My nightmare mercedes vito universal joint fiasco 

The saying is that the worst car in the garage belongs to the mechanic - after fixing other folks cars all day he cannot be arsed to fix his own !

I'm pretty sure that the UJ caps were fine, most of the problems was the amount of damage to the holes of the collar. I've seen them completely oval with no chance of fitting replacements.

Hi Alan, another great video, you might be able to find a prop sharft in a brakers yard, but it looks like you have made a pretty good job of the repair. The paint work you have done looks fine for a van. Keep the videos coming can't wait for the next one.

We paid a propshaft specialist to recon ours. It came back with mig or tig welds on the yolks to hold the caps in. It lasted about 12 months so we eventually bit the bullet and bought gen merc ones iirc about £900

I just get a washer and tack on end to stop caps falling off

I did exactly the same job a few years ago. It lasted about two weeks, as it had worn the yoke away, as well as the bearing outer shell. It had been left far too long. A second hand shaft was the end solution.

Hi Alan, when you assembled the propshaft on the spline, did you checked you kept the same phasing of the propshaft as before? the yokes on each end can be either parallel or perpendicular (have not seen something in between). If not installed with the correct phasing it can vibrate very bad.

You forgot to mention that you have to align the joints the same as when the shaft came off ?????

MK 3 Cortina's had staked joins, they used to claim it was done to improve balance. You could buy joint and crappy staking kit. As said below some prop shaft specialists used to tack them in with mig weld.

You should make more videos. Love your content, especially nowadays with what’s going on, it’s so informative. You should have 100k+ followers,.

Hi Alan great video one question how long did the UJ last is it still running I have got a 08 vito with the same issue freaking about taking it to a garage thank you

Nope I had one go on me with an ldv van it locks the back wheels up throws the shaft off the differential box and can damage the diff box and all the differential fluid pours out it loved the video on the propshaft

You were right about the universal joint not being quite the right one. The one you used was an external circlip landrover 1300 universal joint 27x74,6. The correct one is a staked style universal joint. Slightly easier to fit as they are a pressed cap not machined. You didn’t do too bad of a job. I’ve fit hundreds of these and seen a lot worse. Well done.

Firstly Monica is wearing "Daisy Dukes" please use the correct technical term for them :) I have never come across staked bearings but it sounds like they have a hole with a pin in it, but could just have the housing riveted over to stop it moving. Just because the manufacturer does not sell the part does not mean that it is not available ! Yes your spider was beyond it, but if you measure the ID, OD, and length of a bearing then you can find one to fit from a bearing supplier. The best way to fit bearings is by heating or cooling as suitable, steel can be heated to open a hole and bearings can be shrunk so that they will fall in to a hole. The rule of thumb is 1 1/2 thou per inch per 200C, never heat a bearing above 200C as it will make it soft. Dry ice or a co2 fire extinguisher will give you -100C, liquid nitrogen will give you -200C, boiling water +100, normal 60/40 solder melts at 200C, but a soldering iron will be about 350C. Aluminium expands / contracts twice that of steel so the rule of thumb is 3 thou per inch. Putting a steel item in the freezer at - 20C will not help a lot, boiling what it goes into will :)

When I was young and I got into first working place I asked talented mechanics that surely they'll all be do all repairs by themselves for their cars. Those guys in my eyes were really oldest then. I got answers like "boy, when you've done this for me X years and you get older, you don't want to do stuff like that anymore". Now plus ten years later I understand them. When I was kid I didn't quite get it.

They were called - Hardy spicer bearings

Prop went on my merc vito 120, prop is in two pieces, uj's staked in so not easily removable/rebuildable, genuine prop was 2k from mrecs, got a patern part one for 1k, seems to be a common failing on the vito.

For something like a drive shaft on my own cars I purchase a second hand one as soon as I work out my one is faulty. Then it lies around until something needs to be done. That way I have options when I go to actually fix the car. Most of the time the second hand one works for a year or so and I recondition my original one.

I think you should have said the machining of the joint caps had nothing to do with the fitment. It was plainly obvious that the yokes were not dressed properly for reassembly. Saying that, I have done dozens of these staked joints and they are a pain in the arse . I use bearing mount as the main anchoring and only a few light pieing stakes similar to the original. These types of shafts were made for life time use and when they go bad, the manufactures want to bend you over and slug you for a complete new shaft. I've found that most of the staked type joints are of non std sizing and can be hard to locate.

