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Drive shaft removal?

Tiny
MMCCORMACK
  • MEMBER
  • 2020 CHEVROLET EQUINOX
  • 4 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 4,000 MILES
Need to replace drive shaft due to a broken center support bearing. I'm wondering how to remove the drive shaft from the transactical and differential. I'm sure putting the new one in would just be reverse of removal.
Sunday, May 10th, 2020 AT 12:09 PM

46 Replies

Tiny
DANNY L
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,648 POSTS
Hello, I'm Danny.

Here is a quick tutorial showing the basics on how to remove a driveshaft:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-remove-a-drive-shaft

I've also attached step by step picture instructions below for your vehicle.Hope this helps and thanks for using 2CarPros.
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Sunday, May 10th, 2020 AT 4:22 PM
Tiny
MMCCORMACK
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Thank you so very much.
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Sunday, May 10th, 2020 AT 6:17 PM
Tiny
DANNY L
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,648 POSTS
You're welcome!
Let us know how things turn out. Hope this helped and please use us again in the future for any other questions.

Danny-
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Sunday, May 10th, 2020 AT 6:27 PM
Tiny
MMCCORMACK
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
With the lack of special tool can you simply pull it or pry it out?
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Monday, May 11th, 2020 AT 9:03 AM
Tiny
DANNY L
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,648 POSTS
Hello again.

Personally I would use some sort of a long pry bar. Something long in length to use as leverage to pry it out. It shouldn't be that hard to remove. Hope this helps and let me know how things turn out. I've attached a picture below of what I would use. Let me know if you have any further questions about this issue and thanks again for using 2CarPros.

Danny-
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Tuesday, May 12th, 2020 AT 1:53 AM
Tiny
APRIL HUTCHINS
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX
  • 3.4L
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 147,500 MILES
My driveshaft broke at the U-joint for my vehicle listed above LT. I can't seem to find a universal joint for it without buying the whole driveshaft. Any recommendations?
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Saturday, September 19th, 2020 AT 5:53 PM (Merged)
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,487 POSTS
I don't think they are available as a repair part, only as the complete shaft assembly. Factory only shows the complete shaft as does the aftermarket sources I have. The only item that comes up as replaceable is the entire shaft or the center support bearing.
If you can get the old joint out you may be able to take it to a place like a NAPA or a bearing supply house and they may be able to match it to a replacement part.
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Saturday, September 19th, 2020 AT 5:53 PM (Merged)
Tiny
APRIL HUTCHINS
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Okay, so I was correct in thinking I had to buy a whole shaft, by online sources anyways. Do I need special tools to remove the joint? It looks like the joint split in half.
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Saturday, September 19th, 2020 AT 5:53 PM (Merged)
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,487 POSTS
Should be held in with clips, remove the clips and use a U-Joint press to remove it. You can remove the rest of the shaft without losing any fluids and make it easier to work on it. I would check the center bearing for issues as well. Joints rarely fail that way without some external forces. It could be the center bearing is locking up and twisted it off.
The carrier bearing is at least available as a replacement so if you matched the U-Joint up you could re-use the shaft. If you go that route, please post the part number of the U-Joint you find. That could be real helpful for others.
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Saturday, September 19th, 2020 AT 5:53 PM (Merged)
Tiny
FISHOHIO
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
  • 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX
  • 3.4L
  • 6 CYL
  • AWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 153,237 MILES
We are having problems taking apart the yoke to replace the carrier bearings in our vehicle. Everything has gone smoothly with this repair until now. The yoke has a weird looking gear with a metal snap ring. I was really expecting a bolt with a washer. Please help?
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Saturday, September 19th, 2020 AT 5:53 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
You need snap ring pliers to remove the yoke then a new one to replace it then yoke has to be pressed off as well as center support bearing. See pictures.
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Saturday, September 19th, 2020 AT 5:53 PM (Merged)
Tiny
FISHOHIO
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Thank you very much!
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Saturday, September 19th, 2020 AT 5:53 PM (Merged)
Tiny
FISHOHIO
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Would a 20 ton press push the yoke out of the drive shaft?
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Saturday, September 19th, 2020 AT 5:53 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
I do not see why not, it is not pressed on that tight.
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Saturday, September 19th, 2020 AT 5:53 PM (Merged)
Tiny
FISHOHIO
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Okay, now that we have our marks on the spindle and yoke, what is the best way to press the yoke back into place on the driveshaft?
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Saturday, September 19th, 2020 AT 5:53 PM (Merged)
Tiny
FISHOHIO
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
By the way, the yoke was super, super seized up, but eventually it broke loose. I am guessing it will be the same putting it back together. By the way thank you again for the illustrations. They were a huge help getting this far!
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Saturday, September 19th, 2020 AT 5:53 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Make sure driveshaft is not scored where bearing was you will need a tool to push the yoke that sits around driveshaft and rests on yoke. Something large enough to not damage driveshaft also lube up spline prior to pushing on. Piece of pipe would probably work.
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Saturday, September 19th, 2020 AT 5:53 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DAVIDL40
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX
  • 11,000 MILES
I pulled out a drive shaft to replace the center bearing. I marked the front drive shaft where it attaches to the transmission. I made a rookie mistake and did not mark it long enough and it rubbed off during the procedure. I have tried several different ways to reinstall it so the bearings and the grooved slip yoke line up to the transmission side but like a previous user I get a grinding or click sound when it goes in to drive. Is there only one way this can be reinstalled to be right? I can get the bearings and cage to stay seated on the slip yoke when installing but I don't think the grooves on the slip yoke and transmission are lining up correctly. Do I just keep pulling it out and rotate the drive shaft until I get the right combination? There are six bolts so it has to be one of those combinations, right?
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Saturday, September 19th, 2020 AT 5:53 PM (Merged)
Tiny
FISHOHIO
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Driveshaft is finished and back on the vehicle. Makes a big difference. Thank you for your help!
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Saturday, September 19th, 2020 AT 5:53 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,702 POSTS
You must line up the U joints so they match the rear shaft at 90 degrees in other words the U joints must be lined up from the front shaft to the rear shaft.

Here are some diagrams (below) to help you get the problem fixed.

Please let us know what happens so it will help others.

Cheers, Ken
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Saturday, September 19th, 2020 AT 5:53 PM (Merged)

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