1984 CJ 7 Rear axle runs out on driver side.

[CaWooda]

I have a 1984 CJ7 that I bought. The rear axle has run out, on the driver side, 2 times. I replaced then 2 piece axle with a new one piece axle and the same thing happened. It is a floating Model 20 rear end. Any help that is offered will be greatly appreciated.

 

[IOPort51]

I have a 1984 CJ7 that I bought. The rear axle has run out, on the driver side, 2 times. I replaced then 2 piece axle with a new one piece axle and the same thing happened. It is a floating Model 20 rear end. Any help that is offered will be greatly appreciated.

by "run out" you are saying it left the axle tube? did it take the bearing with it? where was the bearing retainer plate while all this was happening?

 

[CaWooda]

IO, let me go back and state the facts, correctly, first. In said driver side, it is the passenger side, which I ain't real sure makes a difference. The whole axle comes out, wheel and all. did we not install it right ? There is certainly not a wealth of information, out ther, as fare as diagrams go, on the brake plate and axle re-assembly. I do not claim to be much of anythingh and Jeep axle specialist would probably top the list. Give it to me straight, I can handle, I got big shoulders.

 

[IOPort51]

Do you have a service manual? I would think a Haynes or Chilton's would have a chapter on axle bearings and the assembly. this is not a problem I have heard of before and although I would believe it is not the first time in the history of the world this has happened I would have to think this is somehow directly related to the install or some work that happened before the first failure.

 

[CaWooda]

I do and the diagrams seem to be for the two piece. I, race, and retainer, anywhere. can not find a truly clear picture of the order of assembly, for the bearing, the race, and the retainer, anywhere. I am sure operator malfunction plays a part, in all this, somewhere.

 

[IOPort51]

I think that the simplest terms would be that the retainer plate/ brake back plate would go on the axle with the bearing pressed on and the bearing retainer collar pressed on next with the bearing race pushed into the end of the axle tube. I think that there are four bolts at the end of the axle tube that come through the retainer plate with nuts installed and tightened through a hole in the axle flange.

Did I get this right guys??

 

[IOPort51]

I wouldn't think the one or two piece would be an issue.

I have to say that I did not mention oil seals, inner and outer, and I must admit I do not know how to select the shims that position the end of the axle.

 

[Old Dog]

IO is correct, first is the seal than brake backing plate, bearing and than retainer. The 4 bolts hold everything together and on. I don't see how it could be coming out unless the hole through the backing plate is wore so large that it's letting the bearing slide through. I've never seen one that bad but I guess anything is possible.
Take some pic's maybe it will help us.
Found this for you http://www.moserengineering.com/moser/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/JeepInstructions.pdf

 

[hdgapeach]

Unfortunately, I've had the same issue before with my first CJ5 . Happened in about 1984 on my second hand Golden Eagle ('79, if I remember correctly). Made for a heck of a ride when the driver side axle and wheel assembly came out while doing about 50 mph.

The source ended up being the bearing housing on the end of the axle tube being wollered (sp) out oversized. The bearing race wasn't even snug in the housing. We figured that all the slop generated enough vibration and movement that the retaining bolts broke, stripped and / or backed out letting the whole assembly bail out on me.

We attempted a fix by punching metal up with a center punch, hoping that would provide enough resistance to hold the bearing solid. That didn't last long and neither did the new bearing.

If the same is occurring with your Jeep, I'd suggest finding another axle housing that's in better condition than yours. 'Bout the only other option I would consider would be having a professional welder build up the bearing race surface of the axle tube and machine it to size. A replacement tube would probably be cheaper, though.

Good luck! Wish I had sourced another axle housing. I ended up selling mine and getting a crappy four cylinder "family car".

 

[CaWooda]

Thanks for all the replies. I hate to admit this but the whole problem was found to be just hard down plain good old fashioned ignorance. When I went from two piece to one piece axles, we did not put the brake backing plate on, before we put the bearings on, because that was not require, with the 2 piece. Owning a machine shop and having a lathe, simple solution, just make the whole bigger. Now here is where the ignorance came in. We had no idea that the inner part of the brake backing place held the dadgum bearing in the vehicle.
Now here is the solution that we found. We took an old outer seal and put it on the inside of the brake backing plate, with the flat side to the bearing, after removing the seal. We did discover another problem, with replacement bearings, that we bought from Bumper to Bumper. The retaining ring is much thicker than the one that fits the Jeep, causing it to bottom out against the rear inner seal, before the axle shaft bolts up tightly. Simple solution, if you own a lathe, turn half of it off.
Again, thanks for all the replies. I hope by me being willing to share my ignorance, and related fiascos, maybe someone else can avoid a problem.