Universal Joint Replacement Pinion Flange Yoke Joint

1. Remove the propeller shaft from the vehicle. Refer to Propeller Shaft Replacement .



2. Remove the two snap rings (1) from the pinion flange yoke (2).
3. Apply moisture displacing lubricant GM P/N 1052864, or equivalent, to the outside of the pinion flange yoke (2) joint bearing caps.



4. Using an 18 mm (3) socket in conjunction with a 24 mm (2) socket and a soft-jaw vise, place the pinion flange yoke into the soft-jaw vise with 18 mm socket acting as a driver and the 24 mm socket acting as a hollow support. Tighten the vise until the bearing cap inside of the 24 mm socket has been exposed approximately 3-4 mm (0.12-0.16 in).
5. Remove the bearing cap from the pinion flange yoke by placing the exposed portion of the bearing cap into a soft-jaw vise. Tap upwards on the pinion flange yoke with a hammer until the bearing cap is free of the pinion flange yoke.
6. Insert the 18 mm socket through the bearing cap opening in the pinion flange yoke. Tap the socket gently with a hammer until the opposite bearing cap is exposed approximately 3-4 mm (0.12-0.16 in).
7. Remove the opposite bearing cap from the pinion flange yoke by placing the exposed portion of the bearing cap into a soft-jaw vise. Tap upwards on the pinion flange yoke with a hammer until the bearing cap is free of the pinion flange yoke.
8. Remove the pinion flange yoke from the spider.



9. Remove the two snap rings (2) from the propeller shaft yoke.



10. Using an 18 mm (2) socket in conjunction with a 24 mm (3) socket and a soft-jaw vise, place the propeller shaft yoke into the soft-jaw vise with the 18 mm socket acting as a driver and the 24 mm socket acting as a hollow support. Tighten the vise until the bearing cap inside of the 24 mm socket has been exposed approximately 3-4 mm (0.12-0.16 in).



11. Remove the bearing cap (2) from the propeller shaft yoke by placing the exposed portion of the bearing cap into a soft-jaw vise. Tap upwards on the propeller shaft yoke with a hammer until the bearing cap is free of the propeller shaft yoke.



12. Remove the opposite bearing cap by inserting the 18 mm (1) socket through the bearing cap opening in the propeller shaft yoke. Tap on the socket gently with a hammer until the opposite bearing cap is exposed approximately 3-4 mm (0.12-0.16 in).
13. Remove the opposite bearing cap from the propeller shaft yoke by placing the exposed portion of the bearing cap into a soft-jaw vise. Tap upwards on the propeller shaft yoke with a hammer until the bearing cap is free of the propeller shaft yoke.
14. Remove the spider from the propeller shaft yoke.
15. Inspect the propeller shaft yoke for the following:

•	Distortion

•

Cracks

•	Other damage

•	If the propeller shaft yoke appears distorted or damaged, replace the pinion flange yoke. Refer to Propeller Shaft Replacement .

16. Inspect the pinion flange yoke for the following:

•	Distortion

•

Cracks

•	Other damage

•	If the pinion flange yoke appears distorted or damaged, replace the pinion flange yoke.





Important: If any unusual wear or damage is found on any component upon universal joint inspection, do not attempt to repair or replace the component. Replace the universal joint as an assembly.

17. Inspect the bearing caps for broken or missing needle bearings. If the needle bearing appears missing or worn, replace the universal joint as an assembly.
18. Inspect the bearing surfaces on the spider for flat spots or excessive wear. If the bearing surfaces on the spider appear worn or flat, replace the universal joint as an assembly.

Notice: During bearing cap installation, make sure that the needle bearings are correctly positioned. If the needle bearings become mispositioned during installation, damage to the needle bearings and the spider will result.

1. Install the spider into the propeller shaft yoke.
2. Apply moisture displacing lubricant GM P/N 1052864, or equivalent, to the outside of the pinion flange yoke joint bearing caps.
3. Install one bearing cap into the propeller shaft yoke. Tap gently with a hammer in order to ensure the bearing cap fits smoothly over the pinion flange yoke joint spider.
4. Install the opposite bearing cap into the propeller shaft yoke. Tap gently with a hammer until a snap ring can be fitted.
5. Install one snap ring into the propeller shaft yoke.
6. Inspect the snap ring upon installation. Ensure the snap ring is completely seated and firm.
7. Using an 18 mm socket in conjunction with a 24 mm socket and a soft-jaw vise, place the propeller shaft yoke into the soft-jaw vise with the 18 mm socket acting as a driver and the 24 mm socket acting as a hollow support. Tighten the vise until the opposite bearing cap is pressed into the propeller shaft yoke so that a snap ring can be fitted.
8. Install one snap ring into the propeller shaft yoke.
9. Inspect the snap ring upon installation. Ensure the snap ring is completely seated and firm.



10. Install the pinion flange yoke (2) onto the spider.
11. Install the bearing cap (1) into the pinion flange yoke (2). Tap gently with a hammer in order to ensure the bearing cap fits smoothly over the spider.
12. Install the opposite bearing cap into the pinion flange yoke (2). Tap gently with a hammer until a snap ring can be fitted.
13. Install one snap ring into the pinion flange yoke (2).
14. Inspect the snap ring upon installation. Ensure the snap ring is completely seated and firm.
15. Using an 18 mm socket in conjunction with a 24 mm socket and a soft-jaw vise, place the pinion flange yoke (2) into the soft-jaw vise with the 18 mm socket acting as a driver and the 24 mm socket acting as a hollow support. Tighten the vise until the opposite bearing cap is pressed into the pinion flange yoke (2) in order that a snap ring can be fitted.
16. Install one snap ring into the pinion flange yoke (2).
17. Inspect the snap ring upon installation. Ensure the snap ring is completely seated and firm.
18. Install the propeller shaft into the vehicle. Refer to Propeller Shaft Replacement .

