Driver side axelshaft installation
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Driver side axelshaft installation
Having some issues putting the drivers side front axle shaft back in place on my 92 f150, I had to replace the u-joint on that side, it was seized up pretty bad, got everything back but now after I slide the axle shaft back into its spot, and pass the knuckles back through the opening, it does not go in deep enough to clear the studs that are there, it seems like it should go back maybe another 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch... but it is binding on those studs for attaching the spindle. Any ideas? The splines are not slotted or anything, I have pulled it and restuck it a few times, tried tapping on it a little but it does not budge... any help would be greatly appreciated!
Hope pic helps, as you can see the shaft does not go back far enough to clear the studs....
Hope pic helps, as you can see the shaft does not go back far enough to clear the studs....
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Joined: Dec 2009
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try to spin and push it in at the same time, maybe the splines arent completely catching.
im working on ball joints, so hopefully tonight im gonna be doing this same thing. if i get it before you, ill let you know what i did.
im working on ball joints, so hopefully tonight im gonna be doing this same thing. if i get it before you, ill let you know what i did.
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ill give it a whirl, I am able to turn it, and it seems the splines are all engaged, just seems like its catching on something, just not sure what! ill keep whacken away at it, ill letcha know if I get anywhere with it!
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nope still nada - turned it a full 360 reinserting at each point and still no give. this is really getting annoying, and I really need to get this sucker back in, supposed to rain tomorrow ugh.... any other ideas?
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If you don't think it is in all the way, crack open the diff and have a look. Are you sure though that it is not all the way in. Looks like you still need to put your spindle back on and that will have about the depth you are talking about.
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Well I did put it all back together, was actually hoping it would sit back right - but its still doing the same thing it was doing before... in reference to this thread: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...ike-a-4x4.html the post I made further down, ill quote...
So same situation, the axle shaft is off canter, which makes everything extremely tight in there, and does not allow my hub on that side to lock in. I figured after pulling the shaft since the U-Joint was so stiff that it was to blame, well I replaced and still no dice... I am now in my current predicament... Is there any chance that the shaft it self is bent or something? I am really at a loss here... 
Well I finally got a chance to pop everything off and take a good look - the spline that the hubs lock into is slightly off canter, when I pulled the hub completely out there was a brass looking ring that was snapped, but I don't think that is the issue, I think its a bearing that is behind the lock nut, but I haven't been able to get further then that yet, none of the auto stores have the socket to remove those, so had to order, should be in sometime this week... what else is behind that lock nut that would keep that spline in alignment?
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Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Rusty, Maine
It looks like it's in all the way. There small roller bearing in the back of the pindle right in front of that seal that you have greased. Make sure that the axle is fully seated into that bearing and the bearing is also greased or you might get binding. Maybe you've allready done that but I figured that I would throw my 2 cents at it. Good luck.
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As best I can tell it is seated good, when I went ahead and reinstalled everything, the snap ring that goes on the end of the axle to hold the hub in seated perfect, there was no play so I know it is all in right, but just for some reason when I put the spindle back on, that is when the shaft goes off canter - after the rain tomorrow I will pop it back off and snag a pic of it so you can see exactly what I am talking about, ill even see about a small vid clip to show how hard it is to move.
Any other thoughts greatly appreciated!!!
Any other thoughts greatly appreciated!!!
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Ok took everything back off today - had to put in new lug studs anyways - so heres pic of what I am talking about...
as you can see the shaft is sitting hard against the left wall of the spindle, in order to put my hub back on, I have to stick an Allen wrench into the end, and pull it hard to the right and down, then slide everything on, makes for a real pain in the A, and it also keeps that side from being able to lock in since it puts pressure on the inner sprocket in the hub it self, it keeps the outer sprocket from sliding into the locked position...
as you can see the shaft is sitting hard against the left wall of the spindle, in order to put my hub back on, I have to stick an Allen wrench into the end, and pull it hard to the right and down, then slide everything on, makes for a real pain in the A, and it also keeps that side from being able to lock in since it puts pressure on the inner sprocket in the hub it self, it keeps the outer sprocket from sliding into the locked position...
