RTH: Blown birf... Still drivable?

[Lka1988]

EDIT: Birf not blown, scroll down to help a brother out...

So I'm pretty sure I just blew a birf....

I need to know if it's still safe to drive if I drop the front shaft. It's the only vehicle I have available.

 

[EricG]

I think you also need to lock the center diff and pull the broken birf & axle shaft. Sure about the first, not completely about the second, but I wouldn't want the pieces rattling around in there even if it isn't driven.

 

[Lka1988]

Pull the birf... Crap, that's what I was afraid of. I REALLY don't want to tear the whole thing apart, but if I have to, then I should.

 

[96r50]

If it blew into little pieces, one of them could migrate into the space between the axle ball and the knuckle housing and your steering could become locked at any angle. I like controlling where I'm going so I wouldn't drive it, but I'm kind of a wuss like that

If you do want to drive it you need to isolate the birf/inner axle. Drop the front driveshaft, pull the drive flanges and replace them with sandwich bags held on by rubber bands (keeps grease in, dirt out)

Soooo... How'd you break it?

 

[BirfMark]

Pull the front shaft & the drive flange on the busted side?

 

[Lka1988]

plastic bags! duh...

Er, how did I break it? .....doing AWD donuts in my culdesac...it snowed a lot yesterday...

 

[Buckru]

You don't have to pull it all apart to get at the birf.

Remove caliper
Take off 6 studs on felt seal kit.
Remove 4 nuts holding lower control arm.
Remove 2 bolts holding top trunion bearing.
Remove abs sensor.
Remove end cap and snap ring.
Remove drive flange.
Remove nut, star washe and lock nut.
Pull hub and nuckle as one unit.

Good luck.

 

[96r50]

plastic bags! duh...

Er, how did I break it? .....doing AWD donuts in my culdesac...it snowed a lot yesterday...

You still risk having the steering jam on you, but it keeps the thing from destroying itself further.

Good to know, we finally got some snow up here and it has been tempting me. I'll get my brother to let me borrow his Subaru instead.

 

[Lka1988]

You don't have to pull it all apart to get at the birf.

*procedure*

Sweet, maybe I'll try that...

I'm going over the axle right now, and so far, neither of the drive flanges are stripped. But there's still a gnarly grinding coming from within the axle.

I gotta check on more thing. I was talking to Eric Hagan (Landspeeder), he said the ring may be an issue... Gonna pull the check plug and find out.

 

[Lka1988]

Definitely blew the birf.

Put it in gear while I had the front check plug out, the carrier and stuff was clearly spinning with the driveshaft, and neither of the stub shafts were spinning in the flanges.

Anyone have a set of used birfs? I'll give you $150!

 

[Lka1988]

I'm going to pull both sides tonight, as I have no idea which one actually broke. I have a question, though, what will keep the gear oil from splashing out into the knuckle (and eventually out of the axle)? Plug of some sort?

 

[Buckru]

Theres an oil seal that sits in the axle housing behind the birf.

 

[Lka1988]

Yeah, but I'm taking the birfs out.

 

[lt1fire]

Remove abs sensor.

Well that's one he doesn't have to worry about

 

[BirfMark]

Yeah, but I'm taking the birfs out.

Stuff a rag down the tube, and just leave a little hanging out so you can pull it out later.

 

[Lka1988]

Stuff a rag down the tube, and just leave a little hanging out so you can pull it out later.

Oh. Heh.



Gonna ease old Katie into the garage and tear the things out now.

Thanks.

 

[96r50]

If you're disconnecting the driveshaft and pulling both birfs to drive in 2WD, you don't need any gear oil in the axle tube as the differential is not spinning.

 

[CreeperSleeper]

You just need to take the broken birf out... Not both. Shove a rag in the tube as stated and bolt it back together. You can leave the front DS on. Lock the CDL and drive to your little hearts content.

Oh and you will want to bolt back on the drive flange and the dust cover to keep dirt out. Whatever you do, don't just leave the broken birf in there. It can bind and you may loose your steering.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

If you blew a birf, for sure pull it out before you lock your steering at speed. Plus, the broken birf bits tear up the inside of the knuckle and you risk ruining the splines of the axle shaft as well.

Pull out the birf and all of the associated metal shrapnel stuck in the greasy goop. Pull out the inner axle as well.

One thing to check very carefully, sometimes you just blow the splines of the driveflanges. If so, you scored big time.

 

[Recovering40driver]

Anyone have a set of used birfs? I'll give you $150!

Classic Cruisers in Salida, CO just pulled of a knuckle for me a couple of weeks ago. They may have the birf still. Give them a call, they ship. 719-539-7733