U-joint replacement tutorial needed

I have the 07 Tacoma and just noticed a small squeak backing out of driveway. I'm pretty sure it's one of the u-joints. I'd like to replace them myself. Is there a tutorial for this? I scanned through and didn't find one. Also a friend of mine said he replaced u-joints on his car and had problems with something like the balance. He said it had a terrible wobble and had to get it towed to the dealership. This was after he changed his u-joints out. Is it that tricky to get lined up or put back the same way? I'm not a super mechanic, but I could take my time and go through it and do it myself, or try if I had a good video or tutorial to guide me. The quote from the dealer was close to 1,200 bucks verses around 40-60 bucks for parts.

 

u joints are cake.

Rent this "ball joint press" from autozone / oriley auto parts http://www.autozone.com/loan-a-tools/ball-joint-press oriley will let you have it for free.

This will allow you to properly press out u joints easier than anything else with minimal effort.... i will never do a u joint replacement without that tool ever again.


Next

grab 3 of these for your rear driveshaft (assuming a non regular cab, 2 for a regular cab)

$33 Spicer 5-1330-1X U-Joint Kit

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DOI8BDS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1



Then go at it doing one at a time. Mark how everything lined up before and where the zerk fitting was then put everything back together how you had it before and you wont have any balance issues.

 

I just had the leaf springs replaced when they inspected my truck for some recalls. They had to order the leaf springs and it took about a month to get them in, but they did replace them. I'm pretty sure it's the u-joints.

 

Thanks for the quick replies. I drive about 40 miles a day to and from work, what kind of time do I have before this is a big problem. I need a good long weekend when I try to tackle this. I hate to try anything and get in a bind and have to go to work the next day. The pressure would kill me.

 

Ive had 3 ujoints go out on mine. Typically i would start hearing a rotational squeaking noise that got faster as i accelerated. It was most noticeable from 10-30mph where as once i was going faster than 30, it couldnt really be heard as well. Just thought id throw out some info on what it might be like when theyre going out. Also, if you have toyota ujoints in it right now, you can crawl up underneath it and check the rubber seals around the spider itself. If theyre broken or split, its time to replace since OEM ujoints are not greasable and rely on this seal to keep water/moisture out

 

I hate misinformation. Your statement is incorrect as you said above.

There is a vast majority of Tacoma's that came from the factory with greasable universal joints. My Prerunner did and I'm fairly sure all, if not most 4X4 trucks do. Prerunners are a little more hit or miss, some do some don't. I have no idea about the 5 lugger trucks... I would imagine they are also hit and miss.

 

I just checked again and I did not see any grease fittings on the u-joints.

 

My bad, just trying to help. I shouldve mentioned that my prerunner doesnt have them.

 

No big deal. Just that some do and some don't.

 

Thank you all for your help. I just want to be sure on making sure everything is marked to where I can put it back exactly like it was. In another post it was mentioned to put the grease fitting back in the same position, does it matter if the old did not have the fittings?

 

John Kelly's videos kick ass.

 

If only they could keep things consistent for the sake of our sanity. Either way, im more informed now, thanks for the correction. The last thing i want to do is mislead the good folks on here.

 

U-Joint need replacing? Totally do it yourself unless the actual axle is fucked. All you need is a hard flat surface and a BFH.

 

pretty sure its all 4x4's have zerks on front and rear driveshafts... all 09+ prerunners do as well.

5 luggers, no idea.

See my post above, a BFH and a big socket works, but its so barbaric and a pain in the ass and you can fuck up the thrust washers in the new joints. Use the ball joint / u joint press i linked to above, will take one longer to clean off the old yokes than it is to push out a u joint with one of those tools.

 

This is true. What also works is a big C-Clamp if you already have one.

I've done it all 3 ways. BFH, C-Clamp, and 10 ton hydraulic press. The press was a cake walk. So easy. The other 2 were doable. but a 2/10 for a pain in the ass definitely.

 

I have done mine with a vise and hand tools. I would bring the drive shaft to an automotive machine shop and have them pressed in. A lot less work and no damaging the new u joints....... mark the position of the shaft before removing it. good luck

 

My 6 lug Prerunner SR5 does not.

 

Hit and miss...

 

Those were no joke. Really informative - almost too much...but I now know why I should take it to a pro, as long as I'm not doing it on the trail.