Axle to stub shaft ujoint removal?

[69merc]

I tried removing the ujoint, but the body of the ujoint (couldn’t press any further) prevented the needle bearing cap from coming fully out the other side.  What is normal procedure on these? 
I’ve removed ujoints on other vehicles, but the ujoint had more of a “neck” for easier removal.
 It’s a 1974 TCS if that makes a difference.

[Bainford]

When I did mine last summer, once I had pushed the cap most of the way through the bore (as you have described above), I was able to grab it with a large pair of slip joint pliers or water pump pliers. Large vice grips may work as well. I gave a bit of twisting motion and they came right out.

[4129R]

As a very last resort, you can take the trailing arm off at the chassis, the driveshaft will pop out of the diff housing in the transaxle, and you can press the caps out on a hydraulic press.

You would need to disconnect the hand brake cable and brake pipe too.

[69merc]

Thanks Bainford, that was about the only thing I could think of doing.  Was the new ujoint difficult to install?

4129R, the assembly is out of the car and I am using a press.  It’s just the size of the ujoint body being too large (not enough neck) to completely push the cap out.

Trying to decide if this is worth doing so I can use my press to press the hub shaft into the hub assembly.  The other path is to leave the axle and hub shaft together and make up a puller like Certified Lotus documented on his build.

[Bainford]

The new caps went in well. I cleaned the bores well with scotch-bright pads, lubed them with anti-seize (or any anti-galling compound) and pressed them in with a bench vice.

Regarding the removal, I do remember now that there was one or two caps that I had to grab with a bench vice as I just couldn't grip them tight enough to remove with water pump pliers. If necessary, you could use a little heat (light heat with a propane torch, not oxy acetylene) on the yoke to expend the bore to release its grip on the cap, though I didn't have to resort to this.

I assembled the axel, bearings, and housing (upright) together with a hydraulic press. I can't comment on the puller method as I have not tried it.

[69merc]

Thanks again for the tips Bainford!

[Kendo]

One thing to keep in mind when reassembling them is that a leg of each 'U' of the joint has a bit of the metal removed. These two legs go together when reassembling to form a gap so you can access the Zerk fitting for greasing.