wrote:
Hey,

Started putting a new u joint into that yoke and shaft and ran into a
proplem. I got one "cup" in but when I tried to put the opposite cup
in
it wont go on straight and I have a terrible time. I am afraid this
might mean the hole is out of round or something but not sure. Is
there
a way to get this in?

What is the best way to install a u joint?

I used to pop these in and out with a rawhide mallet and a suitable
selection of sockets, one to beat on the cups with and the other as a
receiver. When I got a vehicle with alloy yokes, I had to modify that.
Ford has a nifty u-joint tool that shows up in their factory manuals,
like a big c-clamp with a tube receiver instead of a pad on the off
side. HF sells something that works just about as well, that's what I
use now.

I follow the factory recommendations, remove opposing cups from the new
joint, place one in the outside of one hole and feed the cross into it
from the inside. The leg of the cross should be long enough that it
fits into the cup without it being in place all the way. Then I press
that one cup down past the clip groove. Doing it this way keeps the
needles from getting bumped loose and falling to the bottom of the cup.
That's guaranteed to ruin your day. I then slide the cross out of the
pressed cup enough to start the other cup on it through the other hole,
same reason, and press that one into place. Put the clips on, make
sure the cross pivots freely, give it a couple of shots with the mallet
if it doesn't and that yoke is done. The yoke holes have to be clean,
too, make sure all the corrosion or rust is gone before pressing the
new cups back in. Takes maybe 10 minutes if I'm a little slow that
day.

Stan