Hey guys i have 1997 lx450, doing front axle rebiult, i am at the stage where i am putting axle shaft with birfs and they wont go in, if anybody can help me with advise please. Note i have factory elockers?
fzj80 axel shafts help
- Thread starter zeka1993
- Start date
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I just did my 96 for the first time recently but no e-lockers.
When I re-inserted the axles I lined up a flat spot on the birf to 12 o'clock and then wiggled while putting pressure on the end until it slid in. This was not easy and it took several attempts -- particularly the longer driver side axle which is pretty heavy to hold up.
Note that this only works if you removed the axle with a flat spot lined up to 12 o'clock though and also when re-inserting you can't really see that the flat spot is on the top but you can feel with a finger -- my understanding is that the re-insertion part is easier if you locked the diff prior to axle removal.
I had several moments of doubt during mine but it worked out in the end. Good luck!
When I re-inserted the axles I lined up a flat spot on the birf to 12 o'clock and then wiggled while putting pressure on the end until it slid in. This was not easy and it took several attempts -- particularly the longer driver side axle which is pretty heavy to hold up.
Note that this only works if you removed the axle with a flat spot lined up to 12 o'clock though and also when re-inserting you can't really see that the flat spot is on the top but you can feel with a finger -- my understanding is that the re-insertion part is easier if you locked the diff prior to axle removal.
I had several moments of doubt during mine but it worked out in the end. Good luck!
- Thread starter
- #3
Thanks rrt for the reply, i did line up flat spots with top and bottom and she didnt work for me, i did not engaged my lockers prior removing axels i try to do so after
and no luck?
and no luck?
Hmm I'm not sure if it is better to unlock the diff at this point or not.
I've heard of others turning the front driveshaft a bit if things don't line up but take that advice for what it's worth -- I didn't have to do it so I didn't try it. Last thing I want to do its make things worse for you.
Hopefully a mudder with more experience than me can provide a little more guidance. Anyone?
This shouldn't be any different than the 60 series. If the teeth are not aligning properly it will not go in all the way. Try to rotate it back and forth while pushing the axle back in and see if you can get it to seat that way. Or you can try rotating the drive shaft while someone else pushes the axle in. Maybe take a pic of how far it's sticking out and post it up
If you can't post the photo for whatever reason, shoot me a PM and I'll give you my cell number.
If you can't post the photo for whatever reason, shoot me a PM and I'll give you my cell number.
Trying to engage the e-lockers with the vehicle on the stands might be hard to do... typically you would need to spin the internals of the diff a bit to get the locking mechanism to engage, normally this occurs when you move the vehicle on a dirt road etc... the purpose of locking the diffs when rebuilding axle, is so that the side gears are held stationary which helps specifically with mating/meshing of the side gear to axle splines...
if you have one axle installed you can accomplish the same thing by having the vehicle in park and getting an assistant to hold the installed axle stationary, and as mentioned above try pivoting up and down and simultaneously rotating left and right until the splines mesh...
Are the axles new? if memory serves me correctly I believe that splines are roll formed so look for burrs on the leading edge of the splines... I believe that I had to persuade my new longside axle to go in with light tapping with a rubber mallet...
If the axles are the same ones that you had in there, try rotating the axles 45, 90 or 180 degrees... depending on how they have worn they might have a preferred orientation where they might engage easier...
Lastly try not let weight of the axle rest on the fragile axle seal, or you will be doing this again soon...
Edit: this goes without saying but if for some reason you've mishandled the axle, then look for deformed splines etc..
if you have one axle installed you can accomplish the same thing by having the vehicle in park and getting an assistant to hold the installed axle stationary, and as mentioned above try pivoting up and down and simultaneously rotating left and right until the splines mesh...
Are the axles new? if memory serves me correctly I believe that splines are roll formed so look for burrs on the leading edge of the splines... I believe that I had to persuade my new longside axle to go in with light tapping with a rubber mallet...
If the axles are the same ones that you had in there, try rotating the axles 45, 90 or 180 degrees... depending on how they have worn they might have a preferred orientation where they might engage easier...
Lastly try not let weight of the axle rest on the fragile axle seal, or you will be doing this again soon...
Edit: this goes without saying but if for some reason you've mishandled the axle, then look for deformed splines etc..
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I did my '96 FZJ80 earlier this year, it has lockers. I didn't touch the locker in the front and it was pretty much the same procedure that I have done a thousand times before. I don't recall having an issue with the axle, though like Fantom stated I'm sure I did wiggle the drive shaft a bit