Broken Axel?
melfan
12-07-2006, 10:28 PM
I have a 1972 Ford Thunderbird with 9" rear.
After dropping it off for inspection the car would not move. When placed into drive the drive shaft would spin but the car would not move and there is a loud clanking coming form the axel near the drivers side tire. If I try to place it into park the gears grind because the shaft is still spinning. I have to turn the car off and then place in park.
I and my mechanic think it's a snapped axel shaft. It may also be the pinion gear but it acts like the axel snapped.
Thoughts?
After dropping it off for inspection the car would not move. When placed into drive the drive shaft would spin but the car would not move and there is a loud clanking coming form the axel near the drivers side tire. If I try to place it into park the gears grind because the shaft is still spinning. I have to turn the car off and then place in park.
I and my mechanic think it's a snapped axel shaft. It may also be the pinion gear but it acts like the axel snapped.
Thoughts?
97Bird
12-08-2006, 05:42 PM
It's not hard to check the axle. Remove the brake drum, then the four bolts that hold the axle into the housing and then pull out the axle!
overl0rd
12-10-2006, 01:17 PM
I'd guess broken spiders/shafts in the carrier.
melfan
12-11-2006, 06:15 PM
If the broken shaft is near the diff. if may be hard to reach unless I drop the drive shaft and remove the diff. housing.
My mechanic thinks the only place these break is the gear at the end of the exel that connects to the pinion gear. I am also told not to buy a replacement till I remove mine because the left and right side are different lengths.
Removing the axel shaft is not hard, just take off the tire and brake drum and turn the axel till the hole lines up with the bolt and repeat this for all four. Then pull the exel out with the bearing retainer, gasket and bearing, but there is no plate on the back of the diff. like most so to get at the pinion gears I will have to drop the axel shaft and remove the diff. housing from the front.
Sound right?
Sorry I may sound dumb but this is a bit out of my area.
My mechanic thinks the only place these break is the gear at the end of the exel that connects to the pinion gear. I am also told not to buy a replacement till I remove mine because the left and right side are different lengths.
Removing the axel shaft is not hard, just take off the tire and brake drum and turn the axel till the hole lines up with the bolt and repeat this for all four. Then pull the exel out with the bearing retainer, gasket and bearing, but there is no plate on the back of the diff. like most so to get at the pinion gears I will have to drop the axel shaft and remove the diff. housing from the front.
Sound right?
Sorry I may sound dumb but this is a bit out of my area.
97Bird
12-12-2006, 08:19 PM
Pull the axle shafts out like you describe and then unbolt the nest from the housing. Remember to put a pan under it to catch the lube. The nest is a little heavy so be in a good position when you pull it out of the housing! If the axles won't come out easy reinstall the brake drum on backwards, install the lugnuts on backwards (so the flat part faces in) just enough so that you can pull the drum out against the lug nuts like a slide hammer.
melfan
01-20-2007, 03:58 PM
Well I finally got the car into the garage to get the axel fixed.
You will not believe what the last owner did. He welded the carrier plate to the axel. This weakened the steel and the axel finally broke.
Here is what the axel looked like:
http://home1.gte.net/res18996/UPDATES_files/image024.jpg
You will not believe what the last owner did. He welded the carrier plate to the axel. This weakened the steel and the axel finally broke.
Here is what the axel looked like:
http://home1.gte.net/res18996/UPDATES_files/image024.jpg
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