Snap rings and staking are the two primary methods for retaining bearing cups to yokes, ensuring the shafts’ axes are centered and aligned.

Staking involves using costly machinery to center the bearing cups and yokes, followed by deforming the yokes to secure the bearing cups in place.

Re-staking a bearing cup in a previously staked yoke is challenging due to the already deformed yokes. Consequently, most staked universal joint driveshafts are replaced rather than serviced.

Snap rings are more commonly used to secure the bearing cups within the yokes instead of staking, offering easier serviceability. The driveshaft repair industry has found that many staked-in driveshaft u-joints and yokes have either a machined surface inside the yoke ears or a flat surface designed into the forging. This allows for the manufacture of u-joints with inside “C” clip style snap ring retainers that fit this area. As a result, you can remove the original factory staked-in universal joints and replace them with the 430 Series u-joints, saving money on servicing instead of buying new driveshafts to repair your vehicle.

However if you are not able to machine an accurate flat surface on the yokes then we suggest you find someone who can before purchasing these items.