axle u joint issue - may have destroyed my axle shaft

Well I was going to replace my axle u joints today, but the things would NOT come off. Actually broke my press trying to get them off, and I think rather than pop out, it actually bent the yoke (?) of the axle shaft inwards, so that it can no longer spin at all freely.

Broke the press, tried a BFH and socket, no dice. Got about 4 mm of lateral movement after ALL of that.

2000 xj, dana 30 axle, seem to be spicer u joints...

help?!

Did you remove the u-joint C clip ?

The axle shafts are probably junk now, stop by the junkyard and get some spares.

Read this -> http://www.stu-offroad.com/axle/ujoint1/u-joint-1.htm

lol if he didnt.

yes I definately removed the c clips...

I had one in my 96 that refused to budge, I bent the yoke. I eventually broke through the bearing cap with a punch and hammer. And then cracked the walls of the bearing cap with a center punch and hammer. I did score the yoke a bit, nothing a file and sandpaper wouldn't clean up well enough. The bearing caps are hard but brittle and can be cracked and broken.

I spread the yoke back out with a vice, using a T-square, Vernier Caliper and eyeball. No vibration issues, the inner seal has held just fine

It's not a big deal to bend the ears. Just bend them back. If they are spread a little bit, they will come back to the correct position when you clamp down on the joint