Universal Joint Replacement Sliding Yoke Joint

1. Remove the propeller shaft from the vehicle. Refer to Propeller Shaft Replacement .
2. Remove the two snap rings from the sliding yoke.
3. Apply moisture displacing lubricant GM P/N 1052864, or equivalent, to the outside of the sliding yoke joint bearing caps.
4. Using an 18 mm socket in conjunction with a 24 mm socket and a soft-jaw vise, place the sliding yoke into the soft-jaw vise with the 18 mm socket acting as a driver and the 24 mm acting as a hollow support. Tighten the vise until the bearing cap inside of the 24 mm socket has been exposed approximately 3-4 mm (0.12-0.16 in).
5. Remove the bearing cap from the sliding yoke by placing the exposed portion of the bearing cap into a soft-jaw vise. Tap upwards on the sliding yoke with a hammer until the bearing cap is free of the sliding yoke.
6. Insert the 18 mm socket through the bearing cap opening in the sliding yoke. Tap gently with a hammer until the opposite bearing cap is exposed approximately 3-4 mm (0.12-0.16 in).
7. Remove the opposite bearing cap from the sliding yoke by placing the exposed portion of the bearing cap into a soft-jaw vise. Tap upwards on the sliding yoke with a hammer until the bearing cap is free of the sliding yoke.
8. Remove the sliding yoke form the spider.



9. Remove the two snap rings (2) from the propeller shaft yoke.



10. Using an 18 mm (2) socket in conjunction with a 24 mm (3) socket and a soft-jaw vise, place the propeller shaft yoke into the soft-jaw vise with the 18 mm socket acting as a driver and the 24 mm socket acting as a hollow support. Tighten the vise until the bearing cap inside of the 24 mm socket has been exposed approximately 3-4 mm (0.12-0.16 in).



11. Remove the bearing cap (2) from the propeller shaft yoke by placing the exposed portion of the bearing cap into a soft-jaw vise. Tap upwards on the propeller shaft yoke with a hammer until the bearing cap is free of the propeller shaft yoke.



12. Remove the opposite bearing cap by inserting the 18 mm (1) socket through the bearing cap opening in the propeller shaft yoke and tapping on the socket gently with a hammer until the opposite bearing cap is exposed approximately 3-4 mm (0.12-0.16 in).
13. Remove the opposite bearing cap from the propeller shaft yoke by placing the exposed portion of the bearing cap into a soft-jaw vise. Tap upwards on the propeller shaft yoke with a hammer until the bearing cap is free of the propeller shaft yoke.
14. Remove the spider from the propeller shaft yoke.
15. Inspect the propeller shaft yoke for the following:

•	Distortion

•

Cracks

•	Other damage

•	If the propeller shaft yoke appears distorted or damaged, replace the pinion flange yoke. Refer to Propeller Shaft Replacement

16. Inspect the sliding yoke for the following:

•	Distortion

•

Cracks

•	Other damage

•	If the sliding yoke appears distorted or damaged, replace the sliding yoke.




17. Inspect the bearing caps and roller bearings for broken or missing bearings. If the bearing caps appear damaged or have missing bearings, replace the universal joint as an assembly.

Important: If any unusual wear or damage is found on any component upon universal joint inspection, do not attempt to repair or replace the component. Replace the universal joint as an assembly.

Inspect the bearing surfaces on the universal joint spider for flat spots or excessive wear. Replace the universal joint as an assembly.

Notice: During bearing cap installation, make sure that the needle bearings are correctly positioned. If the needle bearings become mispositioned during installation, damage to the needle bearings and the spider will result.

1. Install the spider into the propeller shaft yoke.
2. Apply moisture displacing lubricant GM P/N 1052864, or equivalent, to the outside of the sliding yoke joint bearing caps.



3. Install one bearing cap (1) into the propeller shaft yoke. Tap gently with a hammer in order to ensure the bearing cap fits smoothly over the spider.
4. Install the opposite bearing cap into the propeller shaft yoke. Tap gently with a hammer until a snap ring can be fitted.
5. Install one snap ring into the propeller shaft yoke.
6. Inspect the snap ring upon installation. Ensure the snap ring is completely seated and firm.
7. Using an 18 mm socket in conjunction with a 24 mm socket and soft-jaw vise, place the propeller shaft yoke into the soft-jaw vise with the 18 mm acting as a driver and the 24 mm socket acting as a hollow support. Tighten the vise until the opposite bearing cap is pressed into the propeller shaft yoke so that a snap ring can be fitted.
8. Install one snap ring into the propeller shaft yoke.
9. Inspect the snap ring upon installation. Ensure the snap ring is completely seated and firm.
10. Install the sliding yoke onto the spider.
11. Install the bearing cap into the sliding yoke. Tap gently with a hammer in order to ensure the bearing cap fits smoothly over the spider.
12. Install the opposite bearing cap into the sliding yoke. Tap gently with a hammer until a snap ring can be fitted.
13. Install one snap ring into the sliding yoke.
14. Inspect the snap ring upon installation. Ensure the snap ring is completely seated and firm.
15. Using an 18 mm socket in conjunction with a 24 mm socket and soft-jaw vise, place the propeller shaft yoke into the soft-jaw vise with the 18 mm socket acting as a driver and the 24 mm socket acting as a hollow support. Tighten the vise until the opposite bearing cap is pressed into the sliding yoke so that a snap ring can be fitted.
16. Install one snap ring into the sliding yoke.
17. Inspect the snap ring upon installation. Ensure the snap ring is completely seated and firm.
18. Install the propeller shaft into the vehicle. Refer to Propeller Shaft Replacement .