1990 isuzu ute steering shaft u joint problem

[rob248]

trying to replace the steering shaft seal but the u joint wont slide off. when i try to slide the upper section off it seems to hit something that stops it from going any further meaning the u joint cant come off.
any ideas why?
cheers

[turnturn]

The bolt that you loosened on the universal joint...try removing it completely. Sometimes they go through a small recess in the shaft that will stop them coming right off.

[rob248]

yeah took it completely out and it still wasnt coming off

[rob248]

Still not made it any further with this if anyone has any ideas?
Cheers

[geeves]

did you undo the other end of the shaft?

[isuzurob]

you can bar it off but it is very tight, it pushes the steering colum back, can also undo the steering box mounts and move the steering box forward

[rob248]

Got the u joint off! Undid the top half at the firewall and the supports under the dash, pulled it through and the u joint slid off like a dream!
Now I have the issue of getting the seal out, can get the circlip but is there any easier way than drilling into the seal to get it out. There isn't a great deal of space to get a drill in there, made even less easier with my oversized limbs that find every sharp object under the sun when reaching it from the top!
Cheers guys

[turnturn]

You can sometimes carefully screw in a self tapping screw and grab hold of that to pull the seal out....
Also have you tried getting to the steering box area by removing the front wheel and rubber inner guard.