M38A1 front axel

[1952M38A1]

Well, here's my take" One hub slid right off, the other is still stuck to the axle. I have big pullers and so far they have been unsucessful at budging the hub. I did try heating the center to no avail. My pullers are all hammer-worn. Now, on the other side the hub sild right off but the axle won't come out. I can find no pins or any other clip that might be holding it in. The book says once the hub and everything are pff the end "pull out the axle". No mention of using a tool or any holders in place. I disassembled a sleeve tool I built to accomodate the axle and that's working but it ain't pulling out the axle! I bangedon the end of it! I also used a bar and a 3 pound to whack it from behind and it still will not budge!! My take is that on the stuck-hub side that axle should come out with the hub attached because there's nothing behind it. Haven't tried the puller on that axle yet.100_9982.jpg100_9983.jpg100_9984.jpg

[1952M38A1]

100_9985.jpg100_9986.jpg SUCCESS!! I had the puller on the other side tightened up trying to get that hub off, beat it few times with a 5 pound and the axle on the other side popped loose with the puller on it. I have to guess that the bearing race is what kept the axle from coming out initially. I heated the hub center again and used my impact tool to tighten the shaft on the tool to no avail. Kinda running out of options here before I cut it off. Guess I better find a replacement first, huh? Love shopping for parts!

[bmorgil]

Wow, now I see your issue! I haven't seen one stuck in there like that. I think you are a victim of prior work. It is the outer race holding you up. You will need to clean that up inside the diameter of the axle housing once you get the race out. The race Should be a slip fit in the housing. If it isn't a slip fit, you cant set the end play on the rear bearings. The bearings have an end play setting of .001" to .006" I like close to .001" but definitely not any tighter. It is adjusted by the shims behind the backing plate. Just a touch is all you need. You must be able to move the outer bearing races in and out to adjust them. I have seen a lot of people make huge mistakes here. Many think the bearing should be a press fit in the housing and that is definitely not the case. I have read persons epoxying them in, scaring up the housing and driving them in etc. I always wondered how they set the end play after that. I am now wondering if someone didn't use a "technique" to hold the races because they didn't understand the concept. The race should have slid out of the housing without much effort.

I am thinking load it hard with your tool and heat the end of the axle housing outside the race area real hot.

[1952M38A1]

That's exactly what I did. Got that sucker nearly red, melted the seal (HA!), had my puller on it, beat it a few times with a 7 pound hammer and still .......... nothing. I hate when something just doesn't want to cooperate! Makes me want to induce cooperation. I may just cut the damned thing off. I'll have to replace the hub and the axle. No big deal there, found them both. I just hate losing ANY original parts, ya know? Anyways, the bearing race that did come out on the other side does not appear to have been 'fastened' in any way. I don't think it's ever been apart. That's what it seems with every other part I've worked on so far. Old and stuck. I went through a lot of this when I was fixin' heavy equip and trucks. When all else fails, torch that sucker! So far, the only non=original item I've come across is the engine. It's the only thing on the truck that's not olive drab. Absolutely everything else was original, sorta. All these years and you have to expect that somewhere along the line someone put their 'personal touch' to it.

[bmorgil]

OK, you could try this. Put on some safety glasses take a sharp hard chisel, and try to "crack" the race. It is hardened steel and you might just be able to split the race. If you can impact it all the way around on the small amount that is sticking out, it might come loose. If the anger overcomes you, you already have mentioned what I would do with the "blue wrench".

If you can get the rollers out of the bearing (blue wrench or chisel on the inner cage, or bust the outer race, outer rim all the way around), you can get the shaft out with the race remaining in the housing. Then some delicate work with a cutoff wheel on a Dremmel or small high speed grinder should allow you to cut the race out without damage to the housing. You could also try a big slide hammer hooked on to the race. Sometimes direct impact gets it done. That will save all the parts.

One thing I remember from using the Blue Wrench, gear oil will light on fire and it is very difficult to put out!

[1952M38A1]

OK, you could try this. Put on some safety glasses take a sharp hard chisel, and try to "crack" the race. It is hardened steel and you might just be able to split the race. If you can impact it all the way around on the small amount that is sticking out, it might come loose. If the anger overcomes you, you already have mentioned what I would do with the "blue wrench".

If you can get the rollers out of the bearing (blue wrench or chisel on the inner cage, or bust the outer race, outer rim all the way around), you can get the shaft out with the race remaining in the housing. Then some delicate work with a cutoff wheel on a Dremmel or small high speed grinder should allow you to cut the race out without damage to the housing. You could also try a big slide hammer hooked on to the race. Sometimes direct impact gets it done. That will save all the parts.

One thing I remember from using the Blue Wrench, gear oil will light on fire and it is very difficult to put out!

I appreciate the thought. Thanks. I got that axle out. I'm on the other end now and am still unable to get the hub off. I removed all the brake parts from the backing plate which is still attached. Nice sized hole there for the wheel cylinder allowed me to get a decent sized bar through and I banged on the hub from the back side. No movement at all. Tomorrow I plan on removing all the backing plate bolts and see if I can get the axle out with the hub and backing plate. Hope this axle is a bit easier to get out because with the backing plate on I can't use my axle puller. We'll see. Tahnks for your ideas. I spent a few years turning wrenches on just about everything but mostly constr. equip., tools and trucks. I retired as a licensed building contractor. You could say I have varied interests.

[1952M38A1]

I am again successful. I removed the backing plate bolts then put a drive-pin through the hole for the wheel cylinder and knocked the axle out from behind. Worked well with only a few hits with a 3-pound hammer. I now have the entire assembly disassembled for cleaning and repainting. Now I'll need a press to get that hub off the axle, some new bearings and races and such and it'll be sitting in the parts room that sometimes gets confused with a spare bedroom. I have a tent for guests.100_9987.jpg

[bmorgil]

Glad to see you got it out. That has to be the worst case I have seen.

A tent for guests is a great idea!