'74 F100 2 wheel drive automatic and a BUILT 460!!.....

As near as I can determine with the rear drums off, taking the axles out
doesn't even require taking the brake linings off (but I need to anyway,
since they are soaked in diffy grease....)...

looks to me like all I gotta do is get me a 9/16" socket in through the
hole in the drum mounting flange and take off the 4 nuts and yank the axle
out to get it out - right?.....

I'm getting the famous "wah-wah-wah-wah" at speeds of 15mph and higher so
I'm afraid my axle bearings have chewed into the race again....

Thanks guys!!.....

 

With a 9" rear ...yes

If you are only checking One axle
You might jack that side up a little higher to prevent lube running out

 

Right Mil1ion!!..... as bad as my seals are leaking, I'd best jack the whole thing up. I don't know if it's a 9 / 7 / 8....it's lasted through a lot of tire smokes, though, from a MEAN and BAD 460....

 

I second that. Learned that one the hard way.

 

A slide hammer with a large flange adaptor is a great way to get the axles out. Sometimes a pry bar will work. Now remember, on a 9" rear the axle bearings are pressed on and the axle seal is located behind the bearing.
Is it a bearing noise, or gear whine you're hearing? Depending on the mileage, you might want to go through the whole rear. It's not too hard.

 

So to replace a seal I would need to remove the bearing? Is this something I can do or does it require special tools?

So the only thing that holds an axle shaft in a 9" rear is the pressed on bearings?

.

 

1) Yes, The old will have to be hammered off or cut off the axle.
Do you have acetylene ? BIg Hammers and chisels ?

2) Nope,The 4 retaining bolts on the outer axle plate hold it in.

It's the Dana axle that has axle keepers inside the carrier to keep them in.

 

For the axle bearings, if you do have a 9"-If you purchase a new axle bearing, it comes with a new sleeve, bearing, and seal. When you pull the axle out, it usually leaves the outter race in the axle housing. The best way to get that out is a slide hammer with a 2 or 3 jaw adapter. Now, on the axle. You have the retainer cover, seal, bearing, then the sleeve that is pressed on. You can use a whiz wheel, or grinder, cut into the sleeve (parallel to the plane of the axle{using caution, cut as deep as you can without cutting into the axle}) Then, take a cold chisel, or air chisel and hit where you just cut to crack the sleeve. Then it'll come right off. I don't think the bearing is pressed on, just the sleeve. Then going back together, it'll need to be pressed-that's the easiest way I know. If you don't have access to a press, a local machine shop, or automotive shop should have one. If you don't have a slide hammer, autozone's loan-a-tool has everything you need in the complete set. Also, the new bearing should already have the outter race attached. Once the old outter race is removed from the housing, and the new bearing is on the axle, just tap or hammer the axle back into the housing to seat the outter race back in.

 

Thanks for the informative replies guys!!...

I'll probably begin to attempt to remove the left rear axle Tuesday morning - my step son sat in the bed on Sunday and identified the suspected axle..... it's making a wah wah noise at about 30 and up... turning the engine off while coasting at 30 mph - you can hear it real good.

Once I pull the axle I'll probably take it to the same machine shop that blueprinted the 460 block for me. They seem to do good work and have a lot of race cars sitting around.

 

Wrenchead - sorry.... no, it's a bearing wah wah noise and not a whine. When I used to get my ring gear lash set wrong - things would whine... it's not one of those noises!!

Thank goodness... I don't want to overhaul a pumpkin in this Georgia heat / humidity!!...