Today, got my auto mechanic card up to date. Yesterday, took my 96 Chevy pu for a 100 mile trip, and off and on had a severe vibration. After a few miles no vibration at 65, but at 45 it was bad. Coming out of town it started at 55, then disappeared. Checked for mud in the wheels, nope. Wheels all tight. So figured it must be a U-Joint. Chevy has 207,000, and didn't look like the joints had ever been touched. Got my shop all plugged with projects, so have to work outside. This morning it was 25 degrees, with forecast of snow coming. Dressed warm, and laid out cardboard to slide under the truck. The four 7/16s headed bolts on the rear shaft were not too rusty. With the gas tank real close, and the drift shaft being aluminum, could only fit in a box end wrench. Rust penetrant on everything, especially the U joint caps. Took a little over an hour to get the four bolts out, not much room to turn a wrench, and looked like thread locker on them still. All four needed encouragement of a 3 lb. hammer. Then could not budge the shaft from the differential flange. Tapped, pried, talked sweetly to it. Couldn't whack the shaft too hard being aluminum. One does not want to distort the holes the U joint cups reside in. Fired up the compressor, then went hunting up at the old shop for my long hose. Found it after 10 minutes, snapped on my air chisel, with hammer tool. A quick rat-a-tat, and the shaft practically fell off. As I figured two of the cups were stuck pretty good. Ones at the front felt fine. Soaked it all in penetrant and went in the house to eat and warm up. Snow might be on the way so back on with the Carhartt coat, and didn't have much trouble at all driving out the cups from the aluminum shaft. Cleaned up the holes, especially the groove the snap ring goes in, got out the new U joint I bought yesterday on my way home, then it all went downhill. Counter man gave me the wrong one, not even close. So, since that parts store is 30 miles away, decided to try the little store in my hometown here, which is only 10 miles away. . Grabbed my phone and billfold, and watching the closing in sky, made the quick trip in. They had one, and made sure by comparing it to the one I just removed. Sky getting darker, is already past 3, beat feet back home. Things went scarily easy putting the new joint in. Got the snap rings seated, then smacked the end of the shaft a couple times, which freed it up to turn. Slid back under the Chevy then back out, removed billfold from hip pocket,, in with the shaft. With oil on the bolt threads, was able to use my old flat ratchet wrench. Snugged it all down, gathered up the tools, and put things away. I use a little box for tools and fasteners when out on the ground, and I loaded my billfold in with the tools. Picked up the wood blocks behind the wheels, and put the PU back in its usual spot. Now seeing a few flurries. Got in the house,, plugged in my phone, and no billfold. Back to the shop, nothing on the tool box, and billfold wouldn't fit in any of the drawers. Checked the grass outside, nothing. Back to the house, nope, not anywhere. Back outside, checked to see if I left it in the PU, nope. Walked the path to the house slowly, and just as I grabbed the stair rail, found my billfold in the big slide pocket of the Carrhart coat. Fed the animals, remove the muddy boots, and clock on the wall said 5PM, little over 5.5 hours for a 90 minute job. All I have to do now it return the first U joint. Glad I wasn't on the clock trying to make a paycheck on this one. Got to get a hoist, in my shop.
