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How to Remove Dirt Inside Axle Housing Tubes??

PWagon

PWagon

1/2 ton status
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Yesterday I started my day off with a little ball joint replacement "fun". Dang I hate ball joint work. Anyhow, I got everything torn down and pulled my axles out of my front axle tubes. As I pulled my axles out I noticed all the dirt inside the tubes. I immediately thought "after I'm done with the ball joints, how the hell am I gonna get this put back together without pushing all that dirt up into the differential?" I couldn't get a good picture up inside the axle housing tube. I can use some suggestions here.

IMG_5798.JPG
 
Small shop vac or all thread with a moon shaped washer
 
Have you noticed any gear lube inside the axle housings? Might be a good time to replace the axle seals as well. You could scrape some gunk out of the housings and see, should be fairly dry with dirt and gravel just coming out.
 
I got like a 1/2" pipe from the plumbing section in Lowes, which was threaded on the end, a big ol' washer (maybe 2" wide?), and a cap to thread on the end to hold the washer. Carefully insert into tube making sure to not push the dirt in, scrape crud out, repeat. Once you get most of it out, suck up any more loose debris with a shop vac.

Once you get it cleaned out fairly well, you can Get a pvc pipe and cut it in half to get a "u" shape. Then you can actually cut it to the length you need and then just leave it in the housing and use it to provide a clean path to slide the shaft back in on. It will also serve the same purpose when you remove it the next time.

I actually didn't cut mine in half though cause I didn't feel like it. Just left the whole pipe in there. Just made sure it was a large enough diameter to not interfere with the shaft.
Some people cut them in half though, but I haven't had any problems with leaving it in there whole.

Also, I've heard of people using a tape measure to slide the shaft in on... I tried that the last time I had another axle apart and it didn't work too well for me though.
 
Those are some great ideas, and I'll give 'em a shot this evening to see how it all goes back together. These new ball joints have grease zerk fittings, so I hope I'll never have to replace them again as long as I keep them greased.
 
bent72 said:
Small shop vac or all thread with a moon shaped washer
Click to expand...


DO NOT DO SHOP VAC = naste inside hose you will never clean out . . . I know :doah:

threaded 3/8 rod and half moon washer works great .

if gear oil in tubes then it was over full or seals bad .
 
I took a rag and a broom stick and pushed most of it out, also brake cleaner helped brake it up
 
skunked said:
those inner seals suck
Click to expand...
They're easy when the axle is on the work bench, after the housing is steam cleaned, and and you use 2 bushing driver plates and a piece of threaded rod...


Can you tell that the M.A.W's struck me??

Good tips on cleaning...
 
6872xtc said:
They're easy when the axle is on the work bench, after the housing is steam cleaned, and and you use 2 bushing driver plates and a piece of threaded rod...


Can you tell that the M.A.W's struck me??

Good tips on cleaning...
Click to expand...

Pulling the carrier and getting it back in was the most difficult part for me.
 
skunked said:
Pulling the carrier and getting it back in was the most difficult part for me.
Click to expand...
I don't know if I believe that from you!
But I still completely understand your feeling about it all!!

:waytogo:


@PWagon I just pulled some grease-able Moog ball joints out of my '90 that were only a 4 years old. It has only had 33's on it too, so take care of yours, but don't be surprised if stuff bites you on the butt....

Best of luck!
 
[USER=52225 said:
@PWagon[/USER] I just pulled some grease-able Moog ball joints out of my '90 that were only a 4 years old. It has only had 33's on it too, so take care of yours, but don't be surprised if stuff bites you on the butt....
Click to expand...

Hmmm, that's no bueno. I just installed both lower and upper grease-able Moog ball joints... like 3 days ago. Why do you think yours wore out after only 4 years? Do you think the Moog's are poor quality material, or did you just not keep them greased? I hate ball joint work, so I pray to God that I never have to mess with that again.
 
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I guess I should have researched the reviews on Moog ball joints before I ordered them. Does anyone have a different brand they'd recommend?
 
Mine got grease every 3000 miles. Still seemed like they had a fair amount in them. I don't know if jacking the truck up to grease them would have helped. Maybe they were just a bad set.
I did hear that the warranty on Moog is good, so hold on to the receipt.
I'm not so great with my paperwork sometimes...
 
Genuine spicer ball joints are my only recommendation.
If I've got the shafts out, it's really only four more bolts to do the inner seals. My favorite way to clean the tubes is to pressure wash em out while the axle is bare. Then stab a rag through with a rod.
A good clean with brake cleaner makes it like new.
 
Can you get a fairly stiff rope like nylon through the tube from the center section? If so, tie the rope around a shop wrag with cleaner on it and use the rope to pull it from the middle to the outside of the housing. Maybe do it 3/4 times. Make the rag tight enough to have to "pull" the rope through.

Hope that it works/helps, Paul
 
Double seal them if you have room, I've been doing this for a while now on GM Dana 60s, first in is a seal and guide tube, then a regular seal.

Gus
 
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