How much play is normal?
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Senior User
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From: hebron, ct
How much play is normal?
I have a axle assy that I just swapped flanges on. It is sitting on 2 jack stands now and I noticed that there seems to be a 1/2 of play in the flange along with a clunk that I never noticed before in the axel. Is this normal?
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Sunny Florida
Did you just swap out the front yoke on the 9 inch? If so you should installed a new cruch sleeve and reset the bearing preload to 10 to 15inlbs of drag on used bearings.
I am not sure by what you mean when you say 1/2 the play. Half of what play and what is the other half of the play from?
If your talking back lash then it shoud be .008 to .010. If you are looking at the axle ends then having an open or trac loc rear will give you different results because the movement has to go through the and you have all the tolerances that will add up to what you call play.
IMO it's hard to tell people exactly what they should feel with out showing them first hand what they are looking at. If you have done work to this unit and it's different than before, something is wrong.
I am not sure by what you mean when you say 1/2 the play. Half of what play and what is the other half of the play from?
If your talking back lash then it shoud be .008 to .010. If you are looking at the axle ends then having an open or trac loc rear will give you different results because the movement has to go through the and you have all the tolerances that will add up to what you call play.
IMO it's hard to tell people exactly what they should feel with out showing them first hand what they are looking at. If you have done work to this unit and it's different than before, something is wrong.
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From: hebron, ct
I took it to a local garage and had the yoke from my truck installed to replace the companion flange it came with from the junk yard. I don't recall being able to twist the flange a full inch before the drums engaged. In addition, I get a loud clunk when it finally engages. I too believe something is wrong. He did not say he replaced the crush sleeve, and now I am thinking he did not. Im taking it back and getting it done right. Thank you.
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Sunny Florida
A half inch may not be all that bad if you have a open rear carrier. If they just torques the pinion nut down then it may not be tight enough. Like I mentioned the pinion is set to how much drag you have on the bearing not the torque of the nut. After all how can one get a correct torque wrench reading with a lock nut and it has loc tight on it?
Does the pinion leak? Did they install a new seal, not that it would affect it? Can you move the pinion in or out? I take it didn't clunk before the swap? Did you even driven the truck or truck that the third member came out of? If you bought the third member used then you may just have a worn unit and it wouldn't be the shops fault so make sure you have everything in order before you go back in there and claim they did something wrong. The back lash is not touched when they change the yoke.
Does the pinion leak? Did they install a new seal, not that it would affect it? Can you move the pinion in or out? I take it didn't clunk before the swap? Did you even driven the truck or truck that the third member came out of? If you bought the third member used then you may just have a worn unit and it wouldn't be the shops fault so make sure you have everything in order before you go back in there and claim they did something wrong. The back lash is not touched when they change the yoke.
Last edited by RTM; Apr 25, 2005 at 04:43 PM.
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From: hebron, ct
I did not drive the truck it came out of. It did not have any play in it at all. It was very positive when it had a other type flange on it. They did not change the seal. I can't figure why it has the play now or the loud "clunk" coming from one of the drums when I turn it. This was positive before they installed the yoke from my truck. As soon as I would turn the flang, the drums would turn and no clunk. I paid 300 bucks for this rear and spent every night for a week, cleaning, sanding, and painting it. I also drained the lube and refilled it with new lube and additive. I thought I was ready to go and now I.m right back where I started. I will not barge in there and accuse him but I really feel they did something to cause this based on how it acted before they got it.
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From: hebron, ct
OK. This is not going to be easy. I think I was way off base on this. I went back out to the garage after the last post, turned the yoke a bit, but this time, I eyeballed the lugs. They moved in sync with the yoke. Good! The "clunk" may be due to the fact that it is sitting on jack stands now and before (last week before I took it to the garage) I had the wheels and tires mounted on it so I could move it if I had to. With no pressure on the drums at all, the clunk I hear may be due to everything being loose as a goose. Feeling a little stupid but relieved at the same time. I am confident there is no defect here, in the assy or the mechanic that worked on it. I gotta calm down.
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Sunny Florida
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Senior User
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From: hebron, ct
Just mounted the tires on to the axle. No more play, no more clunk. Much ado about nothing, but I have had so many setbacks in the process of bringing this truck up to par, that am becoming paranoid. Thanks to everyone here, and their sound advice, I have not only been able to get this far, but have been learning a lot along the way. My only hope is that someday I can help someone here half as much as I have been helped. This site is the best!
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