4wd front axle info needed

[melmount]

Just curious, On my front axels in the U joint area, what is supposed to keep that from having up and down play? Not the u joint, the whole axel?
I know the axel spline meshes in the housing then it goes in the wheel bearing.
In the u joint area I can move it up and down a bit. The seal there does need replacing. I dont think theres anything there to stop the movement. I guess its normal if the seal went south. I guess I would of expected a tighter fit? Maybe a new seal would tighten the movement? No play in the u joint.

[NoRalPh]

There's a surprising amount of movement there but, I don't think it's necessarily a problem (especially on the right side where the axle's so long). I guess there's not alot of support and there doesn't Need to be

[fynnmore]

I just did my entire front end myself and a new seal will only tighten it up a bit.....there is a lot of play for something of that nature. I fell for you if you are going to tear it down to change a seal.....lots of work unless you have a lift and shop. I did mine in my drive way over labor day and it was a long slow process.

[melmount]

I have done so many ball joint and wheel bearings on these i could do the axle seal in 90 minutes, I bet.
Thats noc cause I am good, I just have taken this apart so much lately. Now every socket size. I was just curious, on why all the play? I assume changing the seal wont take out the slop? weird to have that much

[NoRalPh]

Originally Posted by melmount

I have done so many ball joint and wheel bearings on these i could do the axle seal in 90 minutes, I bet.

Yea, it is Amazing how many 13/16 fasteners there are... With an impact gun and one deep socket you can take off the wheel, caliper, hub bolts, and end-up with the whole thing apart in 20mins BUT then comes that $40 hub seal you gotta beat out and drive in... That's what sucks... just to get behind the hub.

And I don't know why the axle doesn't need more support, you'd think it would, but as I said I guess it's really Not necessary.....

[melmount]

i never haqd a good seal on those parts. I always just could pull the axle right out.
Some day I will get the seals. I dont even know the order of removing them. Not sure if they press in from the front or back side of the hub. Or do they presson the axle??
If i had the new ones I could figure it out.I just never bothered.

[melmount]

Once the wheel bearing is off, the axle just pulls out. The outer dust seal on the wheel bearing side? Does that press onto the axle or press into the back of the hub

[NoRalPh]

Kinda BOTH! Because of the good seal needed for vacuum hubs there's this elaborate seal with metal flanges that is first driven onto the axle, then a tool is used to drive it into the hub itself.

If you can draw the axle out after just pulling the hub I don't know What happened to your Hub Seal.... Even with manual hubs there should be that seal there (and you'd know if it was there because it's a real pain to get out being a steel ring). Without it, you could be getting even More crud into the inside of your hub, and That can't be good!)

[melmount]

both of mine are shot on both sides. I was wondering where do the seals press to? The forst seal for the axel tube? does it go to the tube or on the axle?
the zecond large one with the metal ring? where does it press first?axle or hub? i assume axle. Once its on there, does it slide into the hub? Maybe its on the eaxle. the first seal fits thru the hubs hole. Then the second seal pressed to the axle. Once almost all the way in to the axle tube it gets pressed to the hub,,(locking the axle into the tube, while also sealing it?
That would make sense. I never had a ford with this seal good.

[fynnmore]

I suppose I could do it faster in a shop with air tools and big floor jack or lift....but I travel and live in a 5th wheel. So for me my shop is a piece of plywood on the gravel...I thought about an impact but then its just one more thing I dont have room to drag around with me....so its like 20min just for me to jack one side of truck up and put jack stand under then move over and do the other side just to get the wheels off the ground. And make sure you have large snap wring plyers if not what a pain. And your right taking it apart not as bad as pressing out and in ball and u joints plus making the seal tool to press on the seal.....In a shop with the right tools and practice I say couple hours each side. On the dirt in the sun with hand tools a full day or more....lol

Seal not so bad just make the right tool......and they both go on the axle then you push it in the hub and line up the splines.

Fynn