93 f150 front axle center u-joint replacement

[yardmechanic]

I heard you can sneak in a front axle center u-joint "at the diff body" without splitting the diff. housing apart.

Has anybody tried this?

My truck turned 195k old today with the front axle center u-joint being the only surviving charter member. I probably just jinks it since it is snowing bucket loads today and need the 4x4.

[butch h]

I have done this twice,on Rangers,but I cut the old ones out with a torch.

[97Bird]

I just replaced one on a 97 F250 HD by using a ball joint c-clamp I got from Autozone since I had to replace them also. I don't like to beat the u-joints out with a hammer as some people do and risk damaging the bearing in the differential. This was the worst u-joint I have ever tried to replace. I ended up tightening down on the c-clamp and then applied heat to both sides of the yoke before the u-joint finally snapped free of the yoke. It scared the heck out of me when it did!