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My 1995 F-150 truck has two driveshafts. There is a bearing/bushing near the middle of the truck where they connect, which is clamped to the bottom of the truck. I need to replace it. How is it removed/installed?

Submitted by TennTexan2 Sat 08/01/2009
Submitted by TennTexan2 on Sat, 08/01/2009 - 20:21
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Thanks for visiting

Submitted by Tim West on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 04:35.

Thanks for visiting 10w40.com

Here is the repair for one and 2 piece driveshafts.



Single Type U-Joint
ONE-PIECE DRIVESHAFT

See Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5




Click image to see an enlarged view

Fig. Fig. 1: One-piece driveshaft with a slip yoke




Click image to see an enlarged view

Fig. Fig. 2: Matchmark the driveshaft and yoke for balance reasons




Click image to see an enlarged view

Fig. Fig. 3: Removing the U-clamp




Click image to see an enlarged view

Fig. Fig. 4: Carefully separate the driveshaft from the yoke; a prytool may be needed for this




Click image to see an enlarged view

Fig. Fig. 5: To keep the U-joint cups from falling off, a good practices is to tape the U-joint together

  1. Matchmark the driveshaft yoke and axle pinion flange.
    2.  
  2. Remove the U-bolt nuts and U-bolts attaching the yoke to the axle flange.
    3.  
  3. Separate the yoke from the flange. It may be necessary to pry it free with a small prybar. Immediately after separation, wrap tape around the U-joint caps to keep them from falling off.
    4.  
  4. Slip the driveshaft off the transmission splines.
    5.  

  5. Installation is the reverse of removal. Align the yoke-to-flange matchmarks. Tighten the U-bolt nuts to 15 ft. lbs. (20 Nm).

    6.  


TWO-PIECE DRIVESHAFT/COUPLING SHAFT EXCEPT F-SUPER DUTY STRIPPED CHASSIS AND MOTOR HOME CHASSIS

See Figure 6




Click image to see an enlarged view

Fig. Fig. 6: Two-piece driveshaft with a slip yoke at the transmission end

  1. Matchmark the driveshaft yoke and axle pinion flange.
    2.  
  2. Remove the U-bolt nuts and U-bolts attaching the yoke to the axle flange.
    3.  
  3. Separate the yoke from the flange. It may be necessary to pry it free with a small prybar. Immediately after separation, wrap tape around the U-joint caps to keep them from falling off.
    4.  
  4. Slip the driveshaft off the coupling shaft splines.
    5.  
  5. Remove the center bearing.
    6.  
  6. Slide the coupling shaft from the transmission shaft splines.
    7.  

  7. Clean all parts and check for damage. Do not remove the blue plastic coating from the male splines.

    8.  
  8. Installation is the reverse of removal. Coat the splines with chassis lube. Tighten the center bearing support bolts to 50 ft. lbs. (68 Nm). Align the yoke-to-flange matchmarks. Tighten the U-bolt nuts to:



    5
    /
    16

    in.-18: 15 ft. lbs. (20 Nm)

     

    3
    /
    8
    in.-18: 17-26 ft. lbs. (23-35 Nm)

     

    7

    /
    16
    in.-20: 30-40 ft. lbs. (41-54 Nm)

     


    9.  


TWO OR THREE-PIECE DRIVE SHAFT-SUPER DUTY STRIPPED CHASSIS AND MOTOR HOME CHASSIS

See Figure 7




Click image to see an enlarged view

Fig. Fig. 7: Two-piece driveshaft with a fixed yoke at the transmission end

  1. Matchmark the driveshaft yoke and axle pinion flange.
    2.  

  2. Remove the U-bolt nuts and U-bolts attaching the yoke to the axle flange.

    3.  
  3. Separate the yoke from the flange. It may be necessary to pry it free with a small prybar. Immediately after separation, wrap tape around the U-joint caps to keep them from falling off.
    4.  
  4. Slip the driveshaft off the coupling shaft splines.
    5.  
  5. Remove the rearmost center bearing.

