I'm trying to replace the center ball in the double cardan joint. Is there some trick to getting it out? Cause I'm having a hell of a time.

Thanks

 

It's very easy to remove.

1. Pry out the grease seal and clean out any dried grease so that the ball moves freely.

2. Find a nut that just fits inside the large opening of the ball. (You may have to rotate the ball to expose the large opening.)

3. Take some electrical tape and wrap the nut, then stuff it into the ball. The tape will hold the nut in place. Don't cover the opening of the nut.

4. rotate the ball so that the big opening is inside the well area of the yoke.

5. Find some threaded rod and carefully thread it into the nut thru the smaller pass thru hole that's in the ball. Be careful not to push the nut out of the back of the ball. You only need a few turns. The rod just needs a hold of the nut.

6. Use a large socket, a couple of sturdy washers, and another nut to fashion a puller. The socket needs to fit around the outer ring of the bearing.

7. Tighten the external nut against the socket/washers. You may need to hold the threaded rod with some vice grips to keep it from turning.

8. The ball and its socket will pop right out after a few turns.

 

Thanks for the help man. I'll give it a shot tonight when I get home from work.

 

Well, I ran into a problem. The small pass thru hole in the back isn't a small hole. It was broken some how so now its about the same size as the front hole. Anyone have any more ideas? I'm starting to think I should have just bought a whole new driveshaft.

 

Now you got a problem. Maybe weld a rod into the ball?

 

ok Ill play the retard...what is a "Double Cardan centering ball?"

 

I just thought of something. Maybe a slide hammer with a hook will bump it out.

This guy used a pry bar to get hold of the ball and pop it:

http://www.pavementsucks.com/tech/doublecardan.php

Bumpin' Yota:
The double cardan joint is that big ugly U-joint assembly that's on the front drive shaft. Very simply put, it's a double u-joint that has a ball in a socket on one side, and a peg that fits into the ball on the other side. The ball keeps the two halves centered with each other while allowing the joint to flex. The cardan joint provides greater flex and runs smoother at higher angles.

here's a picture of a yota cardan. The ball and pin is hidden in the center of the yoke:


This picture is from a bronco, but the yota is nearly identical. You can see the ball and the peg: