Rear axle rebuild question

[Sarge24]

I have pulled the rear axle out of my '95 to swap into my '97. It does have the e-locker. I have read in other posts that the axle should be locked when i re build it. True or false? The FSM does not mention this.

 

[GBinAZ]

You needed to lock the rear diff before you pulled the axle.

You may find yourself in this situation:

rear axle service issues: can't get axle back in.

 

[LINUS]

It doesn't matter if you already pulled & going down to a shell.

Really you can just use the 9v battery trick if you care, it's more for ease of stabbing the RH drive axle back in than anything, since the locker dog gear & inner diff spider need splines aligned when reassembling.

Or a helper & leaving the rear window on the 3rd open when you insert the shaft so you can get both riding the splines - either way you'll be good.

 

[Sarge24]

It doesn't matter if you already pulled & going down to a shell.

Really you can just use the 9v battery trick if you care, it's more for ease of stabbing the RH drive axle back in than anything, since the locker dog gear & inner diff spider need splines aligned when reassembling.

Or a helper & leaving the rear window on the 3rd open when you insert the shaft so you can get both riding the splines - either way you'll be good.

I have pulled the whole axle assembly out. My plan is to pull axle shafts out and remove the brakes. Leaving the diff and housing. Then swapping the brakes and hubs over from my unlocked axle. I'll try the 9v battery trick and get it locked before I tear into it. Other than servicing the knuckles on my 97 I've never attempted anything like this before so thanks to all for your advice

 

[Sarge24]

One more question. Are the axle shafts different - locked axle to unlocked? In case I want to swap those too

 

[2fpower]

only need it locked if your going to pull the diff out. it will not fit if unlocked.

 

[LINUS]

One more question. Are the axle shafts different - locked axle to unlocked? In case I want to swap those too

Yes. The RH shaft splines are cut an extra ~1.5" toward the hub from the diff end. It uses that to let that dog gear slide into & out of the lock/open position.

It's why that shaft is on the "parts list" for guys who convert a non-locker 80.
I did just that with my black 80, converted a non-locker rear to e-locked.

When you see posts about splines twisted & see pics of guys cutting holes in a shell from the back, they are guys who twisted that shaft while locked & the gear can't slide back to open diff mode.
Also why you see some guys have cut the splines out of the transition area.

The LH side shaft is the same across both locker/non-locker models.

 

[Sarge24]

So I should lock it to just pull the shafts?

 

[Sarge24]

Looks like the rotors are in good shape!