Rear axle shaft question.

[JakePSD]

I'm working on my mom's (soon to be mine probably) 04 explorer. The left rear wheel bearing exploded and damaged the axle shaft. I'm not sure the one the parts store gave me will work. Her truck is an XLT 4X4. They asked if it had advance track, I have no idea. They couldn't get one for non advance track, so we got the one for a truck with it. There are some differences though. The new shaft has a toothed ring on the hub side for an abs sensor I'm guessing, whereas the old one doesn't. Also the old one appears to have a dust seal or something on the diff side, and the new one doesn't. Are these interchangeable or do I need to get a different part?

 

[imp]

I'm working on my mom's (soon to be mine probably) 04 explorer. The left rear wheel bearing exploded and damaged the axle shaft. I'm not sure the one the parts store gave me will work. Her truck is an XLT 4X4. They asked if it had advance track, I have no idea. They couldn't get one for non advance track, so we got the one for a truck with it. There are some differences though. The new shaft has a toothed ring on the hub side for an abs sensor I'm guessing, whereas the old one doesn't. Also the old one appears to have a dust seal or something on the diff side, and the new one doesn't. Are these interchangeable or do I need to get a different part?

If the one they gave you IS really for Advance Track, you are working on a non-advance track vehicle, right? If it were me, I would go to another parts place and try to get the non-advance track axle, rather than mess around with uncertainty. imp

 

[JakePSD]

New axle with tone ring.

Old without

New without dust seal

Old with seal

 

[JakePSD]

If the one they gave you IS really for Advance Track, you are working on a non-advance track vehicle, right? If it were me, I would go to another parts place and try to get the non-advance track axle, rather than mess around with uncertainty. imp

I don't know if it has it or not. I don't even know what it is or does. Its 4x4 and automatically kicks in when there is wheel slippage. I know that much. The buttons on the dash say 4x4 auto, 4x4 high, and. 4x4 low.

 

[rwt101]

Just my opinion, the seal on the diff side might be the one that usually stays in the diff itself. It might have just come out with the axle. The ring probably would not hurt anything. Just my thoughts. I could be wrong.
Bob T

 

[Opera House]

I just did this repair and used an advance trac axle on a non advance track vehicle. There were no clearance problems. It will give it that Mad Max look. The dirt shield will easily pry off the old axle with care and it will just tap onto the new one, insert it fully. Really clean up the outside edges first.

 

[lincolnshibuya]

the new one doesn't have the dust seal because ford redesigned the differential axle seal to a thicker one and eliminated the use of the dust seal. The existing seal might have been damaged already since it requires protection when removing/replacing the shaft. The new one doesn't need it. I recommend updating the cv axle diff seal, it's common for the old seal to leak. The tone ring doesn't matter if you have it.

 

[Joe in NY]

This is funny and odd. The boot on the rear driver CV axle had a hole and let all the grease out. Well the new axle I ordered had the tone ring and the dust seal. My old axle did not have the tone ring or dust seal. Yet I have an early production 02/02 Explorer... So reading this thread I would expect the dust seal to have come out.. I also ordered the right side instead of left too So went to Napa and bought a reman. MUCH higher quality than the new Chinese axle!

 

[JakePSD]

So just to clarify, replace the axle seal on the diff, run the new axle as is and not worry about it?

And what do you mean by the "mad max" look?

 

[Exproblems]

And what do you mean by the "mad max" look?

The "Mad Max" look means, chain a Mohawk wearing, psychotic Australian killer to the front bumper of your Explorer, while you are driving your Explorer down the road wearing a (hockey) goalie mask over your face, while referring to yourself as "Humungous"! Just clowning around here! I am also curious to hear what this "Mad Max" look is all about.

 

[JakePSD]

I'm also curious what you all think. I currently have a 97 mounty (in my sig) as my winter beater/SUV in the summer when I need it. Quite rusty, 187k miles, but runs good, besides a very slow coolant leak I've never bothered to fix. My mom has been thinking about getting something newer and she's tired of this one. She bought it new. She told me she'd probably sell it to me for 2k. Its a 4.6 4x4, xlt, mostly clean body, a bit of rust starting to poke through on the pass rear wheel arch, and besides a diff that's been whining for the last 100k miles, a pretty solid drive line. Currently 168k on it. I haven't decided if it's worth selling mine and buying hers or not.

 

[lincolnshibuya]

So just to clarify, replace the axle seal on the diff, run the new axle as is and not worry about it?

And what do you mean by the "mad max" look?

yes. you can buy the new seal at NAPA (last time it was $32 vs $49 from the dealership) the old seal is probably $10-20 (sometimes it will show up and you don't need that)

 

[lincolnshibuya]

I'm also curious what you all think. I currently have a 97 mounty (in my sig) as my winter beater/SUV in the summer when I need it. Quite rusty, 187k miles, but runs good, besides a very slow coolant leak I've never bothered to fix. My mom has been thinking about getting something newer and she's tired of this one. She bought it new. She told me she'd probably sell it to me for 2k. Its a 4.6 4x4, xlt, mostly clean body, a bit of rust starting to poke through on the pass rear wheel arch, and besides a diff that's been whining for the last 100k miles, a pretty solid drive line. Currently 168k on it. I haven't decided if it's worth selling mine and buying hers or not.

that's a keeper as long as that coolant leak is not serious. I prefer the solid axle suspension than the irs in terms of maintenance/servicing (I own a wj jeep) Not really concerned about how better irs in terms of comfort and the solid axle is good for offroad. Later on you could just swap the whole rear with a decent one easily if the whine is unbearable.

 

[JakePSD]

The whine is on her 04. I've just been thinking about buying hers cause for $2k, newer, nicer, more power, better fuel mileage, etc. Its just hard to think about parting with my old trusty rusty.

 

[drdoom]

The whine is on her 04. I've just been thinking about buying hers cause for $2k, newer, nicer, more power, better fuel mileage, etc. Its just hard to think about parting with my old trusty rusty.

Tell me about it... 2Gs are great trucks.

 

[JakePSD]

To conclude this story, I used the advancetrac axle and everything works fine. Pops into the diff nicely, and the tone ring does not interfere with anything.

 

[JakePSD]

Also with the new axle seal, the dust cover on the old axle is not required. Just wanted to confirm that with everyone.

 

[imp]

Thank you! imp