Factory U joint question

[shippy8907]

Alright, I've already melted the wax out of each joint on both ends but what I'm having trouble with are the caps that go over the ends are not coming off. It looks like they have to be pried off and then you can get to the actual u joint cap, but i've tried my best to get in there with picks and screw drivers with no luck. Does anybody have any suggestions? I've also tried to give it some love taps with a hammer and it wont budge.

[96LT1355Z28]

Did you remove the retainer clips?

[shippy8907]

NO I don't believe so. Are they on the bottom side of the caps?

[shippy8907]

Bump. I'm still stumped with this. I made sure all the wax was melted out, and still nothing. I put quite a bit of force to it with a big C clamp and didnt even budge it. Is there any other step after melting the wax out before you press the caps out of the shaft?

[firebird_1995]

Love taps won't get it. You gotta put it in a sturdy vice, get it hot and hit with a bfh. Hard

[shippy8907]

Alright, I'll have to put my purse down and really hit it then. I watched a video on YouTube of a removal and it looked like the caps almost fell out once the wax was gone, so I was a little afraid to really hit it.

[firebird_1995]

Get mean with it

[Injuneer]

Are you sure you got it hot enough to melt all the nylon out? It's not "wax".

[shippy8907]

Yeah I realize it isn't wax, but I couldn't remember the proper term. I've headed them all up until the nylon stops coming out. I can try again just to make sure I got it all, but I believe I got it all.

[firebird_1995]

You'll actually have to heat both sides to get them to break loose. It takes a LOT of heat. A propane torch is typically not enough

[tleed]

Nylon goes all the way around each cap i heated and then used a press to get mine out they do not come out easy

[Injuneer]

The factory manual indicates that the nylon ring can be sheared with enough pressure from a press, and they have a specific dealer tool that pushes down on the "arms" of the X (not the opposing cap) to achieve the force required. My solution was to pay a shop $10 to take care of it. Took about 2 minutes.

[shippy8907]

Yeah i really only applied heat to the top. Ill try to heat around the entire thing. It might be worth it to run it to a shop and have them press them out once I make sure the nylon is out.

[shippy8907]

Okay I got the rear joint out. I had to get to get it really hot and then lay a pipe wrench across the x on the joint and hammer the crap out of it. Looking to try the front one after I get off work tonight.