An auto/manual hub question

[Regulator]

Hi guys, girls! So I just found this forum and haven't explored it much yet. I did search for answers to my question and found that everyone prefers manual hubs but my situation is a bit different.

I have an '81 Blazer with auto hubs (not the 3 hole kind that need adapters). Today I decided to replace them with Warn manual hubs since I was replacing the wheel bearings anyway. I recently bought this truck so I hadn't had it apart yet. I got one sides bearing done and started to put the Warn hub in and it sure seems like the axle is going to be to short to get the retaining clip into the groove. I found a passing mention on the net that '81 axle shafts may not use that clip, but it didn't elaborate. My question is, if you don't use the retaining clip, what holds the Warn hub in the tube? The two pieces of the Warn hub bolt together but I don't see any way that the whole thing won't push back out. Well, hell, maybe I'm just to tired to think straight now... Anyrate, if any of you can give me a tip I'd appreciate it.

Thanks and I'll get an introduction up soon.

 

[GNERGY]

Push the axle from the U joint towards the outside where you are working and the clip should go on.
Tarey

 

[Regulator]

One of my books mentioned that too, although I didn't have the book when I was working on it. See, I thought it'd be a simple fix, but I've always replaced manual hubs. This one is a bit different. I'm going to see if it will push out far enough tomorrow but the retaining ring groove is maybe an 1 1/4 back on the shaft. I just don't remember them being that far back on other manual hubs I've had out. Thanks for the tip tho!

 

[imiceman44]

Hi guys, girls! So I just found this forum and haven't explored it much yet. I did search for answers to my question and found that everyone prefers manual hubs but my situation is a bit different.

I have an '81 Blazer with auto hubs (not the 3 hole kind that need adapters). Today I decided to replace them with Warn manual hubs since I was replacing the wheel bearings anyway. I recently bought this truck so I hadn't had it apart yet. I got one sides bearing done and started to put the Warn hub in and it sure seems like the axle is going to be to short to get the retaining clip into the groove. I found a passing mention on the net that '81 axle shafts may not use that clip, but it didn't elaborate. My question is, if you don't use the retaining clip, what holds the Warn hub in the tube? The two pieces of the Warn hub bolt together but I don't see any way that the whole thing won't push back out. Well, hell, maybe I'm just to tired to think straight now... Anyrate, if any of you can give me a tip I'd appreciate it.

Thanks and I'll get an introduction up soon.

If you had auto hubs, there is a c clip right at the end of the spindle.
That would keep the shaft in place and the hub will stay in place by the outer c clip on the hub, but I just installed one on a 91 the other week and we took the c clip off the inside and then the WARN went in that much further and we were able to put the c clip at the end of the shaft.