Replacing U-joint on Intermediate Shaft

 

A couple weeks ago I noticed the steering being very stiff and it was very hard to turn at times. What will happen is while you are driving and as you go to make a slight turn you will come up against a little tension at first, then suddenly it’s easy. This will happen more and more as time goes by.

 

I ended up greasing all points that I knew of. I posted my problem on the HML and found out that there are 2 grease points on the intermediate shaft that gets missed a good bit. One of them is in the cab under the steering wheel and the other one is under the hood near the steering box.

 

None of these helped. After reading on the HML and other Hummer owners websites I ended up replacing the u-joint near the steering box as it is subject to more weather than the other one. Taking the intermediate shaft out was not that bad but getting the u-joint out was a PITA. Trying to get the part number for the u-joint was a time as most of the old part numbers are no longer used and no one had a correct part number as a reference.

 

DO NOT but the intermediate shaft as an easy way out— the cost of this shaft is $320 ( AM General # 12339210 2B1 )

 

Below is the tools that I used as well as some pictures to help anyone out.

 

Intermediate Shaft out of Hummer

U-joint that needed replaced— noticed the rust color grease

Old u-joint in the vise. Before you start whacking at with a hammer make sure to remove the C clips that old it in. There a total of 4 and they are on the inside.

New U-joint— Napa part # 250-0600

Current price $ 11.04  -  as of 2-22-07

We used a piece of solid bar stock to knock the caps on the old u-joint

We also used a socket and placed it on the cap and pressed it with the vise.

Old u-joint still in the yoke

Everything tore apart

When installing the new u-joint make sure to press them in   - DO NOT tap them in with a hammer as you could knock the needle bearings loose and that would not be fun trying to find them.

New u-joint installed.

Total time  -  maybe 1 1/2 hours (taking my time)

Total cost  -  $11.04  ( compared to $320 for a new shaft )

Tools  -  Breaker Bar

                  5/8” socket  - for bolt

                  7/16” socket  -  for the dust boot

                  11/16” socket  -  for nut

 

** if you are replacing the bolts they are 7/16”x 20 x 2”