How to install spring clips in a U joint, model A

O

oldford

Senior Member
Kit contains the cross, bushings and springs but no instructions. I have the joint apart but can not figure out how to install the spring clips. On line it stated to be careful that clips could pop away when installing but it does not tell how to install clips.
 
No sure what you mean. Do I install the rings in the slot of the yoke, then install the cross and then lightly hammer the bushing in place.
 
Put it together without the clips, adjust the bushings in or out, with a water pump pliers squeeze the clips on !
 
OK, I have it together without the clips. Do i pull the bushing out far enough to put clip on bushing and then squeeze clip in and tap bushing back in place. If this is correct looks like there would be a chamfer on the yoke hole for clip to slide into yoke. I do not have service manual. I know I'm making this harder than what it is. I'm disappointed because I'm very mechanical minded.
 
oldford said:
OK, I have it together without the clips. Do i pull the bushing out far enough to put clip on bushing and then squeeze clip in and tap bushing back in place. If this is correct looks like there would be a chamfer on the yoke hole for clip to slide into yoke. I do not have service manual. I know I'm making this harder than what it is. I'm disappointed because I'm very mechanical minded.
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oldford: the clips go on the inside of the yolk, they are to prevent the bearings from being pushed out due to side-to-side movement of the cross. After proper installation the cross will feel tight initially, that's normal. Go to this link (Bob Drake Reproductions) and hover over the picture to see it expanded.

Just a thought: you are installing these in a Lincoln-type U-joint rather than the original with the two halves riveted together, aren't you? Maybe you could put up a picture of the U-joint you're trying to rebuild so we could better see what your issue is.
 
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JayJay said:
oldford: the clips go on the inside of the yolk, they are to prevent the bearings from being pushed out due to side-to-side movement of the cross. After proper installation the cross will feel tight initially, that's normal. Go to this link (Bob Drake Reproductions) and hover over the picture to see it expanded.

Just a thought: you are installing these in a Lincoln-type U-joint rather than the original with the two halves riveted together, aren't you? Maybe you could put up a picture of the U-joint you're trying to rebuild so we could better see what your issue is.[/QUOT

This is a model a joint like the one bob drake shows (which is what I should of purchase instead of a kit). I know the purpose of the clips and where they will be once installed. I just do not know how to assemble. It looks to me like the clips are not made right. I should be able to install the clips and cross, which I have and tap the bushing in place with the chamfer of the bushing on the inside thus pushing the clips in the slot of the flange. I know there should be resistance when I try to push the bushing in but the edges on the end of the clip will not let me. They stick out to far. Not able to take pictures, thanks
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oldford said:
JayJay said:
oldford: the clips go on the inside of the yolk, they are to prevent the bearings from being pushed out due to side-to-side movement of the cross. After proper installation the cross will feel tight initially, that's normal. Go to this link (Bob Drake Reproductions) and hover over the picture to see it expanded.

Just a thought: you are installing these in a Lincoln-type U-joint rather than the original with the two halves riveted together, aren't you? Maybe you could put up a picture of the U-joint you're trying to rebuild so we could better see what your issue is.[/QUOT

This is a model a joint like the one bob drake shows (which is what I should of purchase instead of a kit). I know the purpose of the clips and where they will be once installed. I just do not know how to assemble. It looks to me like the clips are not made right. I should be able to install the clips and cross, which I have and tap the bushing in place with the chamfer of the bushing on the inside thus pushing the clips in the slot of the flange. I know there should be resistance when I try to push the bushing in but the edges on the end of the clip will not let me. They stick out to far. Not able to take pictures, thanks
Click to expand...
No, you install the clips after you have installed the bearings and cross into the yolks. You partially install one bearing, put the yolk into place, then install the opposite bearing capturing that arm of the yolk. I use a vise to squeeze the bearings into the opposite sides of the yolk. Be careful, it's not difficult to get things wedged so that you are pushing against the ends of the needles in the bearings rather than having the arm of the yolk within both bearings.

If you already have the bearings and cross into the yolks but the grooves in the bushings are still covered by the yolk, you'll need to use a socket or something one one side to gently push one bearing in a bit farther to expose the groove on the inside of the yolk arm. Install the clip into the groove, you can use pliers, your vise or whatever works for you. Afterwards, use that socket on the opposite side of the yolk to push that bearing in, that will force the other side back so that the clip is pushed against the inside of the yolk, where it belongs. Install the second clip then use a large screwdriver wedged against the cross to gently prise the bearing you just installed outwards so that the second clip is pushed against the inside of its arm of the yolk. That gives you the proper side-to-side clearance without causing the cross to bind.

Repeat for the other yolk.

BTW, I got a Bob Drake repo U-joint that had a washer stuck between one yolk and the cross, which made it so the cross would not turn. I had to disassemble it to remove that washer before I got it to function properly. And no, this wasn't the thick washer that goes under the bolt to the back of the ******, this appeared to be something that got in there mistakenly during assembly. That having been said, as near as I can tell the Bob Drake repos are the best ones out there.
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Thank you so much for the long write up but I'm still not sure how the clip is installed. After the bearing is in place in the yoke I pull it out a little to expose the groove in the yoke, slip a clip into the groove in the yoke. Then I push the bearing against the clip, hit it and it will expand the clip into the yoke groove. I guess that's why the bearing is chamfer on one end for the ring to slip on it. Is that correct.
 
oldford said:
Thank you so much for the long write up but I'm still not sure how the clip is installed. After the bearing is in place in the yoke I pull it out a little to expose the groove in the yoke, slip a clip into the groove in the yoke. Then I push the bearing against the clip, hit it and it will expand the clip into the yoke groove. I guess that's why the bearing is chamfer on one end for the ring to slip on it. Is that correct.
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I don't know what "groove in the yolk" you're talking about. I'd have to see a picture.

I do have an original (not Bob Drake repro) at my shop that is awaiting rebuilding, I'll get a look at it sometime in the next coupe of days and see if it matches what you are describing.
 
Big hammer said:
Put it together without the clips, adjust the bushings in or out, with a water pump pliers squeeze the clips on !
Click to expand...

WOW, do I feel dumb. After thinking about this for days it dawns on me what hammer was saying. Put the clips in and push in. I was just trying to make it hard after reading a post on the V8 side what a guy did to get his together, breaking a bushing doing it, I just thought it had to be something difficult. Where I was confused was where do I put the clips. Then after looking at it, it hit me. Yea, just adjust the bushings in line with the groves, set the clips in place and squeeze in place. I used channel lock pliers to do it. So easy, the clips popped right in. It was about a 5-minute job assembling it.
 
This picture may help you see where the rings go. Tap them into place with a hammer.
 

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