Axle Popped Out Hub (Bad Wheel Bearing?)

[BrittonJ85]

Good afternoon all,

I was on my way home and heard a sound “brake squeal” after I hit a pot hole. I pulled over to a auto store and took the wheel off to troubleshoot the issue but could not reproduce it. Put everything back to gather and the truck drove fine for a couple of miles (20) and then my driver side wheel felt like it wanted to lock up and then went away. Couple miles more down the street I heard a bang and felt like my tire blew so I pulled over to discover that my driver side axle popped out the hub.

I’m currently on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck to pick me up and drop my LC home. I was wondering, has anyone ever experienced a axle popping out the hub and if I heir issue was a bad inner wheel bearing?

I am going to see if I can find some time next Sunday to pull the wheel off and see if I can investigate if my driver side wheel bearing had seized.

 

[Flipped Bezel]

Your C clip likely popped off the end of the cv axle. Remove the dust cap carefully and locate the C clip then replace it into axle groove. If at an unsafe location, lock center diff and find a better spot to make repair

 

[BrittonJ85]

Your C clip likely popped off the end of the cv axle. Remove the dust cap carefully and locate the C clip then replace it into axle groove. If at an unsafe location, lock center diff and find a better spot to make repair

Thank you for this information, very helpful as I wasn’t aware that I can still move the LC with my axle partially connected.

I will take a look at the c-clip to verify if it’s still on or inside the hub once I get to a safe spot sense it seems that everyone wants to drive fast when I step outside.

Thanks

 

[Couvi]

This happened to me last year. C clip popped off and axle slid out, bad grinding sound — locked center diff and drove back home. Had to replace CV axle and drive flange (stripped out). Good luck, hope you can just get yours back in!

 

[BrittonJ85]

This happened to me last year. C clip popped off and axle slid out, bad grinding sound — locked center diff and drove back home. Had to replace CV axle and drive flange (stripped out). Good luck, hope you can just get yours back in!

WOW, same thing I just experienced including the grinding sound.

Earlier, I thought for worst (bad hub and bearings) so I had it towed because of the awful grinding and felt like the front end didn’t have a axle. What a waste of $215 for towing and crazy thing is the tow truck driver drove my LC onto the flatbed, off the flatbed and parked it in front of my house smh.

Once home I did what Bezel and you recommended, removed the dust cap and sure enough, the c clip fell to the ground. However, it appears that the c clip will not hold on so I will have to get a new axle.

What brand axle do you guys recommend?

My lesson learned, if you have a center diff lock, use it to get off the highway to a safe spot or home.

 

[hickuptruck]

Brand? Easy. OEM. Always

 

[l3n0x]

Is it possible to replace the flange without taking the wheel off (so not lifting the car)?

 

[sharkCamo]

Is it possible to replace the flange without taking the wheel off (so not lifting the car)?

Yes, if you're tight on time or money. Otherwise, I would do a full bearing service since you're half way there.

 

[Flipped Bezel]

I would only suggest OEM Toyota cv axles. CVJ Axles sells remanufactured units if cost of new is too high for you at this time. Picture looks like your C clip is either flared out or outer shaft splines are worn flat.

If your outer axle shaft groove still looks to be in good shape you can try to use pliers to close up your old C clip some before snapping back into the groove. If this works I would buy a replacement C clip assortment and fit a new one that has not lost it's shape and memory before doing a lot of travelling.

Check Cruiser Outfitters for these. @cruiseroutfit sells a kit with all the different thickness clips so you will always have the right size on hand. If you do have to replace the axle I recommend replacing the drive flange at the same time also.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

The axle in your second pic is still not all the way out enough for the clip to seat. You can thread a 12mm bolt in the end and pull.

 

[Flipped Bezel]

It was hard for me to see in the pic if it was far enough out to seat the clip in the groove, but I thought that may be part of the problem also. I had to use a bolt to pull mine out like @Trunk Monkey said.

 

[Couvi]

WOW, same thing I just experienced including the grinding sound.

