Bill Ford Posted January 22, 2009 Report Posted January 22, 2009 How do you service the universal joints on a P-15 drive shaft? Mine have the rubber boots on it and one is cracked. Is there a way to grease them? How do you replace the boots and are they available? Quote
TodFitch Posted January 22, 2009 Report Posted January 22, 2009 Service manual is your friend. And reprints are available so even if you can't find or afford an original, get a manual. It is possible to install a new rubber boot without removing the housing or the pin. Not easy, but possible. The manual shows the technique. New boots are available from places like Roberts. I think they are actually original stock and I have had some issue with the boots tearing as I have tried to install them. I have also seen comments here about having the boots tear after being in service for only a short period of time. Again, I think that is due to the rubber being on the shelf for decades. There are also leather boots designed for easy installation. These are also available from the usual suspects like Roberts. The joints should be lubricated but it is easy to get too much grease in them. Again, the service manual is your friend. Quote
oldmopar Posted January 22, 2009 Report Posted January 22, 2009 Its best to disassemble and clean the joints while you have the drive shaft down you should do both. The boots I have gotten from roberts seem to be new rubber. The boots do take some effort to install but I have found if you grease the boots and housing prior to installation the go on much easier. While the manual recommends universal joint lube which I do not think is around today I use CV joint lube which should have similar properties. here is a link to the correct way to install its on line at the imperial club you may want to read the whole booklet and print the parts you need http://imperialclub.com/Repair/Lit/Master/056/page21.htm Quote
blueskies Posted January 22, 2009 Report Posted January 22, 2009 I replaced the caps, needle bearings, and boots on my '50 driveline a couple of years ago. Don't remember now where I bought the parts, but the boots didn't last more than a couple thousand miles before they cracked and split open. I wish now that I'd just spent that money on a new driveline with modern u-joints, which I wound up doing anyway last fall. More on the new driveline here, if you want to go that route... Pete Quote
Fluid drive Posted January 22, 2009 Report Posted January 22, 2009 The advice given here is right-dissassemble and clean and then re pack. Some of the ball & trunion joints had a grease plug in the body . Those should not be repalced with a zerk unless you are injecting the prescribed amount of grease and then re installing the plug. DO not leave a zerk in that hole! If you want to replace the dust boots and they are rubber it will be necessary to dissasemble the joint and remove the pin -by pressing it out - to install the dust boot. This isn't a difficult thing if you have access to a press. That is a good way to inspect the body to determine if the trunion ball &roller assemblies have worn depressions in the runways .Just be certain you have the pin centered when you press it back in and be careful to put those little spring washers back in place at the ends of the roller assemblies. They go under the buttons. I have seen those left out and the owner left wondering why there is a vibration in the driveline when certain speeds are reached. Quote
Young Ed Posted January 22, 2009 Report Posted January 22, 2009 It is not necessary to remove the pin to replace rubber boots! Its not easy but you can do it. I've seen it done in person. Quote
blueskies Posted January 22, 2009 Report Posted January 22, 2009 It is not necessary to remove the pin to replace rubber boots! Its not easy but you can do it. I've seen it done in person. Yup, I did mine without removing the pins. It wasn't that hard to get the rubber over the pin, but it did take some wressling and a few choice words... Pete Quote
oldmopar Posted January 22, 2009 Report Posted January 22, 2009 You do not need to removed the pin unless there is wear to the shaft which in most cases will not be the problem. As Ed said The boots will go over the pin I have done 2 drive shafts recently and its not real hard just takes some pushing and pulling and the joint and the boot should be well lubed to help it side through the housing. If you can get new caps it is good but I removed and cleaned and repacked the existing needles by hand a little time consuming but have more time then money it worked for me. Quote
40phil41 Posted January 22, 2009 Report Posted January 22, 2009 What you do is first turn the rubber boot inside out. Then pull the larger dia. end over first and pull until the smaller end is where it should be. Then grab the larger end and pull it back over itself until it is outside right. Get it? Still not very easy but it does work. A little lubrication (e.g. white grease or something similar) also helps. Phil Quote
greg g Posted January 22, 2009 Report Posted January 22, 2009 would warnmig it in hot water make it easier to work with? Quote
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