is my axel toast??

[gjp]

For about a week no I have heard a low whinning sound on the freeway over 60mph. It goes away sometimes so I thought it was just the wind.(I have a broken foglight lense so I thought...) Well today I also noticed a ticking noise when I turn hard. The truck kinda feels like a 4wd(axel bind). It has always been that since I bought it so I think it normal. I took a look under there and the driver side inside axel boot has grease all over it and the inside of the wheel too. I jacked it up and it has no slop and I can hold it and cannot turn the wheel. Whats going on??? How can I tel if its gone? Thanks

 

[Ian Turgeon]

Re: is my axel toast??

when the boot goes your pretty much stuck replacing that axle, especially if you dont know how long its been split.

 

[gjp]

Re: is my axel toast??

is it hard to replace? where to get them? how long before i need to replace it before it goes boom? thanks

 

[93TyGuy]

Re: is my axel toast??

I would change that halfshaft and probly the other side too. They are not very hard to replace, sounds like its gone about as "boom" as its gonna go the next thing to happen would be to have the cv joint separate from the shaft. Go to Napa, we stock the cv axles for our trucks in new and remans. I talked about it with sytyarchives on a different post. =)

 

[gjp]

Re: is my axel toast??

thanks. previous owner said he replaced one 30k ago. not sure what side. i guess i will do both anyways. is there a difference between the sides? this way i will have a spare

 

[CKEITH]

Re: is my axel toast??

no difference in the sides. the bind you are feeling is probably not the shafts but the transfer case. if it crow hops and has been that way for a while then that's where i would start.

 

[gjp]

Re: is my axel toast??

How would I check the t case. It has new fluid in it. (previous owner on trans rebuild) It probably was filled with the wrong type fluid. When I turn sharp at slow speeds the truck slows down. Its not binding like my suburban in 4wd. (you called it crow hop?)

I cant find a "how to" for the axles. Any special tools I need,

 

[SpoolingTurbo6]

Re: is my axel toast??

The clicking is somewhat normal.....when you have a good working XFer case it doesn't want to slip the front,there for putting stress on the only place it can ( axels). I break X fer cases' once a year. the one thats in there now is doing what dicribe it has 24k on it.So I'm sure it's good. Change out the rearend gear oil(remember to put the additive in it) wouldn't hurt to change the XFer case fluid too. YOU DON'T NEED NEW CV'S....unless the boot is busted

 

[Ian Turgeon]

Re: is my axel toast??

I took a look under there and the driver side inside axel boot has grease all over it and the inside of the wheel too.

Sounds like it is ripped, although it may not be the only thing you need to fix.

 

[gjp]

Re: is my axel toast??

I seen the tear. its along the inside of the rib. So napa is good. I have heard stories about finding the right size cv. The pasanger one was replaced 25k ago. Same thing a rip. The previous owner said it has been a while since the axels were serviced. I guess I need a sucker for the front and I might as well put a chrome cover on the rear. Sugestions on oil for the axels and a good chrome cover? I rather use something that has been proven to work. Also are shaft loops nessesary for a slightly modified truck like mine. The propshat was replaced 40k ago with a stock one. I will upgrade that too when it goes. i have seen some on e-bay. Thanks and sorry for all the Q's . Its just you guys have been there and I have only had this truck for 3 months.