Car Forum World

working on the rear drive shaft front joint, can not seem to take off the old one. Any help is much appriciated.

if it's original joint it'll not have clips. you'll have to heat the caps and the plastic that holds the caps will run out. then you may be able to remove caps easily.

Remove the drive shaft. The joint will come out with it. Remove the clips outer e clip style and knock one cap out, the rest will come separately easier. On the inner clip style, tap the caps in a bit, then you may be able to punch the inner clips out. Then knock the 1st cap out. Use a 1/2 inch socket for this job.preferrably one you do not intend to use again. Good luck. do not loose any of the new needles and be cautious on installation. Take your caps off and put them to the side. Take the 1st cap you want to put in and place it flat side down on a hard surface. Then take the joint and slide it through the shaft hole and start it in the cap. Tap on the drive shaft and it'll drive itsself down on the cap. Good luck again.

undo the bolts, then if it does not come off get a hammer and screwdriver.

They are assembled at the factory by injecting hot plastic into a channel around the joint. heat it with a torch till the plastic starts to ooze out. you may want to be able to get it then with a socket and a hammer.

take the driver shaft out, get your propane torch and heat the bearing caps till the plastic resin pops out, then press the caps out with either your ball joint press or some sockets and a shop vise.

GM drive shafts don't use clips, the bearing caps have grooves in them that get filled with melted plastic. BUT the substitute joint will use clips.