    6.  
  6. Remove the center driveshaft from its mating yoke.
    7.  
  7. Remove the next center bearing.
    8.  
  8. Remove the front driveshaft from the transmission splines.
    9.  
  9. Clean all parts and check for damage. Do not remove the blue plastic coating from the male splines.
    10.  
  10. Installation is the reverse of removal. Coat the splines with chassis lube. Tighten the center bearing support bolts to 50 ft. lbs. (68 Nm). Align the yoke-to-flange matchmarks. Tighten the U-bolt nuts to:



    5
    /
    16

    in.-18: 15 ft. lbs. (20 Nm)

     

    3
    /
    8
    in.-18: 17-26 ft. lbs. (23-35 Nm)

     

    7

    /
    16
    in.-20: 30-40 ft. lbs. (41-54 Nm)

     


    11.  


Double Cardan Type U-Joint
BRONCO

See Figure 8




Click image to see an enlarged view

Fig. Fig. 8: Rear driveshaft components on the Bronco and F-150 4x4

  1. Matchmark the rear yoke and axle flange.
    2.  

  2. Matchmark the front cardan joint and the transfer case yoke.

    3.  
  3. Remove the U-bolt nuts and U-bolts attaching the yoke to the axle flange.
    4.  
  4. Separate the yoke from the flange. It may be necessary to pry it free with a small prybar. Immediately after separation, wrap tape around the U-joint caps to keep them from falling off.
    5.  
  5. Remove the cardan joint-to transfer case yoke bolts and separate the cardan joint from the yoke.

    6.  
  6. Installation is the reverse of removal. Align the matchmarks. Tighten the U-bolt nuts to 15 ft. lbs. (20 Nm); the cardan joint bolts to 25 ft. lbs. (34 Nm).
    7.  


U-JOINT REPLACEMENT



Except Double Cardan Universal

  1. Remove the driveshaft from the vehicle and place it in a vise, being careful not to damage it.

    2.  
  2. Remove the snaprings which retain the bearings in the flange and in the driveshaft.
    3.  
  3. Remove the driveshaft tube from the vise and position the U-joint in the vise with a socket smaller than the bearing cap on one side and a socket larger than the bearing cap on the other side.
    4.  
  4. Slowly tighten the jaws of the vise so that the smaller socket forces the U-joint spider and the opposite bearing into the larger socket.
    5.  
  5. Remove the other side of the spider in the same manner (if applicable) and remove the spider assembly from the driveshaft. Discard the spider assemblies.
    6.  
  6. Clean all foreign matter from the yoke areas at the end of the driveshaft(s).
    7.  
  7. Start the new spider and one of the bearing cap assemblies into a yoke by positioning the yoke in a vise with the spider positioned in place with one of the bearing cap assemblies positioned over one of the holes in the yoke. Slowly close the vise, pressing the bearing cap assembly in the yoke. Press the cap in far enough so that the retaining snapring can be installed. Use the smaller socket to recess the bearing cap.
    8.  
  8. Open the vise and position the opposite bearing cap assembly over the proper hole in the yoke with the socket that is smaller than the diameter of the bearing cap located on the cap. Slowly close the vise, pressing the bearing cap into the hole in the yoke with the socket. Make sure that the spider assembly is in line with the bearing cap as it is pressed in. Press the bearing cap in far enough so that the retaining snapring can be installed.

    9.  
  9. Install all remaining U-joints in the same manner.
    10.  
  10. Install the driveshaft and grease the new U-joints.
    11.  


Double Cardan Joint

  1. Working at the rear axle end of the shaft, mark the position of the spiders, the center yoke, and the centering socket yoke as related to the companion flange. The spiders must be assembled with the bosses in their original position to provide proper clearances.
    2.  
  2. Using a large vise or an arbor press and a socket smaller than the bearing cap on one side and a socket larger than the bearing cap on the other side, drive one of the bearings in toward the center of the universal joint, which will force the opposite bearing out.
    3.  
  3. Remove the driveshaft from the vise.
    4.  
  4. Tighten the bearing in the vise and tap on the yoke to free the bearing from the center yoke. Do not tap on the driveshaft tube.

    5.  
  5. Reposition the sockets on the yoke and force the opposite bearing outward and remove it.
    6.  

  6. Position the sockets on one of the remaining bearings and force it outward approximately
    3
    /
    8

    in. (9.5mm).

