Move w Frt Axles out ?

[Lynn D. Brown]

Ok guys, I just read this within the last few weeks and can't find where it was - searching every which way.

Someone mentioned that U could not move the truck w the Frt axles disconnected because U would screw something up ?

I am getting close to dropping in my assembled engine and the car is jacked up so high, I don't think I have enuf headroom because the lift will hit the ceiling. Plus sometimes U need to move the car back and forth a little to drop an engine in.

I was going to leave the Front Diff installation until last, but that leaves the Front Axles unattached.

Does anybody remember the post about damage from moving the car w axles unattached ?

 

[TurboTony]

IHMO it's way easier to install the front diff with the engine out.

You have way more room to manuever(sp?) the assembly when there isn't an oilpan directly in the way.

Just something to think aboot :wink:

But to answer your question,

You do not want to put any weight on the hub bearings without some sort of bolt through them. They are basicly two large ball bearing races that need to be held together. Without the axle or a bolt through them the have a habit of popping apart requiring you to spend another 400$ on a pair of hubs.



HTH

Tony

 

[Lynn D. Brown]

Tony,

I have no experience w 4WD systems, so I appreciate your help.

I see in the Manual that the Hub and its Bearings R one integral unit, so U can't really take it apart and grease it like 2WD wheel bearings. I guess ya gotta replace the whole thing once it goes bad, huh ?

U mentioned a bolt thru it - well my CV joints R still bolted to the Hubs, so is that sufficient to keep the Hubs together ? If the car moves some, I guess I would have tp make sure the inner plates on the CV joints (the ones that attach to the front axles) can rotate.

The reason I don't want to install the Frt. Diff 1st is that I was toying w the idea of attaching the Trans to the engine and dropping them in together. I'm not sure I will have help installing the Trans separately, and it is a real b*stard to do by yourself. It was a nightmare w my GN !