Slip Yolk

OK, I have a little clunk upon starting as well as stopping. I assume it is the slip yolk. I feel it, not so much hear it. I read Ryan's FAQ and it seems fairly easy to do, but I do have a couple questions...

1. Is it as easy as it seams. I.E. can a person with limited experience under a car do it? From my understanding it is just a few bolts and then slide it out.

2. Can it be done without lifting the vehicle in the air? (I do have ramps)

3. What do I need to do this? Just grease or are there other parts to replace?

4. Do I just use bearing grease, or is it a special kind of grease?

5. Would it be possible to install a grease zerk in the drive shaft and is that easy to do?

Thanks,
Marc

I would be interested in knowing what type of grease you end up buying and how the process went. i had the dealer do mine about 2 years ago and recently it has warmed up here and it is clunking like an old lady. I would like to do this my self, then pay my dealer 50 bucks to do it.

Marc, I have not touched the slip yolk on my 2002 yet, but servicing it on the 1998-2003 rodeos is much like the F150 write-up Ryan has in his FAQ's. All you need is a socket set, or some open end/box wrenches, some grease, a marking pen & maybe some pliers to cut the shaft boot bands. The rear drive shafts are flanged at both ends, so it's just a matter of marking the flanges and shaft with a line so you can put it back on exactly the way it came off. This is for balancing purposes. Now undo the flange bolts at both ends, drop the whole drive shaft, cut off the boot clamps & slide the two halves of the shaft apart. Clean/degrease the male & female splined ends of the slip yolk, regrease & button it all back up. You can use zip ties or hose clamps for new boot clamps. Rumor has it, red crown grease works well (napa auto parts). The blue silicone grease from ford dealers is supposed to be really good as well!
G/luck
Joel

Thanks for the info. Doesn't seem too hard, so I will give it a try when it gets a little warmer out.

Another question though, how much grease do I use? Should I just cover it or lightly apply, or as much as possible? Also would brake cleaner do the trick for cleaning off the old grease?

Thanks,
Marc

surprise surprise, another question...

U-joints... Are there grease zerks on these. And now for the real newb question... what are they and where are the U joints? Are they on the drive shaft?

Thanks,
Marc

no zerks on the u-joints. The trooper has one. and the 2004 Rodeo has a redisigned drive shaft that is not 2 peices.

surprise surprise, another question...

U-joints... Are there grease zerks on these. And now for the real newb question... what are they and where are the U joints? Are they on the drive shaft?

Thanks,
Marc

The universal joints are the 'flexible couplings' at either end of the driveshaft. Grease zerks are the nipples that a grease gun snaps onto. They are threaded into the yolk part of the U-joint & supply grease to the U joint pins. Factory U-joints typically wont have zerks (some do, but it's rare).
G/luck
Joel

I saw you had a 2002. Don't know if you're still under warranty but if not it's worth giving the dealer a call. I was going to do it myself as well, but they did it under warranty. No sense tackling this VERY GREASY job if you can get someone else to do it for you for free.
Tom

I got under my truck this week-end and had a look at the drive shaft.

My question is-- Do I just unbolt the rear of the drive shaft and slide it out, or do I undo it up front as well?

It seems like all I need to do is undo the rear portion of the shaft, then loosen up the boot to slide it apart. Is this correct?

Thanks,
Marc

I think that sounds right. Also make sure you note the postion of the u-joints (I think you can run a line of white out paint to note the position). What drive shaft was balanced this way and if you put it back together a different way, it may not be balanced.

You can unbolt one flange, leave the other & just seperate from the slip yoke, but it may be easier to have the whole shaft out & on your bench (or kitchen table :icon16: ) for cleaning, regreasing & re-booting/clamping. Peronal preference I guess!
G/luck
Joel

Thanks for the replies guys. I think I understand how this thing works now. I am going to give it a try in a few weeks.

I've got the clamps, all I need is some grease and some more brake cleaner.

Marc