Attention! The cardan joint repair kit must match the joint that is installed on this car model.
1. Remove the driveshaft.
Cardan joints with external retaining rings
2. Clamp the shaft in a vice.
3. Mark the position of the hinge forks and remove the retaining rings (see photo).
4. Place a mandrel under the pin and press the joint crosspiece with a vice through a tubular mandrel placed under the fork opposite this pin until the bearing comes out (see photo).
5. Remove the cross bearing (see photo).
6. Check the condition of the parts. Replace damaged bearing housings and seals with parts from the universal joint repair kit (see photo).
7. Check the condition of the bearing housings for wear and damage.
If the bearing housings in the hinge fork are worn out so that they turn in the shaft fork hole, replace the shaft with a new one. Check the correct placement of the dust seals, the cavity of the cover should be towards the crosspiece body.
8. Press the bearing housing into the fork approximately 6mm.
9. Lubricate the bearing needles with general purpose grease to hold them in the housing.
10. Insert the crosspiece into the pressed bearing housing, taking care not to displace the needles.
11. Glue the bearings to the bearing housing of the opposite crosspiece pin with grease, resting the mandrel against the crosspiece, press both bearing housings in place by squeezing the jaws of the vice.
12. Using a vice, press the bearings into the fork through the mandrels. First press one of the bearings, then install the retaining ring, press the crosspiece with the second bearing until it stops against the retaining ring. Install the second retaining ring.
13. Replace the remaining bearings in the same order.
Crosspiece with internal plastic retaining rings
14. If the joint has been previously repaired, remove the retaining rings located on the inside of each bearing housing.
15. If the crosspiece has not been repaired, the rings should not be removed to avoid damaging them.
16. Press out the bearing housings (see above).
17. Remove the crosspiece and clean the fork from plastic.
18. Assemble the crosspiece in the same order as the crosspiece with outer rings (see above), with the only difference being that the retaining rings are installed inside the bearing housings (see photo).
19. When installing the bearing housing, press it into a position where the retaining ring can be inserted (see photo). If necessary, hit the fork with a hammer. This will cause the crosspiece eyes to spring into place (see photo).
(The source of the article is available on the website «chevyman.ru»)