What Happened???
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Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 9,359
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From: Hampstead, NC
What Happened???
Well, I killed the rear end in my truck today( 9" ). I was sitting at a stop light, light turned green, I took off normal and then decided to get on it a little. That's when I heard a "clunk" and a slight grinding noise from the rear of the truck. I was able to coast to a stop in a parking lot about 1/4 mile down the road (I was on a major hiway at the time) to see what the problem was. The driveshaft spins and a faint grinding noise comes out from the rear axle. Any guesses on what broke before I tear into it?
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
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I did the exact same thing as you...you probably broke the splines off the end of the axle shaft. But it could be that you snapped the axle shaft itself. I had a donor truck, so I just swapped out the carrier and the axles.
Hope this helps.
Hope this helps.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,768
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From: Kalispell, MT
In addition to the axle that is missing splines the side gear is probably damaged. Junk yards should have both. You'll need to know 28 or 31 spline, is it limited slip and length of the axle. Also is your diff centered between the wheels or off to one side? Take the old axle and side gear with you.
I had this happen twice with a ltd slip carrier - seems the side gear bearing area is smaller than with a std carrier. Second time it blew I dropped in a std carrier.
I had this happen twice with a ltd slip carrier - seems the side gear bearing area is smaller than with a std carrier. Second time it blew I dropped in a std carrier.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2000
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From: Hampstead, NC
Thanks for the help guys. It stripped the splines off the end of the passenger side axle shaft, the driver side one is fine. Another question; why does the axle only engage the side gears by 3/8 of an inch? That's all the splines that are stripped off the shaft.
Postmaster
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From: Pittsburgh
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Elder User
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While you've got it tore down that far ya better pull the 3rd member to check the Side gears, More then likely there toast too.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2000
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From: Hampstead, NC
It's possible that it was replaced with a shorter shaft. I'll have the third member out and on the bench today. I'm pretty sure that the side gear was also damaged. OK, I just got back in from my "refrigerator" (uninsulated, unheated garage) and I measured the axleshafts. They are the same length. Does someone have a pair of axle shafts that they could measure for me? I'm not sure that thwey are supposed to be the same length from side to side.
Upon edit
Here are a couple of pics of the axle. It appears to me that the bearing is pressed all the way onto the axle shaft.
Upon edit
Here are a couple of pics of the axle. It appears to me that the bearing is pressed all the way onto the axle shaft.
Last edited by Ford79; Dec 2, 2003 at 08:24 AM.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 9,359
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From: Hampstead, NC
OK, I now have the center section out and on the bench and it isn't good. The side gear on the passenger side (same side as the stripped shaft) is broken in half. This would explain the shaft only being stripped off on the end 3/8 of an inch.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,859
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From: USA
Before putting any new parts in this housing ,it needs to flushed out ,or you'll be doing this again in the future.
You more than likely have fine metal shavings that have traveled all the way out to the outer axle bearings .
To make things easy swap a new complete rear into your truck.
Rich
You more than likely have fine metal shavings that have traveled all the way out to the outer axle bearings .
To make things easy swap a new complete rear into your truck.
Rich
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Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2000
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From: Hampstead, NC
The housing has been flushed out and I plan on installing new bearings and seals on the axles. I called a junkyard yesterday to get a price on a centersection and they want $100 if I pull it myself and $150 if they pull it! I can't imagine what they would want for a complete rear axle assembly. I'm going to call today to see what they need for an axle shaft because I still need one of those. Anyone else ever seen a side gear split in half?