birf's clicking after repack?

[reffug]

The lack of moly would bother me.

But then again alot of things bother me.

 

[tarbe]

Did you blow the birfs dry with compressed air or clean them out with brake cleaner prior to re-packing?

edit: Forget it...I see you have come to the correct conclusion

 

[NorCalSam]

What a birf?

 

[TLCgrappler]

If you are going to pull them again and reclean, I suggest you consider swapping. Make your decision on doing this by looking at the "wear points" on the bell housing and the starfish (cant remember the correct name). The ball bearings driving the wheels tend to wear a light "groove, or indentation" into the bell housing at the spot where they normally are oriented when you are driving straight ahead. If the birfs have never been swapped, this wear will be much greater than the wear on the opposite surfaces [which are the surfaces that would wear if you always drove in reverse]. I think the clicking happens from the bearings moving back and forth over these wear points, so if you swap the sides, you'll put the surfaces that used to be only wearing when in reverse (or when decelerating) in position to be the surfaces that wear as you drive forward. They should be in better shape and with less of an indentation from the wear.

I think you'll need new clips to reattach the birfs to the axles, so don't get ahead of yourself before you get the right parts. :whoops:Good luck.

 

[Arya Ebrahimi]

I repacked my birfs about 40k miles ago, switched sides, used Moly Grease, etc etc. Guess what, they started clicking :mad3: They seem to only due it when loaded up in low-range or on really cold mornings. Only when turning left, and only the left one clicks. Dunno what to make of it, but don't have time to tear it down until May probably.

Ary

 

[mrsalty]

Clicking Birf's

Steve,
I had no clicking before my first Birf job. I however, had gear oil in them. I did not pull the knuckle completely apart the first time I repacked them. I did pack thouroughly, and fill 75% with moly grease. They clicked.

I had to replace the trunion bearings about 6 months later. Pulled the Birfs, and they looked good from a grease standpoint. Swapped sides, packed the tulip with lots of moly before putting cage and balls in. Reassembled and drove on them. Clicked worse than before.

I did the swap in May of last year, and this is a daily driver. IMO, I think that the grooves can get bad enough that they will always click at some point. I have just learned to live with it; and with a new OEM Birf @ $600 retail. Well, the choice is yours.
I would personally get moly in the knuckle BTW.

Good luck, let us know how it all turns out. It will be easier and faster this next time.

Chris


94FZJ80 142K Locked 2.5OME 285's DD CDL Pin 7

 

[landtank]

I personally don't subscribe to the chemical peel for cleaning the birfs. I just disassemble and clean with a shop towel and then reassemble. I also haven't swapped them either. No clicking but the PS birf has some pretty deep grooves while the DS birf looks great.

 

[steveVA]

I am going to get Moly in them this weekend, and check the condition while I have them out.. I would wait for the parts, to do the swap, BUT i am scared if I wait another week they are gonna be even worse..

 

[Kalawang]

I doubt a week would do much if at all. I wouldn't want to do all that work more often than I absolutely have to unless you have nothing else to do with your time. Then again, it's also good to get a good look before buying parts. It's a question of where the expense is more pain.


Kalawang