[Che]

I've just started to get a horrible noise and vibration when I put the zook into 4WD. Checked the front drive shaft, and sure enough there's just a tiny amount of play beginning to creep into the system. Not sure if I gave the shaft a good knock, or if the parts are just old and worn - either way it needs to be fixed.

Gonna have to fix the uni joints. Never done it before, but it seems straight forward enough. Just wondering what tools i'll need, and what time frame I should set aside to fix? Any troubleshooter tips?

[Rusho]

A vice, big hammer and a socket the size of the uni to bash it out

[Che]

Outta interest - what sorta lifespan, or how regularly will uni's need replacing? Is it a part of the factory service schedule, or just replace as needed?

[S13RR4]

I just did mine, big hammer, big vise that can grip shit tight, and some sockets,

[S13RR4]

out of interest are you sure its uni's??

how fast were you going at the time to feel a vibration??
only asking cause the front axels and diffs arent balanced like the rear and you'll get a vibration from traveling at high speeds

however if the uni's clearly have play then its probably a good place to start

[31zook]

Press's rule, it's an easy job

[marcman]

i got a question seeing we're on the subject do uni's make ticking noise's as you accelerate? not in 4 wheel drive tho

[lordfury007]

Yeah mine clicks as you accelerate - only between standstill and about 2500 revs though, above that it goes quiet again - halfway through replacing the uni joints now.

Got the circlips out, and sat the drive shaft u joint between two bricks and trying to hammer the uni joint out (with a socket peice slightly smaller than the uni joint end) but it doesnt seem to be budging.... soaking it in wd40 and will try again in the morn...

Does anyone else have any easier way of pulling it out without a press?

[neofitou]

Sometimes the flange is bent a little over the uni and it makes it hard to get them out.

Hit them harder. Dont use bricks, use a 25 or 26mm socket on the other side.

Once hammered in all the way so its sticking out use multi grips to pull out the cap. If its so impossibly tight, use a dremmel, file or sand paper inside the joint to smooth it out a bit, only take off enough to make it shine, then wd40 and hammer the whole thing back the other way so it comes out the side you filed, then file the other side and hammer back though.

To get my roadworthy I had to change 3 unis, then putting in the 1l transfer case I had to pull appart 6 more to make the 3 hybrid joints.
I dont have a vise. Did them all fine with this method.

The first few I used a sliding clamp, hitting the handle but it wasnt good enought to get the really stuck ones.