2 piece axles

[mjack777]

I just started working on my 85 CJ7 and have now discovered I have 2 piece rear axles on my AMC20 . I have always worked with once piece and just curious to the whole thing.

I took my wheels off to refinish them and noticed I do indeed have 2 piece
axles in the rear. The lock nut is held in with two pins and is not tight. The pins keep it from spinning, and I can move the washer behind it. I cannot feel
any play but it might be rusted solid since the Jeep hasn't been driven in a few years. Doesn't seem normal to me, I thought those should be snug tight.
Is that right?

I have many more little jobs on the CJ so if its not an issue now, I will address it later. Thanks!

 

[Old Dog]

The nut should be torqued to 250 ft. lb., Thats really fricken tight.

 

[mjack777]

I started thinking, this Jeep had tow bar hardware on the front bumper .
It also had the front prop shaft out of it. It was towed to Ohio from Texas I believe (from the PO)

I wonder if they backed off the hubs before transit? I'm glad I didnt drive it
until now. I pried the cotter pin off and I can remove the nut by hand.

 

[CJim7]

I started thinking, this Jeep had tow bar hardware on the front bumper .
It also had the front prop shaft out of it. It was towed to Ohio from Texas I believe (from the PO)

I wonder if they backed off the hubs before transit? I'm glad I didnt drive it
until now. I pried the cotter pin off and I can remove the nut by hand.

Wow. If that nut backs off, chances are you spin the axle on the hub. It is a tapered shaft with splines and once it spins, it is done.

But get it apart and check the splines.

 

[mjack777]

Wow, I will do that tonight. I could possibly have a 1 wheel drive Jeep, and thats just sad

That makes sense, as I have backed in and out of my driveway a few times, once through the front yard and back into the garage. Seemed like I had to
give it a little more gas to get it moving. 1 wheel drive!

 

[CJim7]

Wow, I will do that tonight. I could possibly have a 1 wheel drive Jeep, and thats just sad

That makes sense, as I have backed in and out of my driveway a few times, once through the front yard and back into the garage. Seemed like I had to
give it a little more gas to get it moving. 1 wheel drive!

Well, if it's an open carrier, it's essentially 1-wheel drive anyways. The problem is the differential will sense less resistance at the broken side and apply power to that side...and it will make noise if the shaft spins on the hub.