How to Replace a U Joint on a 2002 Mercury Mountaineer

The universal joint on a Mercury Mountaineer, commonly called U-joints, makes up the primary hinge for the drive shaft. If the joint runs out of grease and dries up, you need to replace the joint, which is made up of a spider-like pivot piece and bearing caps connected within the U-joint yoke. A Mountaineer with four-wheel-drive has two drive shafts and thus two U-joints. Consulting your mechanic before working on something like the driven shaft is highly recommended.

Instructions

Removal

1

Raise the vehicle on a level surface and support it on jack stands. Place the transmission in "Neutral."

2

Mark the drive shaft's relationship to the differential and the transfer case with a scribe, chalk or paint. The transfer case is needed only on the front drive shaft of a four-wheel-drive.

3

Remove the bolts connecting the drive shaft to the differential, using your wrench. On a four-wheel-drive, this is where the U-joint is. Unbolt the drive shaft from the transfer case..

4

Separate the drive shaft from the differential, then the transfer case if needed, and remove the drive shaft.

5

Remove the snap rings from the bearing caps at the ends of the U-joint spider with needle-nose pliers.

6

Insert the joint into a large bench vise. Place a small pipe piece or socket into one bearing cap and a second pipe or socket that is slightly larger than the bearing cap into the opposite cap.

7

Compress the vise so the small pipe will force one bearing cap out of the joint. Remove the joint from the vise and remove the cap the rest of the way out with large pliers.

8

Repeat the previous two steps with the pipe pieces in the opposite positions to remove the other bearing cap.

Installation

9

Pack the replacement bearings with grease. The exact method of doing this can vary depending on the U-joint servicing kit, so read all of its instructions.

10

Place the replacement spider within the joint's yoke and partially install one new bearing cap within the yoke. Start working the spider into this cap and then install the second bearing cap. Line up the spider within both caps.

11

Press the two bearing caps into position with the vise.

12

Install the new snap rings into the bearing caps. Hit the yoke with a brass hammer to free up the tension within the yoke if you have trouble seating the rings within their grooves.

13

Install the drive shaft onto the truck, making sure your markings line up with the ones on the differential or transfer case.

14

Tighten the rear drive shaft bolts to 83 foot-pounds with a torque wrench. If you are connecting a front drive shaft, tighten the universal joint bolts to 156 inch-pounds and the transfer case bolts to 22 foot-pounds.

15

Lower the Mountaineer off the jack stands.