to the rear differential or the mounting of the transmission may cause the driveshaft to become misaligned. A misaligned U-Joint can shake itself apart due to excessive vibration, and damaged seals which result in reduced lubrication, and will automatically result in U-Joint failure.

Lossed Connections

In this case, the bolts that secure the U-Joints to the drive shaft, transmission, or differential may occasionally break, lose, or even fall out entirely. The cause of this is usually the extreme jolting or vibration, corrosion, and improper torque that you apply to the bolts.

Corrosion

Corrosion is a common issue with universal joints. Even if you did not expose it to harsh environments, there is a high chance that it will deteriorate over time depending on the humidity level in your surroundings.

Mechanical Wear

Another common cause of U-Joint failure is debris contaminating your U-Joint components. Over time, the dust that is trapped between the moving parts of the U-joints may cause surface grooves, thus leading to your U-joint failure.

Lack Of Lubrication 

You may experience gradual wear down in the inner surface of the U-joint bearings if there is unlubricated metal-on-metal contact in the U-joint due to grease loss. This may occur from a cracked seal or when there is excessive hard use, thus wearing the grease out leading to your U-Joint failure.

Vehicle Modification

Often, certain vehicle modifications might put an undue amount of stress on U-Joints. The U-Joints have to work harder and may not last as long as they could with additions like suspension lifts that alter the drive line’s angle. In addition, increasing engine power can put additional strain on the driveline and U-Joints, causing them to function at a higher RPM than anticipated during their design and construction.

Consequences Of Not Replacing A Damaged U-Joint

Not replacing Your damaged U-Joint can cause more costly issues in the future. Below are some of the typical outcomes that occur when you refuse to replace your damaged U-Joint:

Leaking Transmission: The driveshaft stub shaft rotates out of round due to vibrations brought on by a damaged U-Joint, thus resulting in the transmission’s rear seal failure. When this happens, fluids will leak out of the transmission.

Leaking Differential: Not replacing your damaged U-Joint will ruin your pinion seal and at the same time the transmission seal can be damaged, thus resulting in leaking differential.

Damaged Bearing: If you refuse to replace your damaged U-Joint, the damaged universal joint will cause havoc to the transmission output bearing(If there is no transfer case), the transfer case output bearing, and the pinion bearing.

Broken Driveshaft: If a damaged U-Joint is not replaced, it will eventually break apart. Breaking apart often happens when you’re in motion, the drive shaft will disengage from the transmission or differential while you are driving. This occurrence will damage your driveshaft and maybe some more parts beneath your vehicle.

Serious Collision: Another thing you will experience is serious collusion, this often occurs when your damaged U-joint is under hard acceleration. You might experience a catastrophic failure when you are driving on a highway. This can be a big problem for you because, when you experience such, your vehicle is already powerless so there is a high chance of causing a serious collision with other vehicles behind you.

Tools Needed To Replace U-Joint

• Floor jack and jack stand
• Socket set and ratchet
• Wrench set
• Hammer
• Large flat-blade screwdriver or pry bar
• U-Joint press or bench vise (For in/out pressing of the U-Joint)
• Snap ring plier(This is only useful if your Universal joint uses snap rings)
• Needle-nose pliers
• Lubricant or penetrating oil
• Safety glasses
• Gloves

Step-By-Step Guide On How To Install U Joint

This process of installing U Joint is not complicated, infact it is the simplest. So if you have access to a garage and you have automotive experience a bit, you can install U Joint by yourself if you follow this below guide closely.

