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-   -   Driveshaft rebuild done! (https://landroverforums.com/forum/discovery-ii-18/driveshaft-rebuild-done-30781/)

Antmen Apr 30, 2010 06:27 PM

Driveshaft rebuild done!
 
If I ever tell you that I'm going to do this again, please shoot me. Thanks.

I was going to do the rear shaft, but that might have to wait while my hands recover.

All told I spent:
  • $81.15 - 4 u-joints and 1 centering ball kit from Advance Auto (free shipping)
  • $15.00 - Grease gun from Strauss Discount Auto
  • $4.49 - Grease tube/cartridge from Strauss Discount Auto
  • $12 - 4-pack Dogfish Head 90-minute IPA (beer makes the cardon joint seem "fun")
  • $5.04 - 8 new Nylock nuts at local hardware store (steel grade 5 for 3/8" bolts w/ 24TPI I believe)
  • $0.00 - Rented C-joint/ball-joint press from Autozone ($100 deposit, refunded if returned within 90 days)

So, without the beer, I spent about $100 in parts and $100 held for a rental deposit (even if refunded, it's still $100 not in my pocket during the process.) Add to that, about 12 hours of my time (the press I rented was slightly bent/misaligned and threads deformed/tight, so it made pressing the joints out a living hell since the other side blocked the caps from coming out) and I would gladly pay someone an additional $100 to $200 more to have them do it.

With that said, I've never felt so proud from working on my car as I have today. I'll mount it tonight and see if it needs to be dropped again for balancing.

Here are some pics:

The misaligned and tight press (since I couldn't get it to close that far, I put a 1/2" drive ratchet extension into it. That closed the gap.)
http://anthonymendez.s3.amazonaws.co...I-01-press.JPG

The old joint with cap removed. None were dry, but looked like only mechanical grease and some bearings had burn marks
http://anthonymendez.s3.amazonaws.co...2-oldjoint.JPG

I didn't have a wire brush so I just used some WD-40 and a regular toothbrush to clean up the yokes' eyes/holes
http://anthonymendez.s3.amazonaws.co...I-03-clean.JPG

Used a corkscrew to remove the washer inside the ball kit
http://anthonymendez.s3.amazonaws.co...rew-washer.JPG

I was curious - yet doubtful - to see if it could also pull the ball out with it = Corkscrew FAIL.
http://anthonymendez.s3.amazonaws.co...crew-broke.JPG

Since my local Autozone's slide hammer was missing the hooks, I had to improvise with a 2-ton puller and the sleeves/spacers that came with the joint press...
http://anthonymendez.s3.amazonaws.co...-06-puller.JPG

Success! I felt like a genius.
http://anthonymendez.s3.amazonaws.co...07-ballout.JPG

Celebration was short-lived as I realized it only pulled the ball and not the casing
http://anthonymendez.s3.amazonaws.co...II-08-ball.JPG

Re-arranged the puller legs again for the casing...
http://anthonymendez.s3.amazonaws.co...pullercase.JPG

Boom! I was on a roll (no pun intended)
http://anthonymendez.s3.amazonaws.co...10-caseout.JPG

But not without some damage to the puller threads (maybe I got lucky)
http://anthonymendez.s3.amazonaws.co...erthreaded.JPG

This joint was cake to put back together and grease (as was the spline as well)
http://anthonymendez.s3.amazonaws.co...intgreased.JPG

Putting the ball/yoke into the cardon assembly was easy with the right angle...
http://anthonymendez.s3.amazonaws.co...nassemble2.JPG

Just put on of the joint legs with the ball at a 45-degree angle...
http://anthonymendez.s3.amazonaws.co...nassemble3.JPG
http://anthonymendez.s3.amazonaws.co...nassemble4.JPG
http://anthonymendez.s3.amazonaws.co...nassemble5.JPG
http://anthonymendez.s3.amazonaws.co...nassemble6.JPG

Now for the hard part - putting the cardon assembly on the shaft yoke
http://anthonymendez.s3.amazonaws.co...nassemble7.JPG

Don't ask what the best angle is for that one - I'm still in shock over how hard it was - especially after having knocked down some bearing needles in the ball with the spring. I got them back into position with patience and grease, but this is the point where I would recommend using the beer.

Done! Ain't she pretty? (w/ new Nylock/Nylon-insert nuts ready)
http://anthonymendez.s3.amazonaws.co...13-rebuilt.JPG

Excuse me while I load up on pain killers for my hands, legs, and head.

-Anthony

V3NOM Apr 30, 2010 06:38 PM

nice write up. Im gettin ready to do this in a few weeks.

V3NOM Apr 30, 2010 06:39 PM

btw this deserves a Stickey

greg409 Apr 30, 2010 06:40 PM

Fantastic job!!

Thank goodnes I've got a DI. LOL

luck,greg

GARovee Apr 30, 2010 06:49 PM

I did my d2 shaft on the tail gate of my truck with a hammer and snapring pliers... It was 4 hours of pure hell. I am like you... I never want to rebuild one of these again. I bought cheap pdq ujoints at 12 bucks a pop so I had about $40 in my rebuild with gas to get the parts. Already owned the hands and hammer :P feels good knowing it's done though!

Antmen Apr 30, 2010 06:50 PM

Thanks for the sticky vote, V3NOM, but the post linked to from under the write-ups is fantastic and is what guided me. I simply wanted to share my experience with pictures.

In short, if you have tons of patience and decent mechanical skills or ingenuity, go for it! If you don't have patience and - no beer - buy the parts and pay someone. :D

Greg - lucky fo' sure! I wouldn't wish this on anyone. LOL.

-Anthony

bmw zhp Apr 30, 2010 07:04 PM

thanks so much for this awesome write up.
i might just have it do it this weekend.

hilltoppersx Apr 30, 2010 08:00 PM

AWESOME! now come join our club and lets get that beast DIRTY!

Antmen Apr 30, 2010 10:53 PM

Sounds like a plan!

-Anthony

audiS4S6 Apr 30, 2010 11:24 PM

Antman - nice job man! No update your signature! ;-P You deserve it.


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