Anyone with experience replacing the upper steering shaft U-joint??

[Kernal]

I recently found that the smaller/upper U-joint on my FZJ-80 steering shaft (the one up under the dash) is notchy and sticking in one direction. Wondering if anyone out there has ever tried to replace just the U-joint (spider)?

 

[OGBeno]

I recently found that the smaller/upper U-joint on my FZJ-80 steering shaft (the one up under the dash) is notchy and sticking in one direction. Wondering if anyone out there has ever tried to replace just the U-joint (spider)?

It's not available separately. Have to buy the joint itself. Well worth it to get some solidity back.

When I did my gear box/sector shaft etc, I replaced both yokes and the intermediate shaft and used an FJ60 shaft rubber boot to place over the lower yoke to protect it against future ingress of junk.

 

[Kernal]

The size of the spider appears to be 16x38 (or 40mm); I found a possible aftermarket source for a replacement if I can get the dimensions confirmed. Other than that my main concern is what will happen when I try to pound/push the old spider out (it's staked in). Guess I'd have to file down the staked areas once I get the old spider out, press the new spider in, then either restake it or maybe use some Loctite. Cost would be ~$25 versus ~$75.

Is the lower spider available separately, it appears to have clips that hold it in place? Anyone got an old one laying around to measure?

 

[swamprunner]

Did you ever try this? I'm need to replace the ujoint and make a hybrid coupler. Just wondering how fun it is to get the spider out and a new one in?

 

[Kernal]

I did not replace the spider or the whole assembly, just put the old one back in. It loosened up a bit after I lightly rapped the spider and worked it through it's full range of movement many times. After looking around for a replacement spider the best price I could find after shipping was about $32 from one online store that gets them from China. NAPA could get that size also IIRC, but their price was about $30. I couldn't see putting half the cost of a new assembly into a cheap Chinese U-joint.

 

[swamprunner]

I was just trying to swap ends so my I could have a joint with the correct splines. I was just wondering how hard it was to get the joint apart. I guess there is only one way to find out.

 

[sodafeld1]

I was just trying to swap ends so my I could have a joint with the correct splines. I was just wondering how hard it was to get the joint apart. I guess there is only one way to find out.

did you give the staked uni joint a go?