A universal joint (U-joint) dismantling tool includes an actuator coupled to a yoke. The yoke has two substantially parallel legs, spaced to form a pull channel therebetween. Each yoke leg terminates in a free end defining a foot surface. The actuator is adapted to substantially linearly draw a puller at least partially along a length of the yoke pull channel, thereby increasing a distance between a pull surface and the yoke foot surfaces.

A wheel hub removal tool is provided that allows a single technician to readily remove the hub using the vehicle steering. The tool is a generally U-shaped bracket that is seated on the ball-joint to support a pair of arms on opposite sides of the U-joint assembly. The arms carry corresponding blocks that are sized to seat between the drive axle housing and a component of the U-joint that is coupled to the wheel hub. The tool maintains a block on either side of the U-joint assembly so that pressure may be applied alternatively between the blocks to gradually dislodge the wheel hub from the axle. The tool is adjustable to accommodate different axle hub and bearing assembly configurations for different vehicles.

An assembly apparatus includes backup jigs, a press-fitting and caulking part, and an expansion part. The backup jigs is configured to back up arms of a yoke of the cross shaft universal joint from inside in an axial direction. The press-fitting and caulking part is configured to press-fit cup bearings from outside in the axial direction between bearing holes of the arms and a shaft portion of a cross shaft, and configured to caulk the cup bearings. The expansion part is configured to push a wedge body between the backup jigs and to expand the arms outward via the backup jigs. The press-fitting and caulking part is configured to press-fit the cup bearings and to caulk the cup bearings in a state in which the arms are expanded. The expansion part is configured to release an expansion of the arms after the press-fitting and caulking of the cup bearings.

A method of manufacturing a universal joint includes: temporarily assembling a bearing, which supports a shaft portion of a joint spider such that the shaft portion is rotatable, with respect to a through-hole and the shaft portion by press-fitting the bearing to a first position in the through-hole of a yoke; and clinching, after the bearing is temporarily assembled, a portion of the yoke around the through-hole, and pressing the bearing deeper into the through-hole with a clinched portion formed by the clinching to press-fit the bearing to a second position located deeper than the first position in the through-hole.

An assembly apparatus includes backup jigs, a press-fitting and caulking part, and an expansion part. The backup jigs is configured to back up arms of a yoke of the cross shaft universal joint from inside in an axial direction. The press-fitting and caulking part is configured to press-fit cup bearings from outside in the axial direction between bearing holes of the arms and a shaft portion of a cross shaft, and configured to caulk the cup bearings. The expansion part is configured to push a wedge body between the backup jigs and to expand the arms outward via the backup jigs. The press-fitting and caulking part is configured to press-fit the cup bearings and to caulk the cup bearings in a state in which the arms are expanded. The expansion part is configured to release an expansion of the arms after the press-fitting and caulking of the cup bearings.

A propeller shaft includes a shaft part and a a first yoke having a fixing portion, a connecting portion, a first yoke portion and a first concave portion. The connecting portion is provided apart from a first concave portion in the direction of the rotation axis of the shaft part. An outside diameter of the connecting portion is greater than an outside diameter of the shaft part in a radial direction of the rotation axis of the shaft part.

A method of manufacturing a universal joint includes: temporarily assembling a bearing, which supports a shaft portion of a joint spider such that the shaft portion is rotatable, with respect to a through-hole and the shaft portion by press-fitting the bearing to a first position in the through-hole of a yoke; and clinching, after the bearing is temporarily assembled, a portion of the yoke around the through-hole, and pressing the bearing deeper into the through-hole with a clinched portion formed by the clinching to press-fit the bearing to a second position located deeper than the first position in the through-hole.

A joint assembly and disassembly tool and method of using the tool to assemble and disassemble a joint assembly. The tool includes a first member having a first member aperture extending from a first side to a second side of the first part. Additionally, the tool includes a second member having a second member aperture extending from the first side to the second side of the second member. At least a portion of a retention member is connected to at least a portion of the first member of the tool. A first actuation mechanism is drivingly connected to a pressure plate which is received and/or retained within at least a portion of the first member aperture. Additionally, a second actuation mechanism is drivingly connected to a force application member which is selectively received within at least a portion of the second member aperture.

In order to attach cup bearings 18 with good precision in portions between circular holes 15 that are formed in joining-arm sections 10 of yokes 7a, 7b of a cross shaft universal joint 6 and the tip-end sections of a shaft section 17a of a cross shaft 8 regardless of variation in the dimensions of the joining-arm sections 10, the circular holes 15 in the tip-end sections thereof, and the cup bearings 18, and elastic deformation of the joining-arm sections 10 of the yoke 7a during press-fitting work, press-fitting punches 33 are used to pressure fit the cup bearings 18 to a preset reference position inside the circular holes 15, and the value of the pressure that is applied to the press-fitting punches at that instant is set as a reference pressure, and at the instant when the pressure applied to the press-fitting punches becomes larger than the reference pressure by a preset specified value, the cup bearings 18 are determined to have reached positions where press-fitting is complete.

A propeller shaft includes a shaft part and a a first yoke having a fixing portion, a connecting portion, a first yoke portion and a first concave portion. The connecting portion is provided apart from a first concave portion in the direction of the rotation axis of the shaft part. An outside diameter of the connecting portion is greater than an outside diameter of the shaft part in a radial direction of the rotation axis of the shaft part.