What do you do to keep the centering ball from falling apart while you are working on pressing in the new U joints? I was thinking of zip tying the thing together. Other centering balls I have seen didn't have needle bearings in them and this one here looks like a real mess if it pulls apart (needles falling out) while you are working on the other pieces.
I about have the whole front driveshaft apart, just the centering ball race left to remove and it looks like that will be a chisel job. Anyway a little rant on these U joints, every other vehicle I have done this to you press the U joint to one side far enough to pop out the bearing cup and then you can lift the joint out. No so on this truck, not enough room and you have to press out both sides.
On the good side I did find one dry bearing cup with the beginnings of metal shavings and two other cups that were getting to nearly dry. I greased the spline shaft and replaced the single joint already.
I about have the whole front driveshaft apart, just the centering ball race left to remove and it looks like that will be a chisel job. Anyway a little rant on these U joints, every other vehicle I have done this to you press the U joint to one side far enough to pop out the bearing cup and then you can lift the joint out. No so on this truck, not enough room and you have to press out both sides.
On the good side I did find one dry bearing cup with the beginnings of metal shavings and two other cups that were getting to nearly dry. I greased the spline shaft and replaced the single joint already.