New guy w/ birf question - scarred metal

[drnls]

I have a 97 TLC with 120,000 mi. I did the birf job at 99,000 (had the time then). Not sure what you call the "cup" portion where the birf fits into (you can see it on Beno's post 2nd picture). On my driver side "cup" the bottom part inside was scarred/scraped as if the birf dropped into during rotation. Not sure if this makes sense - hopefully it does. Any ideas what would have caused this. PO was my sister n law (original owner) and I purchased from her with 90,000 mi. She did wreck it once - nothing major damaged. Plan on doing coolant flush this week. Also have oil loss/consumption and P0401 code issues, will address those later. This is an awesome site, usually do research at LCOOL site. Thanks, Nelson

 

[IdahoDoug]

With no info on the crash, not a lot to speculate with here. Obviously a hard hit on the DS front straight into the axle could cause a broken birfield that would have ground a bit. Or, an inexperienced mechanic pulling the birfield without first removing the ABS sensor (snap, falls into birfield chamber). Or, during a repack someone scraping the inside of the birf chamber using the wrong tool to pry, etc for axle positioning or seal removal. Would't worry about it.

DougM

 

[tucker74]

Not sure if this is what you're talking about - but the bottom of the bell should be machined flat in the area where the trunion bearings pivot with the knuckle...here's a pic of my drivers side.

Hope that helps -

Tucker

 

[Scamper]

Not sure how it would happen, but some scraping on the inside of the knuckle housing won't affect anything. It may have been that way since new. I wouldn't worry about it.

If you've got something flopping around inside your knuckle that's causing the scraping however, that's something to be concerned about.

 

[concretejungle]

Not sure how it would happen, but some scraping on the inside of the knuckle housing won't affect anything. It may have been that way since new. I wouldn't worry about it.

If you've got something flopping around inside your knuckle that's causing the scraping however, that's something to be concerned about.

if this were the case, surely he would have heard it. I think someone buggered it up fixing something in there a while back.

 

[robbie]

real loose wheel bearings at one point then wearing out the brass bushing, thus not controling the birfield. I have seen this a time or two. later robbie

 

[drnls]

tucker - yes that is correct.

Everyone - thanks for the replies. I do not notice any sounds or vibrations while driving so I won't worry. Again guys - this is a great place. Nelson

 

[concretejungle]

drnls, how do you like the Nitto tires? Are they the grappler MTs?

 

[drnls]

cj - can't remember which ones - probably. When it stops raining I'll go check. Overall I am happy with the ones I have - they were new production from Nitto last year. Nelson

I have the Terra Grapplers All Terrain