1979 K1500 4x4 - front axle removal

[vzfox]

I am trying to rebuild the 4wd of my truck. I have everything disconnected and torn apart. The only thing I lack is getting the passenger side axle to come out. I am unable to remove the hub, but have gotten it to drop down by breaking loose the ball joints. I just cant seem to get it to come off, seems the u-joint assmebly of the axle is in the way, preventing the ball joints from droping enough for the hub to come off. I have tried to pull the axle out, hoping the whole assembly would just come off, but no. I have a picture of the exact point of where I am at, but dont think we can attach pictures here. Where do I go from here?

[dougmac]

I am trying to rebuild the 4wd of my truck.  I have everything disconnected and torn apart.  The only thing I lack is getting the passenger side axle to come out.  I am unable to remove the hub, but have gotten it to drop down by breaking loose the ball joints.  I just cant seem to get it to come off, seems the u-joint assmebly of the axle is in the way, preventing the ball joints from droping enough for the hub to come off.  I have tried to pull the axle out, hoping the whole assembly would just come off, but no.  I have a picture of the exact point of where I am at, but dont think we can attach pictures here.  Where do I go from here?

 

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Once you take the hub and wheel bearings off of the spindle there is a row of bolts around the spindle that will allow you to remove the spindle. Once the spindle is off, the hole in the steering knuckle that the spindle came out of is large enough to slide the axle with the universal joint through. You don’t need to disassemble the ball joints to get the axle out.

 

Doug

[vzfox]

I am trying to rebuild the 4wd of my truck.  I have everything disconnected and torn apart.  The only thing I lack is getting the passenger side axle to come out.  I am unable to remove the hub, but have gotten it to drop down by breaking loose the ball joints.  I just cant seem to get it to come off, seems the u-joint assmebly of the axle is in the way, preventing the ball joints from droping enough for the hub to come off.  I have tried to pull the axle out, hoping the whole assembly would just come off, but no.  I have a picture of the exact point of where I am at, but dont think we can attach pictures here.  Where do I go from here?

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

Once you take the hub and wheel bearings off of the spindle there is a row of bolts around the spindle that will allow you to remove the spindle. Once the spindle is off, the hole in the steering knuckle that the spindle came out of is large enough to slide the axle with the universal joint through. You don’t need to disassemble the ball joints to get the axle out.

 

Doug

 

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Actually, I thought the same thing but it turns out that the universal joint is too large to fit through the knuckle. I tried many different ways to get it through there, but it is just too big for the hole. It is the same way on both sides of the axle.

[dougmac]

I have had quite a few of these apart and have not run into one where the universal joint would no go through the hole in the knuckle. I can see where that would be a problem. I'm not sure what you have to do in your situation.

 

Doug

[vzfox]

I think what the problem may be is some sort of clip or something inside the differential that is holding the axle shaft's in.

[Larry]

There is not clip inside the axle. What I have seen a few times that prevents the front axle shaft from passing through the knuckle is a grease zerk on the u-joint. Not a typical, ball style zerk but a flush style grease zerk that barely gets in the way of things to keep it from coming out. This style zerk is not factory but is common on aftermarket u-joints if the OEM has been changed.

 

The zerk looks something like this….

 

Ran into the same deal on mine when I did a gear and locker swap a few months ago.

[vzfox]

yep, that is exactly what mine looks like. I did finally get those axle's out.....took an iron pipe, sledge hammer and alot of time but they did come out. It was those u joints that was holding them up. I borrowed a grinder from a friend and ground down the outer portions of the u joints on both sides.

 

Now I have the process of cleaning everthing and replacing almost everything. Probably going to take me a few weeks to get it back together (takes money to purchase all those parts....ughhhh).

 

Thanx guys, I will be back in touch to let you know how the installation went and maybe a couple more questions.