Rear axle swap

[thistle3585]

I do not know if I have two piece axles or not. How would I tell? I don't plan on going off road, so I don't know if that would play a roll in a one piece versus a two piece.

Also, I posted a Quicktime video of the differential being spun. I'm wondering if this is how it is supposed to operate? I talked with my mechanic friend and he admitted not knowing much about this locker system but says he still felt like there was some unusual pooping and play in the axle. He is going to come by later today and look it over with the cover off but I wondered if anyone can see a problem here. Too me, it seems like the tire spins before the locker engages but I really have no idea what it should be like. Honestly, I'm just really paranoid at this point and not having anyone with direct experience making comments seems to just get me more worked up. Too me, it drives fine.

The video is at the same link as before but here it is again. Jeep

 

[dmcguire]

looking at the side shot of you Jeep, I think you have the factory 2 piece shafts. You can see the dust cover in the Photos (the cap looking thing sticking out of the wheel centers). If you removed the plastic cover, you should see a big nut. One piece shafts usually have a flat end to them, no nut.

Lunchbox lockers will ratchet and have some play due to the design. There are a bunch of teeth that engage/disengage in each other. If you jack up one rear wheel and try to spin that lifted wheel by hand, it should only spin about an hour or two before stopping. If you push it hard enough, it should disengage and you should hear some ratcheting.

Go here: PLEASE DOWNLOAD YOUR INSTALLATION MANUAL FROM HERE

and in the "Lock Right" dropdown, choose #1710. Those should be the instructions or just be good knowledge at least.

You're going to feel the locker more in a short wheelbase Jeep and even more since it's a stick. At the very worst, you should be able to find a set of stock Spider gears and go back to Open if you're worried.

I may bet too that you could have one in front as well. Put it in gear, put the Tcase in 4wd, lock one of the front hubs, lift that wheel and try spinning the wheel. Should get the same effect. Or better yet, drain the oil, pull the cover and look. At the very least you'll have fresh front diff oil too.

 

[Jimbos76cj]

Yes that is how its supposed to work. I know it seems weird that it unlocks and ratchets that easily but when the power comes from the pinion it will lock up. Ive got the 2 wheel ruts around my yard to prove it.

If you look at your rear axle whew the tire attaches it will either be flat in the middle or have a protruding black cap, or if the cap is missing you will see the nut and end of the bolt hanging out. If you see the protruding black piece or nut and threads you have a 2 piece axle, If its "flat" then you have one piece axles.

The problem with the two piece axle is that the wheel mounting flange is held on my that nut and has some crappy splines and a key way to help spin the tire. In a good failure the key brakes and the splines strip causing the axle to spin but the tire not to move. bad failure is the whole wheel falls off. 99.9% of the time the wheel falls of and thats no exaggeration there will be a clunk than you change your Jeeps name to Ilene.

Even if you don't off road it if you have a lunch box locker you put more stress on the axles. Honestly if you don't plan on off roading it I would look into swapping the rear and some cash with some one who is looking for your set up. The locker will either make your tires squeal really loud when making turns or unlock and make that ratcheting sound. If your squealing going around corners every time that means your wearing down your tires. And when it rains and you turn it increases your chance of loosing traction.

 

[thistle3585]

Thanks. Yes, the squealing is very evident. I'm not too wild about swapping the axles, ironic since this is what started this thread, but if I'm better off in the long run then I'd probably try and see if I can put the labor in part of the deal. I'm actually trying to trade this Jeep for another with an I6 in it. I haven't been to excited about the V8 and I think the I6 would better serve my day to day driving.

Again. Thanks to everyone. This forum just saved me a bunch of time and money and I gained some great knowledge.

 

[Jimbos76cj]

Good luck with the trade. Use the locker as a selling point. I hope you don't think the i6 will give you much better gas milage.

 

[thistle3585]

One more question. Can someone help me identify the front? There is a photo of it at the bottom of this page. Jeep

 

[Jimbos76cj]

If its in a CJ its a 30. Its deffinately not a 44.

 

[thistle3585]

Thanks. I assume it is a "Spicer 30"? That's what the auto parts store asked.

On another note, bad start to my Jeep week. I was filling the rear case with oil and when I was done I couldn't find the little plastic cap that went on the tip of my hand pump. Looks like I'm going to have to pull the cover back off and drain it again to see if I accidentally shot the cap in to the Transfer Case . AAARGH

 

[Incommando]

Most every one will refer to the axles as Dana but they were made by the Spicer division of Dana... AKA Dana-Spicer.