Axle pt 28

Since I broke my 9/16" socket I purchased a set of 12 point impact sockets. A cheater on the end of the breaker bar did the trick and the bolts broke loose. After quite a bit of scraping and wire wheeling the hubs cleaned up nicely, I also cut off the "nub" protruding at the mounting surface of the hubs. After the hubs were thoroughly scrubbed with lacquer thinner they revived a coat of self etching primer followed by a couple coats of engine enamel.

Axle pt27

I drove out out the inner axle seals and ran rags soaked in lacquer thinner through the tubes until they came out clean. I used part of the locking hubs to evenly drive in the new seals with out damaging them. After I got them both in I re installed the carrier, driving it into place with a non marring  dead blow mallet and bolted it back down.

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Axle pt26

I tackled the pinion seal today. The 1-5/16 nut that secures the yolk was ridiculously hard to break loose, even after repeatedly soaking it with penetrating oil the last couple days. After quite a bit of cranking on the cheater bar (on the breaker bar) it finally came loose. I had originally bought a pinion seal from Ford for a 89 D60 since I thought my axle was an 89. Needless to say it didn't line up and I ran to Oriels before they closed and picked up pinion seal, inner wheel seals and yolk hardware. The new seal went is easy and everything went back together smoothly. I don't know how many pounds the pinion nut is suppose to be  torqued to so I just tightened as tight as I could.

Axle pt25

I pulled the diff cover and carrier today. The diff cover came off quite easily but the carrier was stubborn. 

Axle pt24

I welded a piece of 1/4" steel plate inside of the coil perch supports. This is basically redundant bracing and will give the supports more rigidity. 

Axle pt 23

I cleaned up the axle a bit today as well as removed the angle iron I had tack welded in place to keep the proper width for my control arms.

Axle pt22

I finished disassembling the hubs today. The seals were very stubborn, I hit then with some penetrating oil, let them sit for an hour and then took a pry bar to them. Still so luck...so out came the hand sledge. After a little "persuading" the seals broke loose and came out. The bearing are still in good shape and there was plenty of grease inside the hub. I took the hubs to a DIY car wash place and gave them a good power-washing. When I got back home I dried the hubs off, wiped them down with lacquer thinner and sprayed them with WD40 to keep them from rusting. 

Tire troubles

Eli was driving on the freeway the other day when his passenger rear tire decided to come apart and start beating the side of his truck. He pulled over cut off the flapping tread and drove home.