Driveshaft centre UJ, how hard is it to change?

[AllHailKingVolvo]

One of the advisories on my derv 940’s MOT was slight play in the driveshaft centre UJ. I have a little bit of judder in reverse which I think a new UJ would likely solve, but I have no idea how to change it…is it likely to be a massive ballache?

Any advice gratefully received as ever!

[SalvadorP]

Originally Posted by AllHailKingVolvo

One of the advisories on my derv 940’s MOT was slight play in the driveshaft centre UJ. I have a little bit of judder in reverse which I think a new UJ would likely solve, but I have no idea how to change it…is it likely to be a massive ballache?

Any advice gratefully received as ever!

Is the center support bearing good? I just replaced the ujs and center support bearing recently. It wasn't that hard. Taking the bearing out was a bit difficult. If you have the right tools it's alright. It took me and my friend a short afternoon to do it.
There are several tutorials on YouTube that help when it comes to details and tricks.
Putting the new ujs in was the most delicate part.

[AllHailKingVolvo]

Originally Posted by SalvadorP

Is the center support bearing good? I just replaced the ujs and center support bearing recently. It wasn't that hard. Taking the bearing out was a bit difficult. If you have the right tools it's alright. It took me and my friend a short afternoon to do it.
There are several tutorials on YouTube that help when it comes to details and tricks.
Putting the new ujs in was the most delicate part.

Thanks Salvador, yes The centre support bearing is good-I changed that last summer, I had to fabricate a bearing puller and do a bit of finagling to fit it, but it all went together just fine. If I’d known about the UJ being a bit tired I would have changed it whilst I had it apart!

[SalvadorP]

Originally Posted by AllHailKingVolvo

Thanks Salvador, yes The centre support bearing is good-I changed that last summer, I had to fabricate a bearing puller and do a bit of finagling to fit it, but it all went together just fine. If I’d known about the UJ being a bit tired I would have changed it whilst I had it apart!

Yes, UJ is cheap enough to warrant changing while you take the driveshaft out. I actually had to change the support bearing cause it had some play and decided to change the 2 UJs. One was pretty bad, the other was great, but i changed it anyways, to prevent having a situation like yours. My friend has (i don't know the name in English) one of those workbench mounted "press" that you crank. Cant remember how you call it. Like a manual press but to hold things in place!?!?
Anyway, We used it to press the ujoints in and out. But I've seen people doing it without a "press". Just be careful to make sure the caps go in straight and that the "rollers" inside the cap are in place.

I'm sure someone else will give you a better "how to" than me. Can't remember anything else that was difficult or tricky about it.

[Laird Scooby]

Sounds like an over-fussy tester to me Phil, what is your opinion of the UJ?