OEM 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 Universal Joint

2005 Dodge Ram 1500 Universal Joint Parts and Q&A

• Q: How to Maintain and Fix a Universal Joint in a Double Cardan System on 2005 Dodge Ram 1500?

  A: Before maintenance, pull out the propeller shaft and write on the link yoke and flange yoke to help with assembly. Use a drift to gently tap the outside of the bearing cap, loosening the snap rings and then take out all the bearing cap snap rings and grease fittings if you can find them. On the press, insert a socket for the link yoke to pass through and set another socket outside the bearing cap on the bearing cap to secure it. On the outboard end of the link yoke, use a bearing cap tool to press the special cap out; once it's gone into the jaws of your vise, hammer the link yoke from the other end to remove it. Turn the assembly over and repeat what you did to take out the opposite bearing cap. After that, remove the cross centering kit and spring and press out the remaining bearing caps from the opposite end of the link yoke. Always ensure that all these yokes are properly aligned in assembly. Oil (EP) N.L.G.I. Grade 1 or 2 into the yoke blocks and assemble the cross to the other part of the drive shaft, fit the bearing cap over the trunnion while keeping the needle bearings upright and in line with the yoke bore. Screw the bearing cap into the yoke bore so the snap ring groove is uncovered, slide the snap ring onto the bearing and then flip the propeller shaft yoke to install the other bearing cap and snap ring. Attach the link yoke to the rest of the trunnions, push both caps over the bearings and fit the snap rings to ensure the centering kit is properly inside the link yoke. First, set two bearing caps on the trunnions found on the opposite ends of the remaining cross. Fit the uncovered trunnions into the bores in the link yoke, followed by pressing in the other two bearing caps, install snap rings and tap these until they settle in the grooves. Then, flex the joint a bit further than the mid-point and remove your shaft when both directions cause the joint to snap over-center and return to its original position.