Ok, yet another question for the gurus. While taking the transmission out last month, it hit the front universal joint on the drive shaft. One of the caps came off. Here's a pic:

Can I buy a new universal joint, and take the bearings and cap from it and put on this one? If not, can the unioversal joint be replaced with the driveshaft in place? I gave a good look under the car this evening and I might be able to get the rear caps off, but I don't know if I'll ever get them back on - it's really tight up there .

This falls directly under the category of "I messed it up and now have to fix my mistake". Thanks in advance for the adivce. Feel free to even sit back and say to yourself (or to me) "that poor bas$%#d, I'm glad I'm not in his place!!"

"you poor bas$%#d, I'm glad I'm not in your place!!"

The chances of a different u-joint cap actually fitting on the old joint are slim to none. Did the cap completely disappear?

If you are gonna get a new joint, why not go ahead and take the shaft off, and do both of them? You cannot replace the joints in the car, unless you have a u-joint press. I'm guessing that's the one thing you don't have, right?
You can get the rear bolts/straps off ok, it just requires a little finess(and little hands help).

If the old cap and needle bearings look good and the uni itself has now wear marks, I'd be pulling the other cap off and cleaning/regreasing and putting them back in.  You can replace a uni joint while in the car but it's a PITA and you need to make some special tools to do it.

uh....gee, Ron, you're really up on thangs, ain'tcha?
The cars has no engine or trans in it!!! Plus...it's a 4speed.

(See whut happens when ya don't(or cain't) come around much?!? )

But, if it did, that would be good advice!
jes messin wid ya!

Well udder dan dat ,he could do it ,Right Ron 7838951.8119212963

Laughing - too - hard - to - type

[QUOTE=jgoglick] Laughing - too - hard - to - type [/QUOTE]

Thar be yer answer, Ron!

Just have to add this.

 

What is a universal Joint????

It's a place where they let anybody hang out.

kstyer38952.8196990741

[QUOTE=kstyer]

What is a universal Joint????

It's a place where they let anybody hang out.

[/QUOTE

:::silence - then a lone cricket chimes in:::