Front axle ujoints

[jakebrake]

Lock the truck in 4x4 and start by pulling off the wheel, if you only do one side at a time and only jack up one side it'll save you from loosing oil out of the front diff.



Unbolt the caliper adapter bracket from the steering knuckle (18mm socket)



And hang the caliper out of the way



Here is where the dually is different from a fleetside truck. Us 6 wheelers have to unbolt this spacer (7/8" end wrench).





Slide the rotor off the studs



Pull the abs sensor, you may have to bend the backing plate a little to get at the bolt (5mm allen)





And pull it through the backing plate and hang it out of the way



4 bolts hold the bearing unit to the spindle (18mm socket)



With those removed, you'll need a puller (and lots of wd40) to separate the bearing from the spindle





Next pull the axle shaft out





Pull the c-clips holding the ujoint in the yokes. It is easier to pull the clips if you clamp the ujoint caps together with a c-clamp.



Clamp the yoke in a vice and with a deadblow hammer drive the yoke down to remove the ujoint caps










Now time for some reassembly

If your new ujoints have these nylon ends, do not drive the new caps into the yokes with a hammer. You will break them.



Use a vice or a c-clamp to press the caps into the yokes.



If you got serviceable ujoints (grease zerks)  make sure you install them the right way so you can grease them.



Remember that wheel bearing being such a PITA to get off



Take some scotch brite and clean up the rust on the bearing and spindle where they index.



Apply a little antiseize to the surfaces



Next install the axle shaft being careful not to damage the seal in the axle tube



Apply a little antisieze to the splines of the axle shaft



Slide the bearing and backing plate into place



And apply red locktite to threads and torque bolts to 150ft lbs





Put a little grease on the abs sensor and install and bend backing plate back into shape if you had to bend it to get access.



Torque axle shaft nut to 265ft lbs and install cotter key





Install rotor and hub adapter for duallys



Install caliper. Apply red locktite to bolts and torque to 130ft lbs





Repeat on the other side and be sure to grease the ujoints until grease is purged from all four caps.

[Cumminalong]

AWESOME WRITE-UP, JAKE!

 

[FroneDaddy]

EXCELLENT job

[Kilch123]

Great write up Jake!   

I'm glad I'm not the only one that had to fight the unit bearings out of the spindle.  I had a hell of a time with mine, so I bought the puller for the next time.

When we did Donny's, they fell right out???  Maybe it's a DRW deal...

[jakebrake]

It could be. I did  wheel bearings on a customers 97 dodge 2500 and his just fell out too. Either way the antiseize should help prevent that the next time I have to pull em down.

[Kilch123]

that's what I'm hoping - I lathered them up pretty good as well!

[LaRedneck]

Another job well done

[Mitch]

Too bad you didn't need to replace your ball joints as well. All that has to come out to replace those as well. Could have knocked out another DIY.