U joints and rear brake shoes

[Neal]

I just bought me some new u joints for the rear and some brake shoes too. The shoes are very thin @ 81,000 miles. Gonna try to do the joints on my own; any hints. The rear is a dana 44 by the way.
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[Fred]

DS U joints are not too hard, just the usual socket method SHOULD work, if you don't have a ujoint tool
Not like the front axle shafts, thosa are a PITA

[Neal]

I bought some C claps though; heard that they would work. Oh yea, I bought some Hercules brush on liner stuff, I let you know how that goes.

[Matt]

Try the c-clamps, but the big hammer and socket usually get it done. If you have a good vice, try using it with two sockets,as a press. that would be the best way to go, especially if you have four hands. Have fun

[Don]

Neal: Did you ever get those U-joints installed? I have U-joints for my rear DS sitting in my garage. As soon as I get time, I'll switch them out. I think my TJ has the original u-joints which is scary since my TJ has 140,000 plus miles on the clock.

[Neal]

Yes, I got them installed. pulling the DS out was very easy. Changing them for the first time was not. I did the first myself, Then I drove down to a mom and pop shop, pulled the DS back out again, no problem @ all. The shop charged me $20.00 to pull and install the one joint I had left. I always heard that the first time they need replaced you should have a pro do it. It took me 4hrs to do the one I did myselve, plus I heated the **** out of it with a torch.The shop did it in 15min. They said when I install them next time it should be easier. You should get the joints that have a zirk fitting so you can keep it greased. One of my joints had NO bearings in them at all in two of the ends.
Brakes not done yet.(but I have bought them).

[Don]

Thanks for the information, Neal. I am leaning towards just pulling the DS and letting the machine shop press them in. I have the Splicer joints, so it is just a matter of me having time to mess with this. Did you have any driveline vibrations?

[mrfarmdog]

Neal did you heat your drive shaft? I would be leary of that due to the annealing effect. Might weaken the parts. Good luck with it.

As far as changing out the joints is concerned I messed around with a big c-clamp and sockets for about 30 minutes under my jeep before I got the bright idea to duct tape the sockets to the clamp. Before the duct tape I needed about six hands to work everything. After I did the duct tape it took me about 5 minutes to get the U-joint out. Lesson learned is it would definately be easier to get the DS out and do it but if you can't or don't want to this method worked like a champ.

[Neal]

no vibrations before or after the install. Before though I had a little bit of squeaking under the jeep, that was ofcourse the u joints. Just my jeep trying to tell me something is wrong. It always makes a noise for a reason.lol

[Suzjeep]

I"m lost........are you talking about the drive shaft u-joints?
It took me about an hour and that was cause I was talking while doing it.