Snap rings?

[Spook50]

Okay tomorrow I'm going to tackle the steering knuckle rebuild. I've got everything I need, but something the FSM isn't clear on is if the inner ends of the axle shafts (the ones in the diff) have snap rings, like the rear axle, or not. I'm assuming not, because there is no mention of it in either the FSM or the knuckle rebuild DVD. Just wanted to make double sure though...

 

[Mace]

the front axle is a full floater. IT does not have C clips like the rear axle does. if you pull the knuckle you will have three snap rings to deal with. One in the axle hub on the birf, one on the axle shaft inside of the birf, and one just outside the birf on the axle shaft.

I am going home and have a couple of shafts that need to be taken apart. I'll get pics..

 

[Mace]

Okay, I got some pics handy now.

Here is a shot of the Diff end of an inner axle, notice, no room or spot for a C clip

 

[Mace]

And to complete the set.

Here is a pic of the Birfield end of the shaft. Notice the snap ring on the end (missing) that sits inside of the birf and the snap ring in the middle of the splines that sits just outside of the birf


The second pic is a shot of the third snap ring spot. it is on the end of the Birf where it sits inside the locking hub.

 

[Mace]

And just another way to remove the inner from the birf.

You need a hammer, a board or piece of cardboard and the inner/birf.

Take the inner/birf, set it on the board, step on the inner. Smack the face of the bell (on the edge) with the BFH. The little inner snap ring in the birf does not stand a chance

The third shot, if you look closely has the inner almost all the way out of the birf, with no damage to the birf in this method (Bobby long told me to do it this way, I have been doing it ever since with great success)

 

[Spook50]

Hey cool. Doesn't look too hard. If my rebuild kit came with the snap ring for inside the birf, I'll be breaking mine down so I can inspect 'em and clean 'em really good before repacking everything. Thanks for the visual. Now I've got a pretty good idea of how to go about everything here.