1995 K1500 U-joint disassembly question

[kevrobster]

I'm not sure if driveshafts fit under the Axles/Brakes section, the Transmission section, or the Transfer Case section, so if it goes elsewhere please kindly advise.

I'm trying to replace the U-joints on the front and rear driveshafts in my K1500 since they were stiff as a board when I removed them to replace my transmission last week. After taking a closer look at them today, they aren't like any u-joint I've seen. There doesn't appear to be any snap rings holding the bearing caps in? I'm no u-joint expert, but I've seen both the C-clip type (clipped on the inside of the yoke), and the standard internal snap-ring type (on the outside of the yoke), and this doesn't seem to have either.

I may need to post pictures to explain this, but there was a rubber-coated sort of cover on the inside of the yoke, about where I would expect a C-clip to be, that I would assume is to seal the grease in. I destroyed and removed this cover so I could see better what was going on and still can't find anything holding the caps.

Is this what the normal u-joints on these trucks are like? Is there some trick to removing the caps, or am I just crazy?

 

[tscherbi]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_VIYxEA3fg


Watch this terrible video I found for you and you will get the idea of whats going on on the ujoints. There is a nylon deal that hold the caps in place, heat them up the crap blows out and they come apart, with a BFH.

 

[Ruger_556]

Pics needed... Possible options are:

- Internal c-clip (Which is what it should have)
- External snap ring
- Bolt in bearing caps (Very unlikely, common on semi's)
- Bearing cap straps (Wrap over the cap and are usually used to secure the u-joint to the driven part and not the driveline)

edit: Nevermind, looks like above poster found it

 

[1997chevydriver]

I've always called them "wax rings" but if there are no clips or snap rings, its got the "wax rings" as I call them.

Just heat up the yoke around the cap and the stuff will work its way out.

 

[kevrobster]

Thanks so much! I will try this later this afternoon