I bought a 1LE driveshaft a couple weeks ago, it came off a 3rd gen. I had to get a new u-joint for the rear because the previous owner had a Ford 9" rear-end. Anyways taking that u-joint off was easy, I took the c-clips off the end and was able to get the caps off and get the u-joint out easily. I got a replacement u-joint from a local auto part store, part # is 3130. (Made sure it was for an aluminum driveshaft) Well I can't get the new u-joint on. I took the caps off but I can't get it to fit. I don't understand because with the old u-joint I was able to slide it in and out with the caps off. I have never replaced a u-joint before so maybe I am missing a step, any help would be great lol.

 

Not too sure,but when I did the joint on my old 3rd gen,I had to heat the circle around the caps w/ a torch so that the white plastic **** puked out the little holes on each side and then pushed the old one out and put the new one in. That sounds like why you cant get the new one in b/c you might've forced the old one out . Not sure,hope that helps tho.

 

I didn't force the old u-joint out at all. It came out with ease. I am thinking I might have the wrong u-joint. I took a look at it more closely and I don't think the caps for the new u-joint would even fit the driveshaft. Maybe I need to try a 1310 u-joint even though at the auto part stores it says that they are for the steel shafts?

 

I got it figured out. I tried a u-joint from a steel shaft at the autopart store and that didn't work so I tried a front u-joint. That one fit so I am good to go.