Builds SLOW 71

[scrapdaddy]

I know, that's why I went with the RVCs thinking I'd never break an axle much less driving down the road. More important to me is finding out what happened, if I did something wrong setting it up or something else. I sure don't want to go through this again.

 

[bobm]

Wasn't you! Was a combo of failures or a failure in the material or process of hardening. Seen it many times! Thats why most ask for Certificates of Compliance (C of Cs.) when manufacturing metal in all aspects. Failures always happen in manufacturing and traceability is highly important whether commercial or DOD. . Wow s working tonight I think . Must be da Lightning ️.

 

[RUSH55]

Was gonna say! Those were some heavy duty words you just shot out!

 

[bobm]

Back to Abbynormal

 

[trainbufftony]

One thing I've had happen (on a full floating Ford rear end) is that the grease seal doesn't seat all the way which allows the hub to "false seat" which means it feels tight, feels right, but as soon as you go around a corner and seat in that seal, then all of a sudden you have play in the bearing. I caught this before it left our shop but had it made it out the door it would have been catastrophic. The truck hauls like 2 cords of firewood daily...
Make absolutely sure that seal drops all the way onto the spindle so the bearings get set up correctly. Take a short drive, 3 right turns, three left then pull the shafts and double check the bearings for preload...
May even go as far as tightening the hub nut to the point that the hub no longer spins, then back it off and obtain correct preload.

 

[scrapdaddy]

May even go as far as tightening the hub nut to the point that the hub no longer spins, then back it off and obtain correct preload.

This is how I do it, at least until the hub is hard to turn then back off. Test drive then reset the preload sounds like good advise.

 

[scrapdaddy]

She made it home last night and we unloaded this morning at first light. My cool Harbor Freight wheels didn't survive the ordeal. Some good news, the body doesn't seem to damaged and maybe not even the paint, just melted grease and rubber. Next fight is getting it in the shop...

 

[bobm]

Use the tractor

 

[Ol Yeller]

Good news on the bodywork & paint!

you’ll sort out a big beam & the tractor to get it off the driveway, hope the axle housing is ok

 

[RUSH55]

Inner bearing survived intact - that’s interesting. Is that part of the retaining nut still hanging on to the spindle?
That’s interesting too…

 

[scrapdaddy]

I don't think the bearing is still there, but the spindle nut is. I haven't really looked close at it yet. I've brush hogging all day, trying to take my mind off it for a while.

 

[scrapdaddy]

Hey Rush, you're right the inner bearing is there and one spindle nut all the rest gone or melted.

 

[scrapdaddy]

I'm going to build a metal sled and try to drive it in the shop with just front drive. I'm betting right now that the axle shaft is not coming out easy.

 

[scrapdaddy]

I finally got her in the shop with the help of a metal sled I built. It didn't work as well as I thought, but with some plywood sheets it slid over the rock drive well enough. Once it got on the cement we were off to the races. The sled was made from scrap and my luck ran out of gas and .035 wire when welding it up. Something else I'll never use again, hopefully. I'm just glad it's in the shop and I can start pulling it apart.

 

[RUSH55]

Gonna be a lot of hardware to buy. What’s the plan with the axle housing?

 

[scrapdaddy]

Rush, I'm not sure yet. I'm just trying to get caught around here and then tear into it. Everything will need to be replaced, but hoping the housing is ok. I haven't gotten back with Front Range, but I thought the RVCs had some kind of warranty, not sure. In the coming days I'll take it apart and see what all got damaged and lost., so much missing.

Question... On a open diff. full float axle you could pull the one side axle and insert a pipe to drive out the broken side. I have a Harrop locker installed, so can I still insert a pipe through the locker?

 

[bobm]

Calling @ J Mack

 

[Lifelong40Fan]

Looking at this pic of a 9.5" Harrop elocker it doesn't appear that you can do it.

 

[wngrog]

Yes. There is no center pin so you can hammer from the other side

 

[scrapdaddy]

Nolen, On an open diff. you're right, but what about the Harrop? The Diamond housing I have has no back cover, you have to pull the pumpkin, so I can't get at the locker to disassemble it.