Tips on Front Axle Service

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bwr9300

bwr9300

Joined
Jan 14, 2010
Threads
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Location
Spokane Valley, WA
I'm reading through all the threads I can find on front axle services, front axle problems, knuckles, spindles, wheel bearings, you name it I'm reading up on it. I've had my rig for about 2 and 1/2 months now. The front axle needs attention. :steer:Is it easy, if you're a qualified mechanic, to assess the front axle needs? What I'm asking is, can someone with a lot of car mechanic knowledge look at the rig and see if it only needs seals or needs new knuckles or spindles or whatever? :confused:

I ask because I don't want to be riding "18 miles to work" (like I read in one post) and have a bearing or something else go bad on me. So put simply, can my front axle be assessed and then what needs to be replaced be replaced or is there stuff that won't have evident play or wear and hence just replacing everything (which I know is crazy $$$$) is the most efficient preventative approach to the front axle?????:hhmm:

errrr and I thought I was almost ready for the build to begin :doh:
 
If you are used to this sort of stuff, it's not horribly odd - but I'd make sure I had all the reading done & grab a birfield DVD if you are better at visual learning. I am, and it helped me out some.

One thing I do is photocopy my book onto 11x17 pages & staple them to a wall all spread out, gives me the "big picture" view of whatever job - helps too.

One thing I nearly let slip was spindles - it's good to look really close & make sure they are nice looking - otherwise I'm betting if you grab new bearings they'll be toast quicker on a shaft that has grooves not only at the seal lip, but under where the inner cage rides.

Once you do a couple lock to lock circles in a parking lots (I went both F & R, just to double triple check), that right there lets you know before tearing in if you need new birfs.
 
The clicking is horrible right after I switch into 4Low. Its on and off when accelerating while turning in 4High. Thank you for your help Linus. My question is is it clear which parts need to be replaced, showing play or wear... I've worried myself I'm gonna ruin my rig by reading all these threads on front axle problems.... last thing I want to do is total my new prize!!!!!!!!!!!! so????
 
beno said:
Hell, I'll fly out to Washington for a day and tell you what needs to be done.
Click to expand...

Yer crazy man. :lol:


(Wanna fly out here and help me build my bumpers? :hhmm: )
 
beno said:
Hell, I'll fly out to Washington for a day and tell you what needs to be done.
Click to expand...

Hey, if you ever do find yourself out this way - I owe you a few pints at a local brewery, O.
 
beno said:
I fly for free so it would be no skin off my back to go someplace, wrench, hang out and then come back.

:)
Click to expand...

I'll remember that when I have a couple of birf jobs backed up this summer and the garage with the A/C is already in use:D
 
gotmud said:
I'll remember that when I have a couple of birf jobs backed up this summer and the garage with the A/C is already in use:D
Click to expand...

As long as you are providing suds, I'm in.

Hell, Mot is having us do a birf job on Sunday in Nagoya....AZ is not too far away!

:p
 
I started my front end service earlier today after noticing a little soup on the passenger side a couple weeks ago :meh:

I knew exactly what part failed (axle seal), but I figured if I'm gunna dive that deep into it, I might as well replace as much as I can while I'm in there :hhmm:

Along with Dan's knuckle kit (which includes seals, trunion bearings, and gaskets for both sides), I also ordered a set of wheel bearings, Marlin Crawler axle seals and a new style replacement knuckle stud kit :cool:

This is my first time doing this and because I've watched the DVD and read through the FSM and FAQ more than a few times, it felt like second nature :grinpimp:

I'm sure many will agree that the hardest part is the cleaning :o

I had everything completely torn down within 40 minutes without air tools, but the cleaning process alone took more than 4 hours :doh:

I'm letting the birfs and hardware soak overnight, but everything else (races installed, bearings packed/ziplocked, studs tq'd, etc) is done and it should take no more than a couple hours in the morning when I open up shop :)
 
Let us know how Marlin's seals work out for you. So far, I have not been impressed.
 
As far as inspecting the parts for wear while you have it apart, the most critial parts are the knuckle bearings, wheel bearings & spindles, sealing surfaces (including the wiping surface where the inner knuckle wiper seals contact the knuckle) and of course birfield innards.
You specifically mentioned the spindles. Those really aren't common failure points. For those to go out your previous owner would have had to neglect a bad or incorrectly preloaded bearing for a long time. Also that might fail if you manage to blow up a birfield bad enough (rare but deadly to the spindle).
I don't know if you intended to replace the knuckle bearings but it might be a nice depending on the age of your rig.
You probably don't need to replace the wheel bearings unless they're bad (dented, misformed, marks on the races, etc.).

Overall, it's a very satisfying job when you get it done.
 
beno said:
As long as you are providing suds, I'm in.

Hell, Mot is having us do a birf job on Sunday in Nagoya....AZ is not too far away!

:p
Click to expand...

Wow, maybe you can make a stop in Hawaii and help me put the spool in my tc...
 
Beno,

I'm tossing around the idea of driving down to Las Cruces to work for the summer. If I do, I'll stop in and see you and Dan, pick your brains about my LC, and of course lighten my wallet. :beer:
 
and of course we must go camping while you're down here....BTW, what kind of work will you be doing?
 
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