Trip has gotten worse

[BigAxeJack]

I also regret not being able to help you in person, I'm just too busy this week. I sent you a text offering some free passes to Purgatory Resort. This could be a good diversion for the family while you're wrenching or a fun day together once it's all buttoned up. You have some locals willing to help, so reach out on this thread if you need to.
-Jim

 

[bloc]

PS. why are you changing thirds in the rear? If you get a complete rear axle just bolt it in and call it good to get home. If it is because your gears are not OEM, pull the rear drive shaft out, lock the CDL and drive home front wheel drive. Just a idea.

i fail to see the logic in swapping an entire rear axle but deciding not to install the correct third member and driving home on front driveline only when you already have a known good one on hand

Edit: and transporting the rear driveshaft and third member home to do the work there. This makes zero sense.

 

[Dave 2000]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Can't argue with that logic.

Regards

Dave

 

[rc51kid]

i fail to see the logic in swapping an entire rear axle but deciding not to install the correct third member and driving home on front driveline only when you already have a known good one on hand

Edit: and transporting the rear driveshaft and third member home to do the work there. This makes zero sense.

I completely agree with doing the job once and doing it right. I just would rather work at my shop at home than in a hotel parking lot. I figure one option is just swapping in a new rear axel assemble. The other way involves diassembling two axel assemblies and swapping parts around.

But honestly i do understand your point of view. I was just throwing another option your way to get you rolling.

Best of luck with it.

 

[pengfinn]

Hey, there's nothing wrong with doing work in a hotel parking lot- that's where I swapped my alt and desmogged! Even had the maintenance guy help me break a couple bolts loose!

 

[TEC3]

I am geared st 4.88's and ARB. So not able to swap whole axle.

 

[TEC3]

Update:
New housing is here, old one is pulled. Diff fluid is really, really metallic. Hoping that it is just leftovers from the bearings and nothing damaged in the 3rd.

Should be on the road tomorrow.

 

[girupb]

Would be nice to rinse that diff out really good with a parts washer. Don't have those in a hotel parking lot though. Probably frown on the Alabama method of soaking in a 5 gallon bucket with some gas in it too.

 

[TEC3]

I actually found a loca place and am going to have them clean it out there for cheap.

Wanted to have it cleaned up before installed.
I want to inspect the bearings on the 3rd

 

[TEC3]

Update:
3rd was good after cleaned up, everything go put back together. Got on the road around 5:30 mountain time.

I found a few things that concerned me from the shop that did the "axle rebuild". Things like the rear calipers were switched so the bleeders were too high to bleed all the air. I will be having a long discussion with the shop once I get back.

I want to thank the community here. I got texts, offers of places to stay as well as things to keep the family busy while work was being done. You guys are awesome and helped me feel like I wasn't totally stranded 2000 miles from my home shop.

We are currently on I40 rolling home like a turtle. Can't wait to get back out here again and hopefully not miss out on 3 days of trails.

 

[Dave 2000]

Glad your rolling again, having your vehicle down when on a trip is bad enough, having the family just adds to the stress when it all goes wrong, a 'chat' with the garage is well on the cards.

Well done for overcoming this sorry event, and this makes forums like MUD pretty much indispensible, I take my hat off to all.

Regards

Dave