Of course you should clean and lubricate the hole first . You could also try to heat the hole and freeze the part .

Alan, i meed help with locating/inspecting a mondeo mk4 PCV. I can't see that you have done any videos on it. Just a friendly suggestion 😉 love your content

Hi.how is propshaft going after fitting eBay parts?my bro in laws Vito had noise he reckoned it was carrier bearing but after getting under Vito 2008.not sure yet had order a female torx set Amazon.e14 was it bolts for carrier,great video but how do carrier bearings fit,does propshaft just separate in middle then bearings slide over hopefully?will see eh.hopefully we don’t need do what you did but with your video it’s doable maybe😂

Really like the lighting in your shop. Very nice.

After Ms M last video you should have got her to fix it. And if she couldn't we wouldn't have cared!! We would have watched no matter what

Have done a few of these , crap idea no grease nipple from factory , they were being pinched off new vans from dealers when Vito's were younger ridiculous price for a new prop , yet propshaft specialist always want old prop on exchange basis , great video Alan 😷💪😂🤗🤗

I'll do your next UJ if you'll do my 1.8TDCI cambelts. I always look for the ones with grease holes - not easy to find. Usually remove the nipple and insert a blanking screw once greased.

I've got the same problem I've got another vito for spare parts only the front shaft is 35 mm shorter I measured the distance from the gearbox to centre of first mount and its different by 35 mm same year my van is 109 the other is a 111 didn't think they would be different. Might try this uj cheers.

I don`t know about you, but we have a firm near us called Driveline. They have special tools for replacing staked in joints, takes them about 20 mins and the staking looks just like factory. They also re balance the shaft on their balancing machine. Last time less than 70 pounds, and they painted it.

This may just be personal anecdote but I once replaced a UJ on my L200 with a 'OE Replacement' from that same eBay vendor. It lasted 3 months despite being liberally greased and installed cleanly. It had wildly non-concentric holes drilled into the end flanges of the main spider gear housing and was stamped as TOYO but not in the caps, indicating that I was in fact a sub-par copy. This let go at full clip on the M5 near Wellington and cost me a huge recovery bill as it seized and ate its way out of the adjoining yoke by rounding it out. I was lucky not to pole vault out of existence once it let go and when I examined the annihilated part against a legitimate TOYO replacement, the difference was scary. UJs are not worth cheaping out of from my point of view, lesson learned. Beware the cheap vendor!!!

That's like fitting rear-axle bushings on them peugeot/citroen vans - unless you either slightly smallerify the bushing or make the hole a tad bigger, no way will they go in. Even with making the bushing a tiny bit smaller, it's still tight as a gnats chuff. Having the grease nipple on the new ones is a great job - the non-greasable ones are pish. If you did have to do another, you'd do it in 1/3 of the time now you know the quirks.

Good vid. I once replaced a staked UJ,and as you correctly point out,they are a massive pain in the arse. Still,you fixed it for 16 quid,it'll probably last the rest of the vans life now,hopefully. 😂

my 2012 vito got bad vibration at 40mph & goes away at 50mph. seems like the rear of front propshafts UJ needs replacing - how long would it last with that vibration going on do u think?

Likely mentioned here many times but the grease fitting is supposed to fa e the shaft side of the assembly Makes much easier to access for grease gun

Ive seen propshaft/drive line shoot off a diesel (18wheeler) and driver and co driver trying to catch it ...I guess they replaced U-joint and tested it out but didn't tighten the straps and carrier bearing which hold it in place...neither got hurt but that drive line did fly

Done hundreds of U joints all shapes and sizes in the past when worked on agri plant mate

Maybe some heat rather than filing down would expand it enough to get them in?

I still remember and old Freight Rover van I owned and there was a grease nipple on each UV joint. Couple of squeezes with a grease gun on every lubrication service and those things lasted forever. Oddly enough, that doesn't seem to be the objective from any manufacturer these days.

Why did you whack the propshaft near the end?? Or 'ping' it?

Nice one Alan, I seem to be changing viscous couplings more than UJ's these days xD

even has a grease fitting. Luxury.!

