MNBOY

I seem to remember there is some trick to removing the axle shafts without pulling the brake discs and everything. I just need them out far enough to remove the 3rd. I guess it's been a while since a had a solid axle truck, and the worthless Haynes manual skips righ tover this. Can someone post this so I have it when I get home. It's for an 85 Toy axle. Thanks.

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Shane

Assuming stock drum rear brakes...

Drain gear oil
Disconnect e-brake cable from both sides
Disconnect and plug brake lines
Remove 4 nuts from back-side of brake plates
Pull axle shafts complete with brake assemblies out


I recommend pulling them all the way out when you do this, if not you may inadvertently crush the inner seals by resting the shafts on them.

Shane

erm... you probably meant front axle, huh...


You can remove the steering arms which will allow you to pull the assembled knuckle off, but it can be a PITA both to get the birf lined up so it can come out and an even bigger one to get it back in. I'm not even sure that it's possible without the birf-inner-clip-eliminating-tack-weld mod.

MNBOY

yeah, front.

Now I think I remember. Undo the four nuts and damn cone washers on top but leave the bottom four alone. I should probably pull the whole thing apart and check out the bearings now that I think about it. Thanks though.

crawler#976

Greg,

note: I use a heavy duty bungie cord (or two) to support the assembly once it's off-

That is how I do it- but I also spend the time once a year to pull the whole mess apart to check bearings and get it lubed up. Also, I don't fill the knuckle full of grease- I use synthetic grease on the birf and a light coating on the knuckle itself. It's a PITA to deal w/ the mess- even w/ fresh inner axle seals, some 90W seams to get into the knuckle, mix w/ the grease and turn into a REAL mess. It is one of the reasons I carry the biggest trash bags I can find in the truck- if I pull the assy off on a trail it keeps the gunk off the ground.

Martack'd axle shafts are not required to dissasemble the front end this way. They help in removing a busted inner axle- since they seem to shear at the birf, it is easier to get out the stub if there is no retaining clip.

later