2000 Cadillac Escalade Axle Shaft

You need to remove the bearing cups from the new universal joint journals, coat the needle bearings in the bearing cups with a thin layer of the grease that is present on the journal and apply the grease with your finger. Install one bearing cup part way into one side of the yoke, turn the yoke ear towards the bottom and install the cross into the yoke. With the trunnion seated in the bearing cup, press the bearing cup into the yoke until it is flush with the yoke ear and install the opposite bearing cup partway into the yoke ear. Make sure that the trunnions are started straight and true into both bearing cups, press the opposite bearing cup into the yoke ear, and install the bearing retainer in the retainer groove. If the retainer does not seat, spring the yoke slightly with a firm blow from a dead blow hammer.

You need to install the center bearing onto the propeller shaft by pressing the center bearing onto the shaft using a press. Then install the front or intermediate propeller shaft, the rear propeller shaft, and the center bearing. Finally, you can remove the safety stands and lower the vehicle.

You need to remove the propeller shaft, support the propeller shaft in a line horizontal with the table of a press and mark the propeller shaft to show which end connects to the transmission and which end connects to the rear axle. Remove the snap rings, if equipped, place the universal joint so that the lower ear of the propeller shaft yoke is supported on a 30 mm (1 1/8 inch) socket, press the lower bearing cup out of the propeller shaft yoke ear, and rotate the propeller shaft and press the opposite bearing cup out of the propeller shaft yoke. Then you can remove the cross and the slip yoke from the propeller shaft yoke and inspect the bearing cup bores for burrs or imperfections.