Just fixed Dad's Leaking Radiator... Great. Except now I've spotted it also needs a Power Steering front hose/cooler.

Changed them on my Mazda RX7 SA once after 170000 kms. . They came with circlips in different sizes to get them aligned. Guess no way to get them properly aligned when they are this " " dont care how to change " type ... Guess this type has to be sent to a specialized shop for prop shafts and U get a repared one back. New ones are unaffordable.

I just replaced the staked centre UJ on my Ford Escort Mk2. I found starting the cups in the bores (with my vice) was very fiddly, like you did, they kept trying to cock over. Eventually managed by squeezing them half a millimetre at a time, taking the assembly out of the vice and inspecting the cup for straightness, squeezing it straight again, by the time it was in 3 millimetres it was running straight. Biggest problem I had was the eternal one, bloody rollers getting trapped under the cross. By the time I'd had this happen twice I somehow managed to Brinell the cross, just as well I'd bought an extra spare UJ. First 'staked' UJ I've replaced, and only because I had to, I tried our local driveshaft 'specialists' and they said 'Oh, we don't bother with those any more' (so what bloody use are they?)

Once upon a time there was a grease nipple on these, to save time and make money most makers ceased fitting them.

0:40 and 14:48 are the reasons i watch and love this channel

I have the longest wheelbase 2003 MB Vito and the 3-part prop shaft. The one UJ I must change is the rear UJ on the frontmost third of the prop shaft. To clarify - it is the rear UJ on the 1/3 of the prop shaft closest to the gear box and engine. Is it 88x24mm or 75x24mm or 88,30x31 or 75x27 or 88x27 or 88x31 or 88x24 or 135x53 or even 74,55x27? All these come up as an alternative and with no further explanation to as where they might fit :/ It is a true and real nightmare, and I can't afford to have the car towed to a shop, just to get under it for the measurements. When I go, it will be for the replacement. Any help would be highly appreciated as I am at my wits end. I have tried to figure this out for 7-8 weeks now, and I am about to give up an else wise good car.

I remember my subaru 98 i have the same issue. everyone love on front of a camera :)

Just thinking: Prop shafts are hollow. On occasion, hotrodders will actually twist them here in the U.S. if they put too much power through them with a big block chevy (or something similar). My point is that I don't think the idea that a prop shaft popping off at the gearbox end would flip the vehicle because they aren't strong enough - hence I think this idea is somewhat of an urban legend. Thoughts ?

I don't feel so bad replacing the abs rings with eBay specials now. Love a good bodge.

That was fan to watch indeed. BTW, I do not think you would have managed to do this job so well without Monica's help.

Hi mate just a question my 2005 vito 115 cdi compact started to make noise about a week ago and now it is much louder the mechanic said he cant do it as it comes in one part. Is this a tailshaft exchange ?

i think it was motoprod that did a kit including a staking tool , the staker was made of chocolate tho

Alan had 2 one 275k still running other 295k still running apart from one suffering the black death on injectors but did go through 2 props but still a good tonka toy of a van

Did the job come to more than the cost of a new shaft/ if not you still saved money

29 degrees and "me shorts on"? I gather you don't use Fahrenheit in the UK anymore. When will you come to your senses and use metric for distance and speed too? 😉

I have done these universal joints on a 80 series landcruiser i thought it was actually fairly satisfying i did not really find it that challenging , i always look on ebay first for all my parts it is usually cheaper and far easier you just have to match up VIN and models , years of cars properly those other ones you got where for the next model mercedes i checked it out on ebay myself , you should not have bashed that driveshaft yoke , driveshafts are balanced and bashing those yokes will unbalance the drive shaft you wont notice it while driving they did not work loose the joints wore out and pushed itself out if you had fixed it properly when it was happening first they would not have pushed it out

Alan! I am looking to buy a used 2004 Vito. On 115k miles. What should I be looking out for? If you have a video on this I'm sorry for mythering

Your gunna have to do something about the Auto focus on your camera i.e turn it off or something because when the camera tries to focus in on something other things keep taking the focus from it.

