00 Ram 1500 Front Wheel Bearings and Universal Issue

[comet240]

hi so i have this crunching sound in the front i pull off the wheel and rotor and the hub it self can move in and out a little so i wanna replace it and might as well replace the Universal joint

problem is how do you remove the Universal i confused, my 1 friend said you cant take the shaft out it will mess up aligment and you cant get it back in after
the Hayes repair book talks about marking the yokes dunno why??? and then dont re use the same bolts but which bolts

i confused anyone done this and have better steps or a video for me
hell a you tube video be great on how u get the old out and the new in

its for a 2000 Ram 1500 no ABS front and its a 4 wheel drive truck

[comet240]

also i trying to get the nut off the 1 3/4" nut usually with cat u leave tire on and put it on ground and use a bar to make it loose

but i have the tire off and it has cover on hub u cant do that i did put it in 4 wheel drive and tried but then figured might damage it so i didnt bother

how can i do it as i dont have a 3/4 gun

[hundahunta]

step on the brake and remove the nut. The axle is splined to hub. with the axle shaft loose and nut removed push it in towards the diff, this will give you access to the hub bolts in the back of the knuckle.

[comet240]

ah i couldnt do that step on brake and take nut off when i only person
my trick was i heated the nut a little with small propane torche and was able to get outt

i did replace the univseral it was bad shape wasnt able to get the clips out had to force and cut the universal out of the thing

but greasing the end of the shave and sliding it back in the tranny i dunno how you cant get dirt on it but i hoping not much

but whats the trick to get the hubs ioffs i spent couple hours each one to just beat the crap out of it to get it in the slit to split it
used screwed driver and chissel etc but nothing worked easily she was rusted in there good