    7.  
  7. Grip the bearing in the vise and tap on the weld yoke to free the bearing from the center yoke. Do not tap on the driveshaft tube.
    8.  
  8. Reposition the sockets on the yoke to press out the remaining bearing.
    9.  
  9. Remove the spider from the center yoke.

    10.  
  10. Remove the bearings from the driveshaft yoke as outlined above and remove the spider from the yoke.
    11.  
  11. Insert a suitable tool into the centering ball socket located in the companion flange and pry out the rubber seal. Remove the retainer, three piece ball seat, washer and spring from the ball socket.
    12.  
  12. Inspect the centering ball socket assembly for worn or damaged parts. If any damage is evident replace the entire assembly.
    13.  
  13. Insert the spring, washer, three piece ball seat and retainer into the ball socket.
    14.  
  14. Using a suitable tool, install the centering ball socket seal.
    15.  
  15. Position the spider in the driveshaft yoke. Make sure the spider bosses are in the same position as originally installed. Press in the bearing cups with the sockets and vise. Install the internal snaprings provided in the repair kit.
    16.  
  16. Position the center yoke over the spider ends and press in the bearing cups. Install the snaprings.

    17.  
  17. Install the spider in the companion flange yoke. Make sure the spider bosses are in the position as originally installed. Press on the bearing cups and install the snaprings.
    18.  
  18. Position the center yoke over the spider ends and press on the bearing cups. Install the snaprings.
    19.  


DRIVESHAFT BALANCING



See Figures 9, 10 and 11




Click image to see an enlarged view

Fig. Fig. 9: Marking the driveshaft




Click image to see an enlarged view

Fig. Fig. 10: Installing the hose clamps on the driveshaft




Click image to see an enlarged view

Fig. Fig. 11: Rotating the clamps

Driveline vibration or shudder, felt mainly on acceleration, coasting or under engine braking, can be caused, among other things, by improper driveshaft installation or imbalance.

If the condition follows driveshaft replacement or installation after disconnection, try disconnecting the driveshaft at the axle and rotating it 180°. Then, reconnect it. If that doesn't work, try the following procedure:

  1. Raise and support the truck on jackstands so that all wheels are off the ground and free to rotate. The truck must be as level as possible.

    2.  
  2. Remove the wheels. Install the lug nuts to retain the brake drums or rotors.
    3.  
  3. Start the engine, place the transmission in gear and increase engine speed to the point at which the vibration is most severe. Record this speedometer speed as a reference point.
    4.  

  4. Shift into
    Neutral

    and shut off the engine.

    5.  
  5. Check all driveshaft attachment fasteners, U-joint bearing caps, U-joint cap retaining rings or cap locating lugs. Tighten any loose fasteners, replace any missing, damaged or shaved retaining rings or lugs. If worn U-joints are suspected, replace them. If everything is normal, or if any corrections made do not solve the problem, continue.
    6.  
  6. Start the engine, place the transmission in gear and increase engine speed to an indicated road speed of 40-50 mph (64-80 km/h). Maintain this speed with some sort of accelerator control, such as a weight on the pedal, or have an assistant hold the pedal.
    7.  




CAUTION
The following procedure can be dangerous! Be careful when approaching the spinning driveline parts!



  1. Carefully raise a piece of chalk until it just barely touches the driveshaft at the front, middle and rear. At either end, try touching the shaft about an inch or so from the yokes. Don't touch any existing driveshaft balancing weights. The chalk marks will indicate the heavy points of the driveshaft. Shut off the engine.
    2.  


It helps greatly to steady your hand on some sort of support.

  1. Check the driveshaft end of the shaft first. If the chalk mark is continuous around the shaft proceed to the opposite end, then the middle. If the chalk mark is not continuous, install 2 screw-type hose clamps on the shaft so that their heads are 180° from the center of the chalk mark.
    2.  
  2. Start the engine and run it to the speed recorded previously. If the vibration persists, stop the engine and move the screw portions of the clamps 45° from each other. Try the run test again.
    3.  




WARNING
Check the engine temperature!



  1. If the vibration persists, move the screw portions of the clamps apart in small increments until the vibration disappears. If this doesn't cure the problem, proceed to the other end, then the middle, performing the operation all over again. If the problem persists, investigate other driveline components.
    2.  


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