Question about Warn Hub disassembly-knuckle rebuild-New Questions as I go through this madness. (1 Viewer)

[dirtywilks]

Hey guys,

Sorry for the Newby question. Just a guy that is learning mechanics on this old 40 of mine. Just decided to take on a knuckle rebuild and after watching all the videos and reading up, buying rebuild kits, etc, I jumped in and started disassembling. My 40 has some aftermarket Warn hubs, and I can't seem to get past this point. I can't see in there any more snap rings. Am I looking for the wrong thing? It's probably something really stupid on my side, but thought I would ask. Please see attached pic. Sorry for it not being the clearest, it was taken late last night.

 

[pb4ugo]

Remove the bolt and washer. You probably don't have a snap ring. We probably need to know the specs of the vehicle your working on.
Birfields came in different lengths and fine and coarse spline. You obviously have the shorter birfs installed, in an application for longer birfs.
You wont know which splines you have until you remove the washer.

 

[Jdc1]

Im on my phone, but is this the edge of a split ring?

 

[dirtywilks]

Remove the bolt and washer. You probably don't have a snap ring. We probably need to know the specs of the vehicle your working on.
Birfields came in different lengths and fine and coarse spline. You obviously have the shorter birfs installed, in an application for longer birfs.
You wont know which splines you have until you remove the washer.

Thanks for the response. Attempted to remove the washer and it just spins freely.

My understanding is I was suppose to lock the manual hub before i started the disassembly to make it easier later. Did I mess that up?

 

[dirtywilks]

Im on my phone, but is this the edge of a split ring?

View attachment 1622628

hmmmm.. let me check that when i get home after work. I didn't see that earlier.. I wish I could find an emoticon for feeling dumb..

 

[Jdc1]

hmmmm.. let me check that when i get home after work. I didn't see that earlier.. I wish I could find an emoticon for feeling dumb..

These rigs seem to fight all our best efforts to get them out of retirement. No need to feel dumb, lol.

 

[reddingcruiser]

By the correct external snap ring pliers, it will be a 'snap' to get off.

 

[TheHardWay]

Im on my phone, but is this the edge of a split ring?

View attachment 1622628

I think you're right. Clean the gunk away from that ring and you should see two holes in the split ring tabs for the snap ring pliers to fit into and remove the split ring.

 

[Mace]

That is not the correct snap ring.

You do not have a snap ring retaining the hub to the axle at all. Put the rig in 4wd, in gear, lock the passenger side hub and you can break loose the nut that is holding the washer on to the axle shaft.

You have the fine spline 79+ short birfields and are using the longer 76 to 78 warn hubs.

Here is an exploded diagram that is close enough

You are looking at the teeth on PN SE206 4055 and the inner spines are blocked by the washer (instead of pn SE2064064)

Snap ring pliers won't help you in this situation.

 

[dirtywilks]

That is not the correct snap ring.

You do not have a snap ring retaining the hub to the axle at all. Put the rig in 4wd, in gear, lock the passenger side hub and you can break loose the nut that is holding the washer on to the axle shaft.

You have the fine spline 79+ short birfields and are using the longer 76 to 78 warn hubs.

Here is an exploded diagram that is close enough

You are looking at the teeth on PN SE206 4055 and the inner spines are blocked by the washer (instead of pn SE2064064)

Snap ring pliers won't help you in this situation.

Thank you!- I hadn't put it into 4wd, but I had locked the manual hub. I'll go home and try this first. If this works I should be elbow deep in nasty old grease tonight.

 

[dirtywilks]

Ok. Next question.. I have it all disassembled. I'm cleaning the gunk out and I've pulled the Birf/inner axle. I don't want to separate the two (I'm not switching sides with them. ) What's your guys best/ideal way to get out the old grease so that it doesn't mess with the new grease? Need I try t0 try to repack it with grease, or will it simply mix with all the grease I am packing all the new grease backing around the new seal?

 

[BigDogg]

I just recently finished a knuckle rebuild and opted not to separate the birf/inner axle. I had a large gauge hypodermic-type needle (purchased at napa) that attached to my grease gun. I then placed the birf/inner axle on the bench, inserted the needle between the bearings, pumped grease in until old grease was displaced by the new, and repeated process for all bearings.

 

[iptman]

Just curious, why not separate? It's really not that hard to do. I use the PVC pipe method and the birf separates without a lot of effort. Putting it back together using a zip tie to compress the cir clip isn't too bad either. With all the effort put in to tearing a part a knuckle it just seems like stopping short not separating the birf to get all the old grease out.

 

[Rock40]

X2. It's cheap insurance and will give you peace of mind. There's usually some fairly nasty grease up in the ball. I'd separate them and start fresh.

 

[dirtywilks]

Just curious, why not separate? It's really not that hard to do. I use the PVC pipe method and the birf separates without a lot of effort. Putting it back together using a zip tie to compress the cir clip isn't too bad either. With all the effort put in to tearing a part a knuckle it just seems like stopping short not separating the birf to get all the old grease out.

From what I have seen on this board, it seemed like that a lot of people wouldn't separate unless they were replacing the birf/swapping sides. I definitely do not want to take any shortcuts. I bought the rebuilt kit from cruiseroutfitters (I don't believe it is included in that..), and I guess I would need to go buy some inner axle/birf rings.

 

[DSRTRDR]

no need to separate - put a big gauge syringe needle on your moly cartridge and press the moly into every single hole you can find around the balls, the old stuff coming out of the joint will have a slightly different color than the new grease

make sure your inner axle seal is intact, or you will be disassembling everything pretty soon again

 

[dirtywilks]

Hey guys. Question. Is the center of this steering arm suppose to be extended to fit through the bearing? Mine isn’t and I’m confused by that.

 

[Spike Strip]

The bearing housing is stuck on the steering arm shaft. Remove with bearing puller or...

 

[dirtywilks]

Yep. I’m an idiot. Thanks!

 

[dirtywilks]

Ok... finished one side and off to the other.. on the first side there was some uneven wear on the inside ball of the axle assembly, which I noticed some people have so I haven’t been too worried. But after tearing down the knuckle on the passenger side I saw this. how Bad is this and what do I do from here?