Removing Front Drive Shaft Dust Cover (1 Viewer)

[Lugboot]

Quick question--checked the FSM and searched already--does the slip joint dust cover thread off the driveshaft? How do I remove it and what tool should I use? My dust cover has a dent in it from hitting the sway bar at some point. The dent prevents the slip joint from compressing the whole way. So, I need to replace the dust cover, I guess.

I also plan to order sway bar drop blocks to avoid this in the future.

Thanks!

 

[Rookie2]

To make sure we're talking about the same thing... you're asking about the 8" cylindrical piece that's on the end of the drive shaft, and it's got a flared lip around the very end? If so, it is not threaded on. It's just a really snug fit onto the drive shaft... pound on, pound off. Kind of a PITA with just and hammer and a big steel punch. It's on there really tight.


Rookie2

 

[Hayes]

Yeah, pound off/pound on.
Don't be surprised if it doesn't fit as tight afterward...

 

[Lugboot]

To make sure we're talking about the same thing... you're asking about the 8" cylindrical piece that's on the end of the drive shaft, and it's got a flared lip around the very end? If so, it is not threaded on. It's just a really snug fit onto the drive shaft... pound on, pound off. Kind of a PITA with just and hammer and a big steel punch. It's on there really tight.


Rookie2

Yes--that's the part.

Thanks, guys! I'll go pound my shaft now . . .

 

[EricE]

The pounding doesn't damage it? I wanted to take it off last time I had my DS apart so I could clean and grease the shaft under it well but couldn't figure out how to get it off. It just seems fragile enough to be damaged/dented by pounding it off.

 

[Rookie2]

The pounding doesn't damage it? I wanted to take it off last time I had my DS apart so I could clean and grease the shaft under it well but couldn't figure out how to get it off. It just seems fragile enough to be damaged/dented by pounding it off.

It's pretty tough, but yeh you could damage it. In future cleanings I've opted for the clean-by spraying brake cleaner method..

In his case, his is already damaged, so I don't think he cares about tearing it up more. Getting one back on is not as bad, cause you got something to hit on. Getting it off is a little tough because there's really not a good place to bang on.


Rookie2

 

[corsair23]

Thanks, guys! I'll go pound my shaft now . . .

 

[Lugboot]

It's pretty tough, but yeh you could damage it. In future cleanings I've opted for the clean-by spraying brake cleaner method..

In his case, his is already damaged, so I don't think he cares about tearing it up more. Getting one back on is not as bad, cause you got something to hit on. Getting it off is a little tough because there's really not a good place to bang on.


Rookie2

Nope, I don't care about damaging it. I'm just going to put a new one on.

If it wasn't dented, I'd follow the brake cleaner spray method to clean it, I think. I also had poured some decreaser in arouns the splines and stood the shaft on end for a while to soften up the old grease.