Rear axle endplay

I have about 1/4" of endplay on both sides of my axle (can pull the axle/hub in and out 1/4"). So much, it is causing my drums to rub the backing plate.

It's a 1961 D44 with tapered axles, lockright and 11" brakes from R&P. Rebuilt it with new bearings and seals about 4 years ago and thought I put all the shims back where I found them. (Just recently got it on the road and found the problem).

Any guesses as to what I did wrong, or should I just order some shims and hope that cures it. Thanks

 

I would pull it apart and start over with a new shim pack

 

x2

 

Thanks, I just wanted to make sure before I dug into it again

 

Sounds like you're missing the bearing retaining plate for both sides.
Shims will never make up 1/4" on each side; way too much for that.

 

Order of assembly could be wrong too. If the backing plates had provision for a park brake the hole is larger for the bearing to pass through. If order of assembly was incorrect of the shims/retainers then the backing plate becomes a shim. May explain part of the problem.

 

Been there done that, and yes, it does create an awful lot of end play.

 

Well I finally had time to get it all apart and I still had the 1/4 of play with the hub, backing plate, retainer, and shim pack removed from the axle. (leaving just the axle, bearing and bearing cup installed in the tube.)


[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]To stop the play, I pushed in the Axle Shaft bearing cup as far as I could into the axle tube which reduced the play to maybe 1/32". At this point the outer edge of the bearing cup is no longer flush with the end of the axle tube, but is now 1/16" inside of it. That means the bearing retainer will not touch the cup at all. Also my drums rub the backing plate in this configuration. [/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]At this point, I figure my problems is one of the following:[/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]1) I had the bearing pressed onto the axle too far, or not far enough (but I thought there was a flange on the axle preventing this?)[/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]2) My replacement bearings have a different depth than stock. I lost my originals so I can't confirm this. [/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]3) The bearings are pressed on where they should be, but my hub is wallowed out and presses onto the shaft too far allowing the drum to rub the backing plate. [/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]
[/FONT]
Any thoughts? I have still not pulled the axle to see where on the shaft the bearing is located. I am using a chiltons and moses ludel book for installation order. Whatever the problem is, I have it on both driver and passenger sides.

 

Good information here if you don't have the FSM

http://www.vernco.com/RearAxle2/

 

Good stuff on that site.

I wonder if my "free-floating spacer inside the differential carrier" is either not there or incorrect when I upgraded to the lockright. That would explain why it seems like my axles go too far into the axle tube.

Ugh, I wish I realized this problem shortly after I did the work instead of 4 years later. I can't remember a thing now.

 

I did the same thing on a Dana 41 years ago. After installing the lockright we had an excessive amount of end play. We tore it apart and forgot the spacer that rides on the cross shaft.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/20346618@N08/7883026126/in/photostream