My rear axle is loose!

[97splorer]

I heard some squeeking coming from my truck today, and upon further inspection I realized that the rear passenger side wheel moves in and out about 3/16" or so. I removed the wheel and pushed & pulled on the lug nut studs and the axle is moving in and out a bit. What is wrong here and should I not drive it? Any help is appriciated.

 

[boominXplorer]

I take it your L/S? If so the cluch packs in the diff are worn out causing all the extra play and your Z spring has lost its strenth. A rebuild kit is about 85$ from ford. There is a writeup on the site somewhere.

 

[410Fortune]

OR you lost a C clip or broke your axleshaft and the disc brake is the only thing keeping the wheel/rotor from coming out of the 8.8..regardless there is likely something wrong and it should be fixed before you continue to drive it IMO

 

[97splorer]

How could the axle shaft break? It still drives fine and I don't notice any wobbling or anything. I did a search and read the some in and out play is normal. I assume I have to dig into it to see if the c-clip is damaged or missing, but how do I check on the clutch packs before ordering a rebuild kit?

 

[410Fortune]

Does the other side have the same amount of play?
Only one wheel is driving your truck after the LS torque is overcome...

 

[high_horse_ford]

I think its fine there is a small amount of end play in an axle shaft. If a c clip was broken the brake caliper would be the only thing holding the axle shaft in place. The limited slip has nothing to do with.

 

[97splorer]

The passenger side wheel is the oly one with the play. The squeeking noise does sound like the brakes rubbing, so maybe it is a broken c-clip. I'll have to tear it appart tomorrow and check it? Where exactly is the c-clip located?

 

[Dopler174]

I have the same problem. But nothing more than you could expect. I know my it's not L/S...I don't have it. I also know it's not a broke C clip. I've been driving it like that since I bought it...3 years over 30k miles and more than once stuck way way to deep. That doesn't answer you question. I was just saying.

 

[gijoecam]

A C-clip-retained axle like the Ford 8.8 will always have *some* in and out play. Personally, I think anything over 1/8" is excessive, but it may vary based on the manufacturing variations. Maybe your axle is a little short on the one side (no pun intended) or maybe the cross-pin has been fractured. The easy way to check it is to pop the diff cover and have a look-see and see what you can see. Look for wear on the c-clip, look for wear on the spider gear, and look for damage on the retainer pin.

-Joe

 

[97splorer]

Well, I did some deeper exploring and I think I found the problem. When I removed the brake caliper and rear rotor, a bunch of small gravel looking peices fell out. I assume that they are rocks because the brakes are only 3 months old and look fine. After re-assembling everything it drives fine and no more squeeks.

 

[410Fortune]

you sure those arent the internals of your emergency brake?

 

[97splorer]

No I am not. How would I know what to look for on the e-brake, as far as what it should look like? If it is parts from my e-brake, that means that only it won't work right?

 

[410Fortune]

the e brake is a small drum brake assembly inside your rear rotors, if you took the rotor off then you would see these parts.

the e brake assembly is covered on this forum, whith pictures....how to repair and replace.....when it is neglected it is not uncommon for the drum shoes to disentigrate
your e brake will not work if this is the case no, at least not on that side!