[JT6BT]

I was trying to replace the u-joints and center support bearing (carrier bearing) in my 95 2wd standard cab long bed. The truck is originally from Wisconsin so everything is really rusty and hard to take apart. I rented a ball joint/u-joint press from Advance Auto Parts, and when I went to use it the c-clamp part of it was bent really bad. I tried the socket and hammer method first but couldn't get the u-joints to budge in the yoke so against my better judgment I decided to try the press anyway (yes, yes, I know, I'm a moron and should have just made the hour long round trip to get a different one). I hit the press with an impact and the open part on the bottom slipped and made a big divot in the yoke, which ended up crushing a section of the c-clip channel. I ground out the bad area with a Dremel and the c-clip seems to sit in there ok now, but I don't know if it's a good idea to still use the driveshaft. Will this throw off the balance at all or damage the new u-joints or cause any other problems? My dad has been helping me and he insists it will be fine, but I'm not so sure.

Any opinions/ideas on if this will be ok (see pictures below)?

 

[Walker111]

I’d run with it and keep an eye on it.

 

[GAmes]

Rule #1 Never doubt your dad.

That little bit of metal loss won't make any significant balance difference.

 

[JT6BT]

After I got over being angry at myself I started to worry less about it. Thank you, gentlemen, for the reassurance. Now to finish putting it all back together.

 

[rubberfish]

Glad I could help.

 

[David Ivory]

I was trying to replace the u-joints and center support bearing (carrier bearing) in my 95 2wd standard cab long bed. The truck is originally from Wisconsin so everything is really rusty and hard to take apart. I rented a ball joint/u-joint press from Advance Auto Parts, and when I went to use it the c-clamp part of it was bent really bad. I tried the socket and hammer method first but couldn't get the u-joints to budge in the yoke so against my better judgment I decided to try the press anyway (yes, yes, I know, I'm a moron and should have just made the hour long round trip to get a different one). I hit the press with an impact and the open part on the bottom slipped and made a big divot in the yoke, which ended up crushing a section of the c-clip channel. I ground out the bad area with a Dremel and the c-clip seems to sit in there ok now, but I don't know if it's a good idea to still use the driveshaft. Will this throw off the balance at all or damage the new u-joints or cause any other problems? My dad has been helping me and he insists it will be fine, but I'm not so sure.

Any opinions/ideas on if this will be ok (see pictures below)?


View attachment 966480
View attachment 966481

That small is not a problem at all. What IS a BIG PROBLEM is all that rusty corroded metal! I would be really concerned about the damage the rust has done to the entire truck. Out here in California I would not buy, own or work on anything that looked that bad.

 

[bigfish95971]

Should not be more than a few bucks at junk yard.

 

[rubberfish]

What IS a BIG PROBLEM is all that rusty corroded metal!

David. Some exposed metals begin to rust in as little as twelve seconds.
Yes, even in California. If you look you'll see in the scratches that everything is just fine.
Plenty of material there. Another twenty plus years of service left in that unit.