Bent front Axle

Re: Figuring a bent axle

When you come out of the grocery store and see the jeep from a distance. The drivers side is definitely bent in at the bottom. a rollover is the only thing I can think of that would cause the wheel to bend in this direction. Otherwise I would expect them to be bent out at the bottom. This is the thing that is confusing me. I could get an angle finder. But you must have a benchmark in order to find out how much of an angle it is out. by leveling the axle and then placing another level, vertical is the only way I have figured out determined if it is out or not. The angle will change as the front wheel is turned. So by holding the level against the front hub and sighting it straight ahead square to the axle is my only non-precision layout. with 8 axles to choose from. I sure would like to know how to get the best one. ( additional information.) The passenger's side does look a little tilted in, and that is perfectly acceptable. But when you level the axle and one side is way different than the other. Something is wrong

 

Re: Figuring a bent axle

maybe your pic is not capturing it well, but it doesn't look any different than mine.

 

I am is a unique position being allowed to tear down 8 front axles and take the best hubs, driveshafts, ring gears etc. but this good fortune may slip by. Since I do not know everything there is to know about building a front axle
but finding a straight caseing is the first thing I need to do. And I am already stumped
Doug/Tucson

 

If the spindle bolts are loose or stripped, or the kingpin bearings have failed, the spindle could move around on the knuckle and look like the alignment is off. That's common, and something you'd want to look closely at anyway, so pulling off the hubs isn't any lost time.

 

When the steering knuckle is turned. I can feel some of the needle bearings binding within the knuckle. But none of them are lose. I'm afraid I'm going to have to carry on with my level system. Thanks for all your replies, sincerely Doug/Tucson

 

PS I seriously doubt that you can have one steering knuckle perfectly plumb and the other one out 3 inches using a 2 foot level. I doubt this came from the factory, unless quality-control was actually that bad
Doug/Tucson

 

To use the angle finder, level the axle on a set of 3 jack stands. Then use the angle finder on the end of the hub, spindle, or any other referance point. You can also level out the spring pads and use the angle finder to check the caster. But if your checking an axle with known bad bearings

I kinda think your chasing your tail.

To get the steering straight use a carpenter square against the wheel mounting surface and square it to the tube. I have a 4' drywall square that works great for that.

 

This setup you speak of, has already been done. See photographs at the beginning of post. the bearings are bad on the axle I am checking now. But I have seven more to go. They are not loose. They just have a crunching feelings as they turn. I hope that I am not chasing my tail. In any event, I am getting a lot of experience taking apart front ends. I have decided to measure my original driveshaft, and at least try to find something in better condition. Even if it is not perfect, thanks. ( Additional information). I have a Carpenter's square and a drywall Square will bring them along tomorrow. I have just been sighting things by eye. Having worked as a carpenter for half my life. I have a pretty good eye for Square
Doug/Tucson

 

There's no way all these axles are bent like that. If anything, they should be bent in the opposite direction (think about it).

Get your axle in shape (with good new bearings) and check it then with the method described above with an angle finder.

FWIW, mine does the same thing.

 

I know they should be bent the other direction. This is one of the first things I made note of. the only way I can figure they get bent in is due to a rollover. Now, I am only on my third axle. So I am still hopeful I am not exactly sure which one is my axle, because I am trying to choose the best one. Before I go and replace the bearings
Doug

 

I would address the bearing issue first. "crunchy" is not good to describe a bearing !

 

Replacing the bearings top and bottom both sides with races will cost $100 each axle times 8 axles
would you really go through this trouble and expense for something that is not yours yet

 

In the old days they set the axles, with positive camber so the top of the tire was pointed a couple of degrees away from the vehicle. Reason is to put more of the vehicle's weight on the inner bearing than the outer bearing due to more support. Covering this with my suspension class today. Modern vehicles are much different due to shorter and wider tires vs. tall skinny's used years ago. I'd say the housings most likely are just fine. Only true way to tell if a housing is bent is to put a machined rod through the housing and specially machined pucks that go where the carrier bearings would normally be. Nickmil.

 

This is exactly how willys works explained it to me, but unfortunatelywe do not have the proper equipment. Basically this is a shade tree operation, but you're right, Your Way is how the professionals do it. What some people don't understand is that we are finding severely damaged axle
Doug/Tucson

 

I kind of get from what everyone is trying to say;

The drivers side is the side that is the correct side. If anything, the passenger side has been bent a tad to take the camber out of it.

Nickmil, I understand what your saying. But a level, square and angle finder will be pretty darn close to what you can do with an alignment rack using the methods they use for front end alignment? Well OK, maybe not as good as an alignment rack, but good enough for a darn jeep to drive straight.

Doug, I looked back at the very first post again. If that axle tube was sitting bubble level, the wheel mounting surface was square with the tube, (steering wise) and you put an angle finder on the wheel mounting surface that was bubble level vertical that would tell you what the camber angle is.

Also, no offence, if a carpenter came to my house and eyeballed square he wouldn't be working in my house very long.