axle shaft into diff

[jblueridge]

The left front axle shaft does not want to slide home into the diff. I have tried wiggling and rotating and spinning the front diff by hand but the axle still just stops.
I lexamined the diff end of the shaft I am replacing and it is not banged up at all; I don't see evidence that the diff splines might be mangled.
Any tricks I should know about?

I got the right front axle shaft back in just fine.

Uncooperative left side is the first pic.

 

[76FJ40]

As you slide the axle into the housing the inner end drops down so it does not line up with the side gears. You have to force the birf ball downward to raise the inner end of the axle to get it to line up with the side gears. You will also have to rotate the driveshaft to get the splines to line up. Hope that helps.

 

[jblueridge]

Yep, thanks 76FJ40.
I had been turning the pinion of the diff thinking the gears on the right and left would spin. Turned out the left side I was working on did not spin at all.
I immobilized the pinion, turned the right axle shaft, got the left to turn a little and, pushing down on the birf while pushing in, it popped in.
Live, learn, etc.