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GM 10 Bolt front, can’t get axle shaft out of the spindle enough to install inner snap ring!

RockBottomRacing

RockBottomRacing

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So I pulled it all apart because I had a bent spindle from a curb shot. New used OEM 10 bolt spindle cleaned up, knuckle cleaned up, new Dana spicer spindle needle bearing, installed to the same depth as old one, axle stub shaft cleaned, brand new AcDelco hub with brand new timkin wheel bearings, everything went on easily but then I realized I couldn’t get the axle shaft to come out of the spindle enough to apply the inner snap ring. I already did the passenger side and had a similar issue, a pry bar in between the axle u joint easily handled that situation, but I can’t get this guy to go any further. It started raining on me after about an hour so I called it a night, am I just going to have to take it all apart?

Btw I don’t think my knuckle was damaged, the spindle was obviously bent when it removed it, and you could see the wheel hub was pushed out on top in relation to the brake dust guard and now it all looks straight again, finally.

Any advice guys? Bout to pull my hair out lol. Thanks!
 
Did you happen to put the brake bracket on the knuckle before the spindle?
 
Well you already tried moving the shaft with the pry bar to push it out

You may be doing exploratory surgery, and may have to use the other side to see what is different
 
Maybe check the groove compared to the new hub and old hub. See if there is a dimensional difference.
 
If the spindle was damaged, don't we stand the chance of the axle shaft being tweaked?
 
Confedneck79K30 said:
If the spindle was damaged, don't we stand the chance of the axle shaft being tweaked?
Click to expand...

I looked it over and it seemed true, I ran a straight edge and didn’t see any differences, the spindle was just slightly bent down and towards the rear of the truck, and with the spindle torqued down to the knuckle I can turn the axle shaft with no binding or contact to the spindle that I can hear see or feel
 
jeff in co said:
Maybe check the groove compared to the new hub and old hub. See if there is a dimensional difference.
Click to expand...
I will for sure do that tonight. But I pulled the spindle off the old axle myself, ones a 90 10 bolt axle and mines a 91, would there be a dimensional difference between those years?
 
I've had mine apart enough to remember there was a spacer between the spindle and knuckle that gave me the same issue.
One side h
Of mine had one and one side didn't. But with it in place the axle shaft would not come far enough into the hub to allow the snap ring to go on.

Kind of a crappy pic of my screen at work but the highlighted part is that spacer. I ended up taking it out and the shaft had enough movement then to allow the snap ring to be installed. IMG_20200413_100017507.jpg
 
I had a guy on another site mention that spacer, but he was adamant that it needed to stay in. I didn’t touch that spacer, I replaced the seal (#49 in your picture) and left the spacer be, is it going to hurt anything if I remove the spacer though? That’s my question, thought I supposed it would only have effect when the hubs were locked anyways ‍♂️

ZooMad75 said:
I've had mine apart enough to remember there was a spacer between the spindle and knuckle that gave me the same issue.
One side h
Of mine had one and one side didn't. But with it in place the axle shaft would not come far enough into the hub to allow the snap ring to go on.

Kind of a crappy pic of my screen at work but the highlighted part is that spacer. I ended up taking it out and the shaft had enough movement then to allow the snap ring to be installed. View attachment 336167
Click to expand...
ZooMad75 said:
I've had mine apart enough to remember there was a spacer between the spindle and knuckle that gave me the same issue.
One side h
Of mine had one and one side didn't. But with it in place the axle shaft would not come far enough into the hub to allow the snap ring to go on.

Kind of a crappy pic of my screen at work but the highlighted part is that spacer. I ended up taking it out and the shaft had enough movement then to allow the snap ring to be installed. View attachment 336167
Click to expand...
 
diesel4me said:
Perhaps one of the bearing outer races aren't fully seated in the hub ?..
Click to expand...
The hub sits on the spindle, it has no relation to the axle shaft being too far inside of the spindle. It’s a brand new hub with is shipped with the races installed as well, I actually had gotten it installed and the lock but torqued down and the bearings all seated before I realized the groove was inside the spindle
 
I have not had the snap rings on, since i took the the automatic hubs off. That was twenty five years ago. Warn at the time said leave them off.
 
frankin5 said:
I have not had the snap rings on, since i took the the automatic hubs off. That was twenty five years ago. Warn at the time said leave them off.
Click to expand...
Including the snap ring that holds the shaft against the spindle? I only ask because you don’t have to remove that snap ring for a locking hub install, I can’t image they would tell you to remove it for no reason... I’m gonna have to investigate this, but for sure I want it to last and in my opinion unless I’m upgrading the shit out a 10 bolt i’d rather keep it like the factory had it if I can avoid it. From what I’ve read that snap ring keeps the axle shaft seal against the knuckle to keep water and dirt out of there, and leaving it off can lead to a blown u joint, is that just opinion? Lol I’m genuinely curious. It would be fantastic if I could just go home and re torque the shit and install the outer snap ring and be done...
 
I think the difference really comes down to the type of lockout hub you have on the end as to if the spacer is needed or not.

Here's my back-asswards logic. The stock hubs may have a different over all thickness when the outer hub is installed inside the housing. That hub might need the spacer in order to position the end of the axle shaft with just enough space for the snap ring to go on the end of the shaft. My Warn premium hubs must be thicker because I couldn't get the snap ring on the end of the shaft either. I had tried prying out on the shaft at the u-joint but I could tell it was bottomed out. The spacer does have a slight beveled edge on the inner diameter and thought I might have it in backwards. So I pulled it apart and reversed it and reassembled. No change. Pulled it apart again, yanked the spacer and reassembled. The snap ring fit right in and the axle itself had no slop in or out.

I may be all wet on my idea, but I haven't had any I'll effects from the spacer being gone.

Take a close look when you get it apart on the order of items as they come off.
 
I've only ever worked on older 10 bolts and d44
Was the spacer something to make the auto hubs line up?
Alot of guys have the same problem when they swap autos for manuals
 
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