Earlier, I thought for worst (bad hub and bearings) so I had it towed because of the awful grinding and felt like the front end didn’t have a axle. What a waste of $215 for towing and crazy thing is the tow truck driver drove my LC onto the flatbed, off the flatbed and parked it in front of my house smh.

Once home I did what Bezel and you recommended, removed the dust cap and sure enough, the c clip fell to the ground. However, it appears that the c clip will not hold on so I will have to get a new axle.

What brand axle do you guys recommend?

My lesson learned, if you have a center diff lock, use it to get off the highway to a safe spot or home.

View attachment 2055582

View attachment 2055586

I went OEM. Did the axle and flange, repack bearings while in there.

 

[BrittonJ85]

Thanks everyone. I’m going to check repacking the bearings too.

 

[2001LC]

As TM said, that axle needs pulling out to seat the snap ring in the groove.
One way, when grease in back on axle brass bushing has already been settled. Notice bottle jack is helping to keep LCA raised which keeps front drive shaft from pulling out. Just as does doing job with tire on the ground.

Another when grease needs settling


Snap rings should always be replaced with new ones for Toyota. Once removed they expand and will not fit snugly. It is possible to compress, but never as good as new. They also come in different thickness. Measuring the gap to make sure it less than 0.20mm between snap ring and hub flange is key. The tighter the better (less gap).

Unfortunately improperly service wheel bearings, which snap ring is final proceeded during assemble, leads to axle damage. Axle is part of front drive shaft as are the CV's. Damaged snap ring groove means damaged front drive shaft.

Here a few pictures of damage axles.

New OEM

Damaged hub flange

New

 

[2001LC]

Damaged hub flange, snap rings & cone washers

New hub flange

 

[planomateo]

I buy my snap rings and cone washers in bulk from partsouq.

 

[BrittonJ85]

As TM said, that axle needs pulling out to seat the snap ring in the groove.
One way, when grease in back on axle brass bushing has already been settled. Notice bottle jack is helping to keep LCA raised which keeps front drive shaft from pulling out. Just as does doing job with tire on the ground.
View attachment 2059283
Another when grease needs settling


Snap rings should always be replaced with new ones for Toyota. Once removed they expand and will not fit snugly. It is possible to compress, but never as good as new. They also come in different thickness. Measuring the gap to make sure it less than 0.20mm between snap ring and hub flange is key. The tighter the better (less gap).

Unfortunately improperly service wheel bearings, which snap ring is final proceeded during assemble, leads to axle damage. Axle is part of front drive shaft as are the CV's. Damaged snap ring groove means damaged front drive shaft.

Here a few pictures of damage axles.

View attachment 2059282
New OEM
View attachment 2059285
Damaged hub flange
View attachment 2059288
New
View attachment 2059290

This would make sense.

I had compressed the worn c ring back on the axle and took it for a test drive. The front end “felt like and made” a sound as if I was on the highway driving in the emergency lane going over the grove lines.

I parked the LC and hopefully I can find time to take the axle off. I’m suspecting that the axle groves have been worn down. I am hoping that the hub flange is ok.

Thanks

 

[2001LC]

I replace hub flange with new front drive shaft (axle) most every time. It's just so nice to have them mate together, yielding zero play. But if hub flange is in very good condition, I will just reuse. But that (very good) only happens when it was recently replaced.

I replace hub flanges, more often then axle. Their not very expensive and tend to wear faster than axle.

 

[BrittonJ85]

Update, I started to brake things down and am stuck on getting the lower control arm to free up. Tomorrow morning I am going to use my sledgehammer to see if that might help.

I wanted to confirm which part number is the hub seal picture below?

Thanks

 

[white_lx]

That is not a seal but the brass (bronze?) spindle bushing: 9038135001 Toyota BUSH (FOR STEERING KNUCKLE), RH/LH Price: 4.56$, Weight: 0.042kg - PartSouq - Auto Parts Around the World PartSouq Auto Parts Around the World