Mysterious Metal Ring in Front Axle (1 Viewer)

[Jawsh]

Hey team,

Got my left front swivel hub fully refreshed. Awful job due to how long it had been neglected, but got there in the end. Bit stumped on something though... I found a metal ring within the front axle.

Does anyone have any clue what it could be? Far too big to be the inner oil seal... although that was nowhere to be found.

It looked very out of place/purposeless, and so I made the decision to remove it. Was with enormous difficulty, but I managed to fit some side cutters through the bore, cut through it then compress it till it could get out.

Any theories welcome. Cheers!

 

[GTSSportCoupe]

Very odd! Maybe the old inner oil seal came apart at some point and that is one of the pieces?

 

[Jawsh]

Very odd! Maybe the old inner oil seal came apart at some point and that is one of the pieces?

Definitely not, although it looks a bit oil seal-ish. I don't have a picture, but bent it back into shape, and looked larger in diameter.

 

[bj70bc]

i believe ive read on another thread that that may be the ring that the axle is supposed to slide on for assembly so you dont ruin the seal
I think someone else found one floating around in there too

 

[Jawsh]

i believe ive read on another thread that that may be the ring that the axle is supposed to slide on for assembly so you dont ruin the seal
I think someone else found one floating around in there too

That would make sense... Was an arse to get the axle in, and I had to lever the shaft off of the seal to get it installed - as horrible as that sounds. I'm guessing if it was dislodged, there's no way I would have got the axle back in.

Any chance you've got a link to the old thread?

 

[bj70bc]

sorry no its lost in my mind of never-ending landcruiser thread reading

 

[Loober]

Yes that ring is very necessary. It allows you to leverage off it instead of the seal to seat the axle. The seal is delicate and will most likely be ruined if used as you had done, and will leak. You should not have removed that ring. Mine came loose, as its a press fit, and it was a bitch to get it positioned back in. I don't think you can buy them separate as they come with the axle housing.

 

[Jawsh]

Yes that ring is very necessary. It allows you to leverage off it instead of the seal to seat the axle. The seal is delicate and will most likely be ruined if used as you had done, and will leak. You should not have removed that ring. Mine came loose, as its a press fit, and it was a bitch to get it positioned back in. I don't think you can buy them separate as they come with the axle housing.

s***. I don't currently have front dif oil in, so not sure if I damaged the seal. Definitely wouldn't rule it out though. I was leaning on it harder than I'd like.

In the event it leaks, I really don't feel like disassembling the front axle. Any thoughts for a fix? One option that comes to mind would be putting a small piece of foam or soft wood in the axle to lever off of during install. Even if it ends up in the dif, I don't see it causing damage. Thoughts?

 

[jblueridge]

I damaged a new seal replacing a birf. It was several weeks before the oil or grease weeping began.
The Marlin Crawler "eco seal" or whatever they call it is a much sturdier seal than OEM.
Just be very careful and delicate when putting the axle back together.

 

[AcroSteve]

I'd like to jump on this thread.

I've looked at several parts diagrams of the front housings and have not found those "axle supports".

Would anyone know the part #? Is it in fact only supplied with the housing?

If it matters, I'm looking for them that fit 80 series.

Thanks.

 

[OGBeno]

Only supplied with the housing itself. Installed during manufacture.

 

[RHINO]

ive never seen one installed on any of the axles i've been in, as such, it makes me wonder if its a newer thing that i simply havent had experience with yet.

 

[Jawsh]

ive never seen one installed on any of the axles i've been in, as such, it makes me wonder if its a newer thing that i simply havent had experience with yet.

Out of interest Rhino, how do you avoid damaging the seal during install? I found it difficult to support the weight of the entire axle on the articulating stub, and when I had to straighten it to fit into the knuckle housing, there was no way to keep weight off of the seal.

The right side hub also had a ring, except it was still in place. Made it far easier to insert the axle.

What year are the Cruisers you worked on? Perhaps the axle support is built in somewhere else? Mine is a 1985

 

[AcroSteve]

I'm fortunate in that the housings are out of the vehicle. I plan on holding the housings and axles vertically while assembling them.

But they look like they could be fabricated without much trouble. One question would be the orientation of the holes. I tend to think they would be at 9,6 and 3 o'clock to allow the oil to drain back.

Then the ID dimension. Mine looks worn. How much clearance between it and the axle?

 

[Jawsh]

I'm fortunate in that the housings are out of the vehicle. I plan on holding the housings and axles vertically while assembling them.

But they look like they could be fabricated without much trouble. One question would be the orientation of the holes. I tend to think they would be at 9,6 and 3 o'clock to allow the oil to drain back.

Then the ID dimension. Mine looks worn. How much clearance between it and the axle?

View attachment 3357189

View attachment 3357190

Unfortunately can't provide a dimension. One of mine is in the axle, and the other is mangled

It should however be a clearance fit to the axle. Close enough to support it during installation, but not actually contacting during operation, as the bearings and dif spline support it during operation.

If you were fabricating, I'd imagine axle OD + 1mm would be fine to size the inner diameter. It just needs to be a closer fit than the oil seal ID.

How do you intend on driving it down the very long axle housing?

 

[AcroSteve]

seal/bearing installer. Maybe need to extend the handle, but they look to be within 4" of the seal or so.

 

[RHINO]

Out of interest Rhino, how do you avoid damaging the seal during install? I found it difficult to support the weight of the entire axle on the articulating stub, and when I had to straighten it to fit into the knuckle housing, there was no way to keep weight off of the seal.

The right side hub also had a ring, except it was still in place. Made it far easier to insert the axle.

What year are the Cruisers you worked on? Perhaps the axle support is built in somewhere else? Mine is a 1985

maybe i should clarify i've never noticed it if it was there, perhaps it was still installed and not falling out?

my experience has been all 9.5 axles fron 40 series through 75 series, maybe a dozen or so in total.

as far as damage, maybe i've been lucky, seals are pretty resilient.

 

[OGBeno]

The rings are in all LC SFAs.

 

[RHINO]

The rings are in all LC SFAs.

well shoot, i'll have to make it point to look for them next time

 

[jayp2]

s***. I don't currently have front dif oil in, so not sure if I damaged the seal. Definitely wouldn't rule it out though. I was leaning on it harder than I'd like.

In the event it leaks, I really don't feel like disassembling the front axle. Any thoughts for a fix? One option that comes to mind would be putting a small piece of foam or soft wood in the axle to lever off of during install. Even if it ends up in the dif, I don't see it causing damage. Thoughts?

Dealership parts guy I know mentioned to me not long ago having to manufacture a replacement for his 40 series axle out of brass (iirc) on a lathe and press fit it in

Entire axle was disassembled at the time....he said it wasnt difficult, just a bit time consuming

If yours was on the short inner axle/right side, the seal may have survived, if it was on the left side with the longer inner axle its likely that the spring like component of the seal has popped out of the rubber and is now riding against your inner axle