Hey all, I'm replacing the pinion seal on my 2001 Crown Victoria. While I had the drive shaft off I decided to replace the universal joints while I was at it. I had one or 2 that were a bit hard to get out. Problem I'm having is with one of the axis on the transmission output shaft yoke. The u joints for one of the two axis on the output shaft yoke is fine, moves back and forth nice and easy. The other axis on that yoke I had a really hard time getting the joint to seat properly to be able to get the C clip on. I've the joints on now, after having beat them a little more than I'd like to and have the C clips installed but the axis is a bit stiff. It's not crazy stiff or anything but it will not fall under it's own weight like the other will. The new joints have grease fitting so I should pump them up with grease and try working that one axis a bit to get it to smooth out. I'm just wondering if I put the drive shaft on the car will this stiff joint cause a problem? It's not stiff to the point you have to exert a ton of force one, just stiff to the point the joint won't flop around on it's own. If I pump it full of grease and throw the driveshaft on the car, will this work itself out quickly? Might I get some vibration or will this hurt the output shaft bearing? I get the feeling one of the ears on the output shaft yoke is a little bent, but nothing you could reasonably perceive by looking at it.

 

If the cap is under stress/tension, sometimes if you strike the yoke ,not hard, just behind the ear it will allow the cap to set and if no needles are jammed under the cap it will usually free up the fit. Do both sides.

 

Well, I was able to get the clips to seat so does that mean I don't have a needle jammed up? I'll try tapping it behind the ear though I'm not sure where the ear is?

 

The ear is the part of the yoke that the cap goes through.

 

Well, I greased up the U joints, replaced the pinion seal, filled the diff up with Valvoline Synthetic and everything seems fine, which is a huge relief.