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Rear axle endplay

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by cayenne, Aug 7, 2012.

  1. Aug 7, 2012
    cayenne

    cayenne Member

    central Texas
    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2006
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    276
    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
     
  2. Aug 8, 2012
    napaguy

    napaguy Banned

    goldendale wa
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    Sep 25, 2009
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    441
    I would pull it apart and start over with a new shim pack
     
  3. Aug 8, 2012
    chuck123wapati

    chuck123wapati Member

    wyoming
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    Jun 18, 2008
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    761
    x2
     
  4. Aug 8, 2012
    cayenne

    cayenne Member

    central Texas
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    Dec 24, 2006
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    276
    Thanks, I just wanted to make sure before I dug into it again
     
  5. Aug 8, 2012
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    Hermosa, SD
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    Jul 30, 2003
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    8,513
    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.
     
  6. Aug 9, 2012
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
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    Mar 4, 2003
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    5,466
    I was thinking it had to do with the bearings and set inside as well. Like jp said - 1/4" is too much for just shims... But it's been a long time since I was that deep in one that was not a FF setup.
     
  7. Aug 9, 2012
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
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    Sep 23, 2002
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    12,529
    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.
     
  8. Aug 9, 2012
    Stout

    Stout Member

    Quakertown, PA
    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2010
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    958
    Been there done that, and yes, it does create an awful lot of end play.
     
  9. Aug 28, 2012
    cayenne

    cayenne Member

    central Texas
    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2006
    Messages:
    276
    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.
     
  10. Aug 28, 2012
    EricM

    EricM Active Member

    Southern California
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    1,019
  11. Aug 28, 2012
    cayenne

    cayenne Member

    central Texas
    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2006
    Messages:
    276
    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.


     
  12. Aug 28, 2012
    Brdjeep

    Brdjeep New Member

    Clovis CA.
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    Jul 25, 2010
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  13. Aug 28, 2012
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    8,102
    Sounds like a missing spacer to me as well.

    H.
     
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