Alan.... you need to take care of your shaft..... you never know... about a UJ...:) your lucky if you get a good one... :) A UJ for 20... awsome... N x

Very poor quality vans. No grease nipples on the UJ's! Are they even meant to be serviceable? Looked further on in the video and confirmed my suspicion not. Mercedes are ridiculous and treat their customers as cash cows. Should have had a Vauxhall/Renault. Better still, a Toyota. Less rust, less problems.

£575 for a £16 part is daylight robbery. Get your dial calliper out next time and measure what the fit is going to be. Then you won’t mess about like you did.

Great video, Alan.😊😊

In the hgv world there is circlips that hold the end caps in

Any update to this on how long they lasted?

Worst car/van I ever bought. Everything broke, and I mean everything, what was Mercedes thinking? Very disappointing.

Breakers Yard Alan? Any way another great video🤛🏼

Staked joints are designed to be non-serviceable. So you did well to repair and get a functioning propshaft 👍

Alan. Fantastic as always 👍🏻 So glad you make these videos 🤣 Good seeing Monica as well in shorts 😘 But yours with lilly white legs 🙈 c’mon Alan it’s an adult show lol 😆 Take care till the next time. See ya 👋🏻

I’ve just bought a 54 plate Vito same as yours the engine has a strange rattle sound at round 2300 rpms when being driven any idea on what it could be have you had any issues like that with yours thanks

Hopefully drives like a new van now...... Yours lasted 60k more than my brothers!

Staked joints are like crack cocaine, there used by manufacturers to get you addicted to the spare parts side of their business where all the profitable $$$ are made. No way I would repair a customers car like that Alan!LOL. You can get aftermarket joints for some brands and models that have a flat face or partial on the inside of the yoke thus allowing an internal circlip to secure the caps.All said and done, bloody good effort.

staked in.?.if there not 100% central,it will fail..

The new part was not the problem. But the old ones had too much damage and rust + was not round enymore

Alan........ At 24:25 , You should have called Monica out, to help insert the splined section !!!!

Cracking set of pins Monica

The best part was Monica's shorts..*legs*

Sadly nothing can help, i have 2 6 speed 115cdis from 2010 passanger versions. 350 000km the amount of slack in joints is insane, it clonks when you dump the chluch. 900EUR new driveshaft. Fuck it

This job is pita, and removing that support bearing is another pita

Standard own motor yes always left to the last 😂

Monika is a gorgeous lady!

Simple job really Alan, Working on your own vehicle always goes arseways.

I’m the same with my car. I do bodywork. I got a white from bumper and a smashed door 😂😂. Still starts and drives so f*** it 👍🏻

My neighbours got the same van, Same age and still looks brand new. You must park yours in the sea if your having rust problems

euro part . any part for any car as ling as its vauxhall and corsa . Driveshaft Solutions gateshead will have a joint in stock

Thank you!

hi alan.my bro in law got worn rubber things on prop shaft.its making noise.are they ok to do ?he said 60£ eBay .will give him a hand

Well my 1971 Cortina had welded in U-joints..

Did you jinx it after your 'my van's awesome' video a few months earlier? hahahaha I shouldn't laugh too hard, I just bought an 08 109 compact

Cracking fix for 16 sheets

Just realised what your number plate reads kno5 ? B is it a private plate .Note to self never buy a car from a mercanic 😆😂😆😀👍👌

The old saying cobblers have holes in their shoes glad you've made some time for the old girl, thank monica for wearing those shorts :)

the old fashion UJ's used to have a grease nipple where you could top them up with grease. if you topped them up every service they could last years, they also had 'C' clips that held them in so you could change them easier. i am pretty sure technology is going backwards. they make things to not last, and for people to have to get specialists or engineers to repair everything. it is a throw away society these days, which is crazy since we need to look after the environment more carefully these days. not many cars last more than 10 or 15 years these days before they are un-economical to repair.

Lol having to do my one now lol 😆 this help ordered one see if I have the same fun hi miss M 😊 haha

Press the final push one at a time

Why cars rust so badly in the UK?

75 mm uni,is pidly for that van.id take it to prop shaft jont,get them to make them all 92 mm,but 2 piece.with c clip uni,s..that set up is cheap as shit..

Good video! And Monika is fit!

Never herd of such a technic to set yoke bar-rings the verdict is learn how to put in needle bar rings correctly hey

Miss M makes the day 🤩

I guess that's how I'll do My 76 240D