Rear axle problem ( play in pasenger Hub )

[wolfdadg]

Hello all
- I am at my wits end with this truck. my problem is -- there is about 1/8 th to 1/4 in play in the rear pasenger side hub ( in/out ). Disassembled the rear pumpkin to check to see if gears were bad, they seem to be fine. I have already replaced BOTH sides of the 1/2 shafts. Could it be the shims inside the rear end them selves?? it seems that if i put pressure on the shims with a screw driver the slop dissapears, remove the pressure the slop comes back. I am able to by these shims after market or must I go to a dealer? ALSO -- would the rear end of a 1994 ford aerostar be compatable with the rear end of my 1998 ford explorer?? --- please help if you can -- thanks all

--- DYNAMITE in the gas tank is sounding better and better - for this lovely EXPLODER

 

[IZwack]

There is supposed to be some in/out play for the rear axle -- thats just how C-cliped, non-full floater axles are supposed to be.

 

[wolfdadg]

rear end wobble

Thanks IZwack - I know that there is supposed to be some play - the driver side has 1/16 to 1/8 play - pasenger side is excessive and is causing a wobble while driving @ around 25 to 30 mph - have already replaced the axle bearings and seals on both sides and have inspected the gears them selves -- seems to be only thing left is the shims. Just don't want the wheel to fall off when the wife and kid are in the truck. Or do I just chalk this up as another piece of crap ford problem that you can't make go away and drive it till it wears out and put new rear end in it - has to be something that can fix this problem.

 

[IZwack]

Replacing the shims wont do anything, you may have a bent wheel or the tire is just bad.

 

[MrShorty]

I have heard of a few cases (even a couple mentioned in this forum over the years, you might put this through the site's search engine) where the C-clip wears and becomes thin, allowing excess movement in the axle. Replacing the carrier shims won't help anything, but next time you open the diff, pull the center pin and push the axles in to see what those C-clips look like.

 

[HahnsB2]

Does this axle happen to be a limited slip?

 

[gijoecam]

The in and out movement in the axle shaft is not going to cause a wheel wobble. It's not possible.

Check the runout on the axle flange using a dial indicator. See if it's within spec first and go from there.

-Joe

 

[Cobraguy]

It is possible the case and side gear could be worn enough to allow the axle to move outward more than it should. If you think you have a problem, then inspect it properly. Pull the diff apart and inspect everything. From the c clip to the axle grooves to the side gear and case.

 

[gijoecam]

It is possible the case and side gear could be worn enough to allow the axle to move outward more than it should. If you think you have a problem, then inspect it properly. Pull the diff apart and inspect everything. From the c clip to the axle grooves to the side gear and case.

If it was allowed to move too much, wouldn't the c-clip fall out and the axle shaft slide out? I've always thought that so long as it doesn't slide IN far enough to let the clip fall off the end of the axle shaft, it's not hurting anything.

As I already mentioned, even if there is an excessive amount of in and out movement, it's not going to cause a wobble in the wheel or tire. The problem isn't with the clip or the differential. it's either in the axle shaft flange being bent, wheel being bent, or tire out of true.

 

[Cobraguy]

Agreed Joe...this shouldn't be the cause of a wobble.

Back to the side gear and case being worn. That would allow the axle to move OUT too much. It would have no bearing on the inward movement as that is controlled by the cross shaft. But you are correct in assuming the C clip could possibly still come out. If the side gear and case are worn enough, the side gear could move outward enough that when the axle moves back in, it could uncover the C clip. But he doesn't seem to have that much play in it.

You know Joe, I just thought of something. If the side gear were worn enough that it would "wobble" in the case, I guess it's possible it could make the axle flange wobble too. I think this diff needs to come completely apart at this point.

 

[gijoecam]

I was thinking the same thing initially, but if the side gear could move that much that it could show a visible wobble at the flange end, the gears wouldn't be making contact with anything in the diff and, therefore, power wouldn't even be flowing out through the side gear and the truck wouldn't move. Also, if you look at the distance that end of the axle shaft would have to move to be visible at the flange end, it's a LOT of movement. Also, the movement would be obvious if you put that tire in the air and pulled up and down on the wheel.

If it was a carrier issue, I would think there would be other associated gear noise, so the carrier itself is probably intact. I disagree that a full tear-down is necessary at this point, but here's the order I would approach it:

First, put an indicator on the axle shaft and measure exactly what the runout is. Then, if it seems excessive, pop the cover and see what's going on in there. I suspect all is fine and it's a bent wheel or a wheel that's not seating properly on the hub shoulder.

Speaking of which, are you running hub-centric or lug-centric aftermarket wheels on it?

 

[ericautopart]

Any whining coming from the rear end or anything? To answer your question of "would the rear end of a 1994 ford aerostar be compatable with the rear end of my 1998 ford explorer" No, it won't work. The aerostars are 28 spline and your explorer is 31 spline. Axles are cheap and easy to replace but I'm curious as to if your housing is bad....

 

[Cobraguy]

The side gear wear can come in three places we're concerned with here. One is in the gears itself with the spiders. I doubt that though or he would hear noise in corners. The back of the gear where it rides on the case and shim, or posi clutches. If worn too much, the gear will sit too deep in the case. Actually, when I think about it, worn posi clutches could do this too. And lastly, the one that could cause a wobbly flange, is wear around the circumference of the gear that rides in the case itself.

I would pull that thing completely down, and check everything. Seriously, it just doesn't take much to get everything out of there to inspect. And I would check your axle for straight with it out of the vehicle too. That way you can take everything else out of play. Any machine shop can do it for you very quickly if you don't have the V blocks to check it.

 

[jimboesfo]

Just did the rear brakes on my '97 Explorer and both sides had about 1/8 inch play.