need help-blew up front drive stuff | Page 2 | Ford Explorer Forums

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need help-blew up front drive stuff

You have to leave at least the axleshaft ends in place..they are what hold the hub onto the bearing assy, along with the axleshaft nut. Without them, the wheels will come off when you drive it.
 



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I don't think so, and I just rebuilt my 99 a couple of weeks ago. The hub has the bearings in it. The axles go into the hubs, and the spindle nut holds the axle in the hub.

The hub bolts to the spindle with three bolts. The hub supports the weight, not the axle. The axle plays no part in suspension geometry, the two control arms do that. The axle is for power to the wheels only. ;)
Now, if the spindle nut/axle somehow hold the hub/bearing together, that I don't know. I'd do it.
Don
 






it didn't rub on those mounts

as for driving it without the halfshafts.. i drove it about 10 miles as it was in he picture there and it didn't fall apart. I also took it all apart yesterday, i see no reason anythign is needed there to be order to drive it.
 






CDW6212R said:
I don't think so, and I just rebuilt my 99 a couple of weeks ago. The hub has the bearings in it. The axles go into the hubs, and the spindle nut holds the axle in the hub.

The hub bolts to the spindle with three bolts. The hub supports the weight, not the axle. The axle plays no part in suspension geometry, the two control arms do that. The axle is for power to the wheels only. ;)
Now, if the spindle nut/axle somehow hold the hub/bearing together, that I don't know. I'd do it.
Don
The outer stub of the axle and spindle nut are what hold the bearing assembly together.

expo5.0 said:
as for driving it without the halfshafts.. i drove it about 10 miles as it was in he picture there and it didn't fall apart. I also took it all apart yesterday, i see no reason anythign is needed there to be order to drive it.
The half shaft was still there. . at least the important portion of it.

Like mentioned, you can take apart the half shafts, and just use the outer stub to hold the bearing assembly together, and convert to 2wd for $0. (though you'll still have an AWD T-case)

Like so:
attachment.php


If you want to keep AWD, you're going to need a new diff housing (with same gears, or resetup your gears) and a new halfshaft
 






i found those pictures last night. i'll be doing that asap. later i will consider beefing up awd, or making changes so that i can run it safely.
 






To quote the Dodge commercial: Sweeeet! :cool:

CDW6212R said:
I don't think so, and I just rebuilt my 99 a couple of weeks ago. The hub has the bearings in it. The axles go into the hubs, and the spindle nut holds the axle in the hub.

The hub bolts to the spindle with three bolts. The hub supports the weight, not the axle. The axle plays no part in suspension geometry, the two control arms do that. The axle is for power to the wheels only. ;)
Now, if the spindle nut/axle somehow hold the hub/bearing together, that I don't know. I'd do it.
Don

Correct, but again, as stated above, the OUTER half of the OUTER CV joint with the spindle nut on it is what holds the flange from walking out of the hub assembly.

Here's a better pic of how the hub itself comes apart:
225686.jpg


The inner race of the inner bearing (shown on the left) is only pressed onto the shaft of the hub flange (the shiny spot on the left side of the part on the far right). Friction is the only thing that holds it together until you slide the outer CV joint in and bolt-up the spindle nut.

Indeed, it looks as though you managed to break the axle housing clean-off, and the CV joint went ka-flooey. In the one picture, it looks like the flailing CV may have even caught the rubber boot on the inner tie rod... it's a little tough to tell...


In this picture:
attachment.php


is that a nick in the airbag on the left side? Just comparing it to the "before" picture....
544849.jpg


I wonder if it's rubbing the upright on the clamp bolt for the upper ball joint? Like maybe when you make a left turn, the bolt (you can see it better here)
544847.jpg
might turn in far enough that as the suspension moves, with the bags semi-expanded, they may bulge out enough to make contact with it?

I dunno.... Just a theory (and only if the nick is where it looks like it is).

You said you had just left a stop sign: Had you just made a right turn?

-Joe
 






if you want a front case I have mine left over from my 2wd swap, just no gears. let me know
 






i'll think about it.

actually it is a nick, but its not from rubbing. its from the "incident". my lower bracket hinged out of plane when this happened and the bag hit onto something. I think i'll be most likely redoing the front bracket (although, i've determined the bracket "failure" was 98% not the likely cause of the other problems)

i've been able to hear somethign up front in the drivetrain "clicking" any time i've tried to drive the truck lower than 3 or 4" up from my lowest travel. one time last week it got so bad i thought the right front wheel was coming loose- as in the cv or somethign in there was binding up real real good (i lifted the truck up right away, but i'm sure i damaged it some then) I shouldn't have been driving it as low as i was when this happened. however, neither did i want to have to be careful at all times.

this will likely all work out just fine soon.
 






Thanks Joe, good information. I'm glad to learn anything new.
Don
 






CDW6212R said:
Thanks Joe, good information. I'm glad to learn anything new.
Don

No problem. I love spreading the Explorer love around here. :)

So what's the game plan expo5.0?

-Joe
 






gonne run it just stripped down to the basics until i have a bit more extra $. then i will try awd or convert to 2wd.

either way i also want to go with bigger brakes.
 






So will the 12" rotors from the Sport Tracs be big enough for you?

I added them to my 99 last month. If interested I can send you a few pictures.
Don
 






holy smokes you actually broke the axle housing.
 






I just removed and replaced the three seals. It isn't very large, or beefy.
Don
 






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