I'm having trouble getting the long side inner into my housing. It slides in til it hits something, then a little manipulating gets it moving again. Then the birf hits the housing way too low on the ball. I can twist the birf round and get the bottom flat spot in place and then lift up on it to get it to almost go in but then it binds up. Any ideas? Am I doing something wrong? Bent housing? (please not that) Seal not seated? (it looks OK) Thanks in advance.

Mike

 

I had some trouble getting mine in as well.. but I can't remember which side. The LongField install was worse. I think I had to take a little off the axle housing ball to get one side in.

I did contribute my problems to a slightly bent housing, but just figured I'd deal with it. I think the inners can be a little tricky. You do have to wiggle them a lot and rotate when possible.

I did find the Marlin HD axle seals (MC-12149) are more beefy and allow a lot more forgiveness with misalignment from what ever reasons. Since I installed those, I haven't had a leak.

I was also impressed with the TG Rock Ring felt protectors (140051-1-K). Way more beefy once I snugged it all down.

 

OK thanks Steve. I thought about that grinding the housing option too but I don't relish the idea of taking the knuckle off again. It beats the idea of a housing bent beyond usefulness though. I already ground the flat spots on the birfs a little but it seemed like I would need to take too much off to really get anywhere. So after grunting and sweating and swearing for a couple of hours, I figured I'd get experienced input before I went crazy with the grinder.

 

I had to beat mine in with a sledge. Made me think the Dana 44 is better axle.

Make sure you lube up the seal, I think it hangs up on that. It's not easy. But they are in on my buggy and I am not going to take them out.

 

When I put the longs in, I guess I was fairly lucky. I didn't have to do any grinding and I didn't have that much trouble getting the long side in. From what I remember, make sure you have the flat spots lined up (sounds like you have that covered) and once the birfield joint clears the knuckle, I pushed down on the birfield shaft to lift the inner shaft up enough to guide it into the diff. Also while pushing, I had to turn the front d-shaft back and forth a bit to get it all lined up.

Edit: I re-read your post and figured out that your issues was getting the birfield into the knuckle. Like Schaefer, I think I had to do a little tapping to get it in also. Don't remember for sure.

 

Thanks guys. My only concern with too much "hammer encouragement" is the need to get it back out. From my reading it sounds like failure typically is at the birf so it may be self limiting? Or have they needed to be cut up in place from time to time?

 

Never had to hammer in a birf/axle. The long side can be a PITA to get in as you have a ways to go to get the axle in the diff/splines. Try slightly rotating the d-shaft as suggested.

When I put on a new set of 6 shooter knuckles and one time when I just installed Longs I have had to grind out the inside of the knuckle slightly to get the Longs to fit, but they did go in, just made racket when they rotated.

Sounds like you are still missing the inner splines on the diff, need to clearance the knuckle slightly for the Longs or your axle is bent. Unfortunately since you used a grinder on the Longs I bet if you ever do bust one Bobby won't warranty it.

 

Thanks Wabbit. These are stockers I'm having trouble with, not Longs. I hope I wouldn't have ground on new lifetime Longs, but who knows what dumb thing one might do when frustrated. This is a piecemeal axle I'm trying to put together. Housing from here, inners from there, knucles from a third place entirely. It's proving interesting.

 

Sorry, the old Wabbit just woke up and I'm only into the coffee one cup...so the brainwaves are well below half mast and not too good at full function.

You should have NO trouble with a stocker. If the axle is not bent then you are missing the splines on the front diff. You have to leverage the birf to get the long axle parallel to the axle housing to hit the diff splines and then the splines might be rotated so try twisting the front d-shaft ever so slightly (have someone else do this while you try putting the axle in) and when it is all greasy and such it can be a real chore sometimes. It is one of those things that once you get it one time you see how it goes more by feel than by direction. Make sense?

Good luck.

 

OK it's in. Had to pull the knuckle and grind a bit but oh well. Here's a tip... don't let a year or more go by between tear down and reassembly because you forget where s*** goes.

But she's coming along

 

BTW if any of you guys need a cheap throw away wheel I've got 4 15x10 white spokes on CL here:
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/pts/817299523.html

but any of you guys can have 'em for the trouble of pick up.

 

Very nice... looks like you are getting closer to the torch part of the process.

 

Yep. I hooked up with some guys from ExPo to do Camino in early Nov. I figure it goes under the knife when I get back.

 

IFS. Gettin' awfully lonely here. <chirp chirp>

 

I'd feel bad for you if it slowed you down any.

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by 111db View Post
IFS. Gettin' awfully lonely here. <chirp chirp>

Isnt that the truth!

I couldn't believe it when I stepped out of my truck and saw Jon following Kent up that side wash at Elvis.

Axle looks good too Mike. ARB front locker??

 

It's not usually the IFS that slows you down that much, it's usually the bodied vehicle that is associated with it. Don't usually want to trash it.