Ever seen this?
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 102
Likes: 1
From: Sonoma County, CA
Yipes-
yeah, that's not all that unheard of in a semi- floater, but the full floater should be a lot less prone to that sort of... self- disassembly.
If the locknut unlocked, well, there you'd be. But the inner race of the outer bearing looks like it's still there, so...
outer bearing failure??? Full- floaters have such oversized bearings that it's gotta be a material or lubrication failure.
I'm impressed that the axle's that far out and still taking the load.
t
yeah, that's not all that unheard of in a semi- floater, but the full floater should be a lot less prone to that sort of... self- disassembly.
If the locknut unlocked, well, there you'd be. But the inner race of the outer bearing looks like it's still there, so...
outer bearing failure??? Full- floaters have such oversized bearings that it's gotta be a material or lubrication failure.
I'm impressed that the axle's that far out and still taking the load.
t
I'm gonna inspect a bit more today.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,928
Likes: 1,199
From: Mojave, Ca
Mechanics paperwork said Semi-floating? I don't know for sure. I do know it's a 10.25 based on the tag.
Maybe he didn't pack them well enough?
I haven't been carrying any heavy loads in the back...but it was converted to a flatbed so maybe that's enough to put extra weight on the bearings/axle. I assume they were never replaced before though and Ive had this truck for 2yrs...it's only been 7 months since new install.
Pretty sure the axle nut is still on there. The whole tire/wheel came off with the rod.
Maybe he didn't pack them well enough?
I haven't been carrying any heavy loads in the back...but it was converted to a flatbed so maybe that's enough to put extra weight on the bearings/axle. I assume they were never replaced before though and Ive had this truck for 2yrs...it's only been 7 months since new install.
Pretty sure the axle nut is still on there. The whole tire/wheel came off with the rod.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 10,536
Likes: 2,664
From: Near Salt Lake City
There was a noise, but it sounded like it was coming from the front end. Ball joints need replacement and was gonna dig into all the old bushings and start replacing. Just did the tie rod ends and sway bar so thought maybe that was the noise I was hearing. Just a loud clunking though...only really when turning.
Well luckily a bearing failure should be covered under the mechanics warranty. Had to do an emergency brake job (all four) and he replaced the bearings too. Talk about expensive!
Well luckily a bearing failure should be covered under the mechanics warranty. Had to do an emergency brake job (all four) and he replaced the bearings too. Talk about expensive!
The wheel bearing failure is the main problem IMO, and the axle (if broken) is a secondary issue
You pretty well need another rear end at this point, your housing with the galled spindle is toast
A 10.25 Sterling, right?
Should be easy to find a good used one
Good luck
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,928
Likes: 1,199
From: Mojave, Ca
Hate to say it, but he may have messed up the wheel bearing adjustment or something
The wheel bearing failure is the main problem IMO, and the axle (if broken) is a secondary issue
You pretty well need another rear end at this point, your housing with the galled spindle is toast
A 10.25 Sterling, right?
Should be easy to find a good used one
Good luck
The wheel bearing failure is the main problem IMO, and the axle (if broken) is a secondary issue
You pretty well need another rear end at this point, your housing with the galled spindle is toast
A 10.25 Sterling, right?
Should be easy to find a good used one
Good luck
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 102
Likes: 1
From: Sonoma County, CA
I disagree. The wheel bearing failure released the hub and axle shaft out of the axle housing. The axle shaft is not broken. The splines are probably in good shape. Replacing the bad outer bearing may be the worst part, because they tend to weld themselves to the spindle if the bearing spun. As long as the spindle is in good shape and the new bearing can be installed, I would reuse everything else.
Thanks for chiming in with some reassurance though. The prospect of replacing the whole rear end is...daunting at the moment. On many levels.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 10,536
Likes: 2,664
From: Near Salt Lake City
There is no way IMO, the hub came off, and the spindle is okay
That outer bearing will be galled on there like woo wee
I agree, the drive axle itself might not be broken, but I would replace it anyway
What does the brake drum and hub look like?
That outer bearing will be galled on there like woo wee
I agree, the drive axle itself might not be broken, but I would replace it anyway
What does the brake drum and hub look like?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 946
Likes: 186
From: Carnation, Wah
I'm right in the middle between Manic and Proto-
I'd be inspecting everything pretty darned carefully, and measuring as I went.
The danger with the drive axle is that if it's been scarred badly enough, over time it will start to develop
a crack from the damaged on the surface, and will let go when it's heavily loaded.
The 'not so danger' is that it's a full floater, and that means you just lose drive.
Friends with Land Rovers routinely get home on the front axle, as they've snapped a rear one off- roading...
If the spindle's not chowed up, the housing's reusable. If the hub's undamaged, same.
I'd be a little surprised if this was the case, but hey, there's that gift horse and mouth saying.