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Sand Lake, MI
Is that new u-joint free? Does it fully articulate without binding?
Did you use the ole hammer and socket method or bench vice to install the new joint (fine if you did), but if so did you use a long drift through the joint area and knock the cap ears back out once all the clips where installed. So the caps where not in compression?
That stub shaft should freely and easily float around within the spindle using nothing more then your hand to do so.
Do not continue to put it together like it is, you need to pull the spindle back off and find out what the problem is, if its as you state it will not last that way and will tear the lockout up, rip it to shreds quick.
Did you use the ole hammer and socket method or bench vice to install the new joint (fine if you did), but if so did you use a long drift through the joint area and knock the cap ears back out once all the clips where installed. So the caps where not in compression?
That stub shaft should freely and easily float around within the spindle using nothing more then your hand to do so.
Do not continue to put it together like it is, you need to pull the spindle back off and find out what the problem is, if its as you state it will not last that way and will tear the lockout up, rip it to shreds quick.
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Yeah I used the old hammer/socket method, my vice was like 1/2 inch too short to do vice and 2 sockets. And yes I did punch the ears back out, the shaft moves freely outside of it being installed - but as soon as i put it back into its place, it starts binding in that opening, it hits the bolt heads on the back side, or knocks around on that inner wall. Now when I actually install the spindle back on, from the back side it is seated "properly" which ill go snag a pic of that... but just the shaft it self bends inward to the left, which is exactly what it did before I even tore into it and replaced the u-joint...
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Heres the back side, you can see it is seated properly in the rear, looks exactly the same on the other side, even rotating the entire shaft there is never any play, ie gapping, but the spindle on the open side stays in the same position, cocked to the left, but rotates just as is...
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Sand Lake, MI
Hard to say what's going on just going by them pictures, looks like its back far enough but should go back more.
That axle should go in as much as 1/4" to far, maybe more then that I never actually measured it, no reason to. That and it should move/drift around freely with no effort as you bolt the spindle back on.
Once the spindle is on and the lockout is installed should need pulled back out a little ways to put the end clip back on.
Did you check the inner axle and outer stub shaft to be sure neither is bent/twisted?
More pictures might help, from behind the knuckle and as many angles as you can possibly get? Again, hard to tell whats going on there but for sure, something is not right.
Hate to say it but you gotta pull that back out.
That axle should go in as much as 1/4" to far, maybe more then that I never actually measured it, no reason to. That and it should move/drift around freely with no effort as you bolt the spindle back on.
Once the spindle is on and the lockout is installed should need pulled back out a little ways to put the end clip back on.
Did you check the inner axle and outer stub shaft to be sure neither is bent/twisted?
More pictures might help, from behind the knuckle and as many angles as you can possibly get? Again, hard to tell whats going on there but for sure, something is not right.
Hate to say it but you gotta pull that back out.
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,670
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From: Sand Lake, MI
Hard to say, Hitting the spindle stud? see the top one, has a flat side orientated 11 O clock, looks like all of them need positioned toward the center line. Never really looked at that, never had reason to.
Looks like the dust shield is hitting on the one to the left in last the picture you posted, jamming the outer end of the stub shaft in the opposite direction.
Did you or someone else remove/reinstall the spindle studs?
Knock them back out and put them back in place making sure the flat side on each is toward the center line, then try again.
Looks like the dust shield is hitting on the one to the left in last the picture you posted, jamming the outer end of the stub shaft in the opposite direction.
Did you or someone else remove/reinstall the spindle studs?
Knock them back out and put them back in place making sure the flat side on each is toward the center line, then try again.
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
Agreed with the other posters, something isn't right here. Can we see pics of the drive axle itself and maybe a shot of the TTB arm from the passenger side with everything pulled off the drivers side.