- 1). Remove the drive shaft by removing the four nuts or bolts attaching it to the pinion gear yolk, using a 12 mm wrench. Slide it forward into the transmission tail shaft housing, lower it down and slide it backward out of the transmission tail shaft housing. Catch any spilled transmission fluid in the drain pan.
- 2). Heat the yolks of the drive shaft with the propane torch to remove the injected plastic retainer holding the U-joint caps in place. As the yolk is heated, the plastic will melt and boil. This causes it to expand and push itself out of the yolk.
- 3). Remove the U-joint caps and the old U-joint, using the U-joint press. This simple "C"-shaped press clamps onto the joint and forces the caps out of the yolk as you tighten the tool. When you have removed one cap, turn the tool around and press the other one out. Then move to the next yolk, and so on, until you have removed all the U-joints.
- 4). Clean any rust or debris out of the yolks, and install new joints, using the press to push in the new caps and retainers. When you have installed one cap in a yolk, slip the U-joint up in the yolk and then down into the cap. Then install the other cap on that half of the joint. When both caps are installed into the yolk, snap the new steel retainers into place on the outside of the yolk.
- 5). Reinstall the drive shaft by sliding it into the tail shaft housing of the transmission and then slipping it into place on the pinion yolk. Tighten it into place, using the four nuts or bolts removed in Step 2.
- 6). Lower the Chevy off the jack stands, and test-drive it.
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