Front Axle tube - plain bearing replacement

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Thu, 23/10/2014 - 06:33
Gelandewagen1
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Hi

This shell bearing sits at the end of the axle tube, the axle shaft runs in the bearing lubricated by diff oil which the adjacent seal prevents from leaking into the swivel housing. Mine are flogged out, causing the seal to leak.

Referring to the drawing, it seems that I should be able to knock the old bearing INWARDS and recover it from the diff housing. Can anybody confirm there is no locating shoulder in the way, there does not appear to be from the drawing, and has anyone done this job before?

Thanks

Adrian

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Thu, 23/10/2014 - 10:27
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stig
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Re: Front Axle tube - plain bearing replacement

Hi Adrian

 

There IS a shoulder, you need to pull it out, I made a puller (photo) to do this job. You could carefully cut it by whatever means but you risk marking the surface underneath. When reassembling the hub, you must set the king pins whilst using a centering ring (this fits over half shaft and into axle tube seal housing), once you have determined the shim sizes for king pin pre loading, you then remove centering ring and reassemble, this then holds the hub central to that that seal, not the bush.

 

Scott

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Fri, 24/10/2014 - 04:42
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Gelandewagen1
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Re: Front Axle tube - plain bearing replacement

Thanks Scott for that information, I would have made a mess of things. (thank heavens for the Forum).

I was wondering what function the bush/plain bearing has, and your explanation makes sense. So if I understand correctly, the inboard end of the axle shaft is supported off the bearings in the diff housing. And the outboard end off the main hub bearings, via the CV joint? So the bush in question is there to support the shaft when the CV joint is worn? And the height of the shaft relative to the bush is set by the kingpin shims??

Interesting.

 

Cheers

Adrian

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Fri, 24/10/2014 - 13:01
#3
stig
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Re: Front Axle tube - plain bearing replacement

Hi Adrian

 

Yes you are right, the hub/half shaft is held central by the correct setting up of the king pin shims, this is a very important procedure which I think is often overlooked/rushed. The bush does run on the axle, but there is a little tolerance, .2mm I think, so when the hub is not fitted correctly, the half shaft constantly rubs/runs against one side of that bush, and I think this is why you often see that bush flogged out, aside from normal wear and tear. Some may argue that the centering ring is not necessary as the bush holds the half shaft pretty much central while setting the kingpins, but I use a centering ring then I know the shaft is running right on centre.

The older axles had the oil seal inboard therefore there was no bush/seal out by the hub, so I guess the bush's function is to keep the half shaft central to the seal should there be any flexing and or movement in the CV. Make sense?

 

Regards Scott

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