Factory drive slugs question

[K85 Octane]

Hmmmmm.... thinking how I'm going to word this.


Ok, I've got an '85 D60. I bought some factory drive slugs. They come with the clips, spacers, gears, and caps. I put the caps on for now, just to keep the dirt out of the hubs while my truck sits. The caps fit very loosely and if driven as they are, they would fall out for sure.

I want to run the caps while in 2wd, obviously, without the slugs. When I arrive to my play area, I want to throw the slugs in. I've never put slugs in, not sure how they go. Why are the caps so loose and am I forgetting something that holds them? I was expecting 2wd wheel bearing cap tight, but not even close.

Any pictures or diagrams? Not sure if the caps are even useable with my '85 axle.

Thanks

 

[K85 Octane]

nobody runs the factory drive slugs? Or has the faintest idea what I'm talking about?

there's no way I've stumped anyone is there?

How does the Yukon (etc) drive flanges work? Can those be unbolted and cover left in place?

 

[Stomis]

Ive never screwed with flanges but I gotta ask/comment.

Do you really need them?

I mean if you are driving your rig to the trail, chances are driveslugs are not necessary.

 

[Fordum]

I have not worked with drive slugs all that much, but when Baitfish2 had his blazer at the camp for a while, we pulled the front wheel bearings to repack them once, and the caps were pretty tight.
From what I remember, they were like you say, just a tight press fit like a boat trailer wheel bearing cap.
Its possible that they clamped on the slugs somehow, or went between the slug and the hub, but that is not how I remember it.
They just slid tight inside the hub. If yours don't do that, then I suspect you might have the wrong caps or they are bent somehow.
It would not be hard to just slide in a slug and see if the cap gets tighter.

I don't know if there were different models of hubs that used different caps or not.

 

[onetonbb74]

on my slugs, there is a fake slug with threaded bosses in it, that goes in there and the allen bolts are threaded to hold on the cap.

 

[nvrenuf]

The factory slugs go in as follows - spacer / slug / clip / cap.

It's been a few years since I bought some but the caps were avaiable new about 5 years ago. The were cheap so if yours don't fit good you might try some new ones.

 

[K85 Octane]

Do you really need them?
I mean if you are driving your rig to the trail, chances are driveslugs are not necessary.

Does anyone really need anything I've got a f/r lockers, Yukon D60 shafts, and 38"s. I'd rather pay money for drive flanges and never have to worry about them, than pay a lot more for locking hubs and worry about them. I don't mind working on the truck a little before using it.

I remember, they were like you say, just a tight press fit like a boat trailer wheel bearing cap.
Its possible that they clamped on the slugs somehow, or went between the slug and the hub, but that is not how I remember it.
It would not be hard to just slide in a slug and see if the cap gets tighter.
I don't know if there were different models of hubs that used different caps or not.

That's what I've been thinking lately but wasn't sure if I'm missing an O-ring of sorts that would hold the cap tighter.

on my slugs, there is a fake slug with threaded bosses in it, that goes in there and the allen bolts are threaded to hold on the cap.

Yeah, I remember your flanges, that would be my option B. I've found Yukon flanges for $185 new and shipped.

The factory slugs go in as follows - spacer / slug / clip / cap.

It's been a few years since I bought some but the caps were avaiable new about 5 years ago. The were cheap so if yours don't fit good you might try some new ones.

Thank you sir!!

 

[6.2Blazer]

I ran factory D60 slugs with caps for a few years before going to 35-spline, and a friend had a set broached out to 35-spline. The caps are press fit but were pretty tight. You are taking a rubber mallet or something and pounding them on, right? Mine always took a little bit of work with a screwdriver and hammer to get them loose.

My buddy did the same as your idea as far as removing the slugs while driving down the highway. It only took a few minutes to pop off the cap, slip in the slugs, install the snap ring, and put the caps back on. Sometimes you have to rock the truck slightly to get the splines lined up, but usually not a big deal.

 

[K85 Octane]

I use a plastic mallet, but I could probably do it with a closed fist.

Ok, I guess if this is going to work, I'll need some new caps.

The clip is for the axle, not the hub right? For some reason I have some BIG rings in the same bucket, but those could have come from locking hubs.

 

[k204dr]

any idea how thick the spacers are? i got a set that apparently didnt' have spacers with them. if I have a measurement I can make some new ones.