Greetings,

I am working on rebuilding the front end of my truck - 1988 F250 4x4 with dana 50 front axle. My goal is to replace the ball joints and u-joints on the front shaft. I dropped the entire axle assembly from the truck. I have the rotors and spindles off, so supposedly I am past the hard part. However, I am having trouble removing the shafts from the dana 50. The drivers side short shaft came out fine, but the longer passenger side shaft is not coming. I can move it in and out about 1/4", but after that it just stops. Is there a clip that I have to remove to pull the shaft out, or is it just binding in some weird way. If so, where's this clip? I have heard that this job is do-able without needing to pop the pumpkin, and I am trying to avoid that if possible. So, how to I remove the shaft in a way to to the ball joints and u-joints without needing to pop the pumpkin.

Thanks very much.

-Stephen

 

take the cover off the differential to see if there's a clip on the end of that axle- there shouldn't. It's probably time to change the fluid anyway. if there's no clip on the end, it should slide out with some persuasion. The u-joints aren't too bad, but the ball joints are going to be tough. This may not be what you want to hear, now that your truck is apart, but try to find a dana 60. It bolts right in, even uses same rotors and calipers. However, ride is noticably stiffer. good luck with it

 

Does your truck have a straight axle or TTB? If it is a TTB (It probably should be on an F250), there is a slip joint located about 10" from the diff on the passenger side. take the clips off (they look like CV boot clamps), and give the axle a good tug, and it should come apart. If you want to replace the u-joint on the passenger side stub shaft, you'll have to drop the diff, and remove the C-clip from the inside. (I believe 80-82 TTBS have a couple bolts on the outside to remove, instead of the C-clip inside).

when you put it back together, make sure the flanges (on the axle shaft) align up on both ends:

]----------------[ <- axle yoke/ujoints

instead of like
]---------------o

 

Oh alright. Thanks for the reply. Its all coming clear now.

Yeah, it is the TTB. I already dropped the axle, so now it should easily separate that shaft. Do I need to replace that boot when I unclamp it. It looks pretty good so I don't think I will. Thanks for the reply.

-Stephen Barr

 

The boot should be fine as long as it's not ripped. Make sure you lube the splines up when you put it back on. my 85 F-250 never was lubed and the splines were frozen. I had to buy the whole right axle from stub shaft to outer.. Like $250. ouch.