My first (80) front axle...wierdness? (1 Viewer)

[Tools R Us]

Passenger side oil seal, how I found it...think it would leak some?

EDIT: could really loose lower knuckle studs lead to this?

Yes, loose nuts allow the axle shaft to move up causing that type of dimple in the seal.

 

[Romer]

I would buy a used OEM birf as even Bobby will tell you his Birfs will last about 15K miles using it as a daily driver on the highway. There are some posts in here about that by norcalsam

 

[Ebag333]

You can send back the longs to be rebuilt. Something like $75? But then your in the axle every 15k.....

 

[Pighead]

Nah...we got two pair of OEM front axles here in good condition. The Longs will just be trailspares.

 

[Pighead]

...usual newbie "look at how clean I am" pics, prior to re-assembly...

 

[Tools R Us]

...usual newbie "look at how clean I am" pics, prior to re-assembly...

You used an unapproved paint color, the proper paint is satin black!





Make sure you remove the paint from all critical metal to metal connection surfaces, studs, cone washer holes, arm to knuckle faces, etc. For best strength these need to metal to metal, paint or anything else between will crush allowing movement.

 

[Pighead]

They were all out of satin black AND hot pink...can we use white-out?

 

[Cruiserdrew]

You used an unapproved paint color, the proper paint is satin black!

That color made me wince too.

Pighead's gone light in the loafers!

 

[Pighead]

More weirdness, late flanges won't fit on these hubs...dowels too big? looks like.
Early round drive flange fits.
Late non-round drive flange don't fit.
So, can I just drill out the dowel hole so the newer flange fits?

 

[retrofive]

LPH - This is the thread I was thinking of if it helps.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/386333-front-axles-how-do-i-fix.html

 

[Pighead]

Um, yup. Saw that thread, even posted in it. So are there two different newer style drive plates/ I figgered if the shape was the same, it must be the same.
I gots a round pair, I gots one non-round pair. is there another pair I don't have?

EDIT: or do I have to swap the hubs?

LPH - This is the thread I was thinking of if it helps.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/386333-front-axles-how-do-i-fix.html

 

[Pighead]

The thing is, the older (Round) drive flange fits just fine...the newer, longer, drive flange doesn't fit due to the dowels being too big.
Apparently these are aftermarket special discs...Aussie? dunno...
Have a pair of old discs/hubs sitting here.
New drive flanges fit the old hubs on the old discs,
New drive flanges don't fit the hubs on current discs,
Can I swap the hubs that fit the new drive flanges on to the fancy discs AND then use the newer drive flanges and everything will be all right?
(whew)

 

[Cruiserdrew]

I am having trouble picturing the dowel problem. If the dowels do not fit, I am guessing they are not original, since all 80 hub dowel pins were the same(8mm). Any chance someone else changed the set up before you?

I think I would be tempted to drill the hole in the flange to the size needed and install.

If you don't have a drill press you can swing by and use mine.

 

[Tools R Us]

I am having trouble picturing the dowel problem. If the dowels do not fit, I am guessing they are not original, since all 80 hub dowel pins were the same(8mm). Any chance someone else changed the set up before you?

I think I would be tempted to drill the hole in the flange to the size needed and install.

If you don't have a drill press you can swing by and use mine.

I thought all of the stock hub pins were 8mm? To work as designed, they need to be a tight precision fit. If your planning on just drilling the flanges, I would just remove the pins?

 

[Cruiserdrew]

I thought all of the stock hub pins were 8mm? To work as designed, they need to be a tight precision fit. If your planning on just drilling the flanges, I would just remove the pins?

That's what I think too, and why I'm questioning what happened here. I'm thinking someone replaced with 5/16 pins. I don't think it would be hard to drill out a fairly precise hole with a new bit the right size.

 

[Pighead]

Funny. All the drive flanges I have here have 7mm dowel holes...

I thought all of the stock hub pins were 8mm?

 

[Pighead]

Hmmmm...this doesn't look right either,

 

[CreeperSleeper]

Sorry Pighead... You are learning just how different the 80 front axle is!

I know you said you didn't care how or why it happend but I feel like I have to say that this is why we try to hammer in the mindset "check your nuts"! On an 80 series, it is a lot worse if things come loose than on an older Cruiser or mini truck. Every pre-wheeling checklist (no matter what the vehicle) has checking the important nuts/bolts on the drivetrain and suspension. 80's are no different. Heck, by the time I got to the trailer my DS knuckle had loosed up and I re-torqued everything before I left!

Sue... Check you nuts often! Do it or it could kill you and/or others and it will be nobodys fault but your own.

Okay, dramatic hi-jack over. Carry on.

 

[Tools R Us]

Funny. All the drive flanges I have here have 7mm dowel holes...

:whoops: It should have read; all the same size.

 

[Tools R Us]

Hmmmm...this doesn't look right either,

Looks like someone got heavy handed during a previous install? Clean up any high spots and you should be golden. I also make sure the flat faces are flat (where the red is) on both the knuckle and arms. I use a wet stone (like for knife sharpening) and go over the faces. Don't want to remove much metal, just any high spots that will hold the surfaces apart, they need to have solid metal to metal contact or will loosen much easier.