As to the drive axle, if it's a bit questionable, my approach would be to run it, but pick up a spare the next time
one showed up in the cheap pull- your- part, and then not worry too much about it.
Thinking about it, I wonder if your mechanic thought the bearings were lubed by the diff oil, and didn't grease them.
Or just forgot...
t
I'd be inspecting everything pretty darned carefully, and measuring as I went.
The danger with the drive axle is that if it's been scarred badly enough, over time it will start to develop
a crack from the damaged on the surface, and will let go when it's heavily loaded.
The 'not so danger' is that it's a full floater, and that means you just lose drive.
Friends with Land Rovers routinely get home on the front axle, as they've snapped a rear one off- roading...
If the spindle's not chowed up, the housing's reusable. If the hub's undamaged, same.
I'd be a little surprised if this was the case, but hey, there's that gift horse and mouth saying.
As to the drive axle, if it's a bit questionable, my approach would be to run it, but pick up a spare the next time
one showed up in the cheap pull- your- part, and then not worry too much about it.
Thinking about it, I wonder if your mechanic thought the bearings were lubed by the diff oil, and didn't grease them.
Or just forgot...
t
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Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 102
Likes: 1
From: Sonoma County, CA
Definitely outer bearing failure. If it was just the bearing that failed or something else that caused it, I don't know. Looks as though the threads on the housing are bent. The splines on the axle rod look fine to me though.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 102
Likes: 1
From: Sonoma County, CA
I'm right in the middle between Manic and Proto-
I'd be inspecting everything pretty darned carefully, and measuring as I went.
The danger with the drive axle is that if it's been scarred badly enough, over time it will start to develop
a crack from the damaged on the surface, and will let go when it's heavily loaded.
The 'not so danger' is that it's a full floater, and that means you just lose drive.
Friends with Land Rovers routinely get home on the front axle, as they've snapped a rear one off- roading...
If the spindle's not chowed up, the housing's reusable. If the hub's undamaged, same.
I'd be a little surprised if this was the case, but hey, there's that gift horse and mouth saying.
As to the drive axle, if it's a bit questionable, my approach would be to run it, but pick up a spare the next time
one showed up in the cheap pull- your- part, and then not worry too much about it.
Thinking about it, I wonder if your mechanic thought the bearings were lubed by the diff oil, and didn't grease them.
Or just forgot...
t
I'd be inspecting everything pretty darned carefully, and measuring as I went.
The danger with the drive axle is that if it's been scarred badly enough, over time it will start to develop
a crack from the damaged on the surface, and will let go when it's heavily loaded.
The 'not so danger' is that it's a full floater, and that means you just lose drive.
Friends with Land Rovers routinely get home on the front axle, as they've snapped a rear one off- roading...
If the spindle's not chowed up, the housing's reusable. If the hub's undamaged, same.
I'd be a little surprised if this was the case, but hey, there's that gift horse and mouth saying.
As to the drive axle, if it's a bit questionable, my approach would be to run it, but pick up a spare the next time
one showed up in the cheap pull- your- part, and then not worry too much about it.
Thinking about it, I wonder if your mechanic thought the bearings were lubed by the diff oil, and didn't grease them.
Or just forgot...
t
Spindle looks ok. Didn't inspect with a fine tooth comb or microscope (as I didn't have the time) but the rod and splines didn't look noticeably damaged. Also, from the rear, the hub looked ok. All bolts still in place. Would have to take the tire off to know for sure...which again...didn't have time.
Ah, so you're saying the full floating bearings need to be packed? Feel like someone whose said they don't need grease and they DO get lubed by diff. Either way there's no evidence that these were packed with grease. Dry as a bone....
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 102
Likes: 1
From: Sonoma County, CA
Thanks for the advice.
*Edit*
Mechanic said he only used gear oil as that's what the book said and the old ones had only gear oil. According to someone else on another thread, that's true. So I'm getting conflicting info.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 17,499
Likes: 2,774
From: Northern Ontario
Alright, good to know. I'll have to ask if he greased them, though it sure doesn't look like it. Unless it all burned off or something. I've packed bearings on my old 66' f100 myself and I know it's a messy job and would think for sure there'd be evidence of grease still in there.
Thanks for the advice.
*Edit*
Mechanic said he only used gear oil as that's what the book said and the old ones had only gear oil. According to someone else on another thread, that's true. So I'm getting conflicting info.
Thanks for the advice.
*Edit*
Mechanic said he only used gear oil as that's what the book said and the old ones had only gear oil. According to someone else on another thread, that's true. So I'm getting conflicting info.
Thanks for posting up the results. Interesting to see. Even the spindle split.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,928
Likes: 1,199
From: Mojave, Ca
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 102
Likes: 1
From: Sonoma County, CA
Hopefully I won't be doing any of the replacement...but will definitely have both sides done.