• USE FLOOR JACK TO LIFT THE FRONT END OF YOUR VEHICLE

• ENSURE STABILITY BY PLACING YOUR JACK STAND BELOW THE FRONT END OF THE FRAME

• PREVENT LEAKAGE BY REMOVING ALL THE TRANSMISSION FLUID

• REMOVE THE FILL PLUG FROM THE FILL PLUG FROM THE TRANSMISSION

• PREPARE A CONTAINER FOR THE FLUID THEN DISENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION

• CREATE REFERENCE MARK TO ENSURE THE INTEGRITY OF THE DRIVESHAFT

• DISENGAGE THE MOUNTING CLIPS OR BOLTS THAT SECURE THE DRIVESHAFT TO THE TRANSMISSION

• DISLODGE THE YOKE FROM THE TRANSMISSION AND REMOVE THE DRIVESHAFT

• PREVENT THE JOSTLING OF THE NEEDLE BEARINGS BY SECURING THE BEARING CAPS WITH TAPE

• STABILIZE THE DRIVESHAFT IN A VISE

• REMOVE THE TAPE

• DISCONNECT THE RETAINING RING AND REMOVE THE BEARINGS FROM THE YOKE

• UTILIZE DIFFERENT SOCKET SIZES ALONG WITH THE LEVERAGE SUPPLIED BY THE VISE TO REMOVE THE BEARING CAPS FROM THE YOKE

• UTILIZE PLIERS TO FASTEN THE CAPS AS THEY ARE PUSHED THROUGH THE ASSEMBLY

• FLIP THE DRIVESHAFT AROUND IN THE VISE AND REPEAT THE PRECEDING PROCESS ON THE OTHER END

• REMOVE THE UNIVERSAL JOINT FROM THE YOKE AND THE DRIVESHAFT

• CLEAN DEBRIS AND DIRT FROM THE DRIVESHAFT ASSEMBLY, MAKE SURE IT IS CLEANED THROUGHOUT

•  PUT A LITTLE GREASE TO THE REPLACEMENT CAPS

• REPLACE THE BEARING CAP BY INSERTING IT PARTIALLY INTO THE YOKE

• INSTALL THE UNIVERSAL JOINT INTO THE CAP

• PARTIALLY PUT THE OPPOSING CAP

• AFTER LINING UP THE UNIVERSAL JOINT, USE A PRESS MACHINE TO PUSH THE CAPS INTO PLACE

• INPUT THE RETAINING RINGS

• PUT THE DRIVESHAFT IN ITS POSITION

• MAKE SURE THE YOKE ALIGNS PROPERLY WITH THE SHAFT OF THE TRANSMISSION

• ENSURE ACCURATE INSTALLATION OF THE DRIVESHAFT BY CHECKING YOUR REFERENCE LINE

• RECONNECT THE UNIVERSAL JOINT MOUNTING CLAMPS OR CLIPS

• PUT THE GREASE FITTING AND APPLY GREASE

• RIGOROUSLY CHECK THE UNIVERSAL JOINT TO MAKE SURE YOU INSTALL IT PROPERLY

• REMOVE THE JACK STAND AND LOWER YOUR VEHICLE

• CHECK TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU REINSERT THE TRANSMISSION DRAIN PLUG AND THAT YOU REFILL THE TRANSMISSION FLUID

• Replace the fill plug

Universal joint replacement tips

• Verify fitment with your fingertip
• Clear away crud from the surface of the U-Joint, you can work better when you see it
• Use clip shape to your advantage
• Utilize automatic transmission fluid (ATF) to lubricate and loose
• Press for Free
• Remove the seals to easily clear the yokes
• Clean the groove before you have to
• Identify potential leaks
• Address corrosion and leaks while it’s easier
• Avoid contamination
• The lube surface of the yoke
• Brace up needle bearings with grease
• Check Zerk alignment and direction before assembly
• Hammer, vise, or press. Choose the most suitable method at this stage.
• Keep it even so that the bearings can stay put
• Check for downed needle bearings before the final go
• Mark components for easy reassembly
• Clean and inspect all mating surfaces
• Lubricate the U-joint
• Clean excess grease from seals and fittings

FAQs

What Is The U-Joint Replacement Cost?

Universal joint average replacement cost ranges from $240 – $290 for parts and labor. However, the cost of the U-Joint replacement can be less if you plan on replacing it by yourself.

Is It Difficult To Replace A Universal Joint?

Replacing a universal joint is fairly straightforward, however you need to have some prior experience.

Which Components Should You Check When Your U Joint Fails?

When your U-Joint fails, check both sides of your driveshaft assembly.

Conclusion

In conclusion, you need strong attention to detail, the right set of tools, and some prior experience to replace your vehicle’s universal joints. When you follow the step-by-step guide in this article and take all safety precautions, you’ll remove old U-joints and install new ones effectively.