Rear axle and bearings

[BNC04]

Got the garage cleaned out this weekend and was able to get the bronco into it. I knew I had a leak in the seal on the pass side so I wanted to get it inside where I could work on it.



Gathered up some parts today at lunch- Seal and bearings from NAPA.. they had the lowest price (or so I thought)

Pulled the passenger side off. Pieces started to hit the floor!




9 bearings,, Crap,, Looks like this turned into a removal of the 3rd to look for the remaining bearings.

Pulled the napa bearing out of the box,, Wrong part, these are not what I need from what I can tell..
Called Carquest, they have the correct bearings in stock.. Went and got them.

Pulled off the drivers side.
Different looking back side of the axle..

Drivers side on the left



The diameter is different than the passenger side also.
1.344 vs 1.236 though it tapers to the same measurement at the spline. Any thoughts on the axle being different? Maybe cut from a full size or something like that?




There was a small shiny spot on the pass side axle but I can't feel anything with dragging my nail over it.

I'm a little concerned about the difference and wonder if I should get new axles or not? Upgrading to 31 is not in the cards right now. Should I just re-install and run them until I decide. It obviously worked the way it way for a while.

Sure seems like I need to go diff diving for bearings as well unless I can get a long magnet and go ing,, Any idea how many bearings there should be on my garage floor vs whats there now?

Brett

[Viperwolf1]

I don't think any pieces can get into the diff area with the axle in place. Get a magnet and a stick and clean the tube out. Don't worry about the axle shaft diameter. Might have been replaced at one time. I see you have a limited slip back there now. Don't worry about upgrading until you start breaking stuff (bearings don't count).

[BNC04]

I don't think any pieces can get into the diff area with the axle in place. Get a magnet and a stick and clean the tube out. Don't worry about the axle shaft diameter. Might have been replaced at one time. I see you have a limited slip back there now. Don't worry about upgrading until you start breaking stuff (bearings don't count).

Thanks Viperwolf I'll get the stuff back together and run it. How can you tell I have a limited slip? I was wondering if I did or not but was not sure how to tell.

Thanks

[Viperwolf1]

I can tell by the marks on the splines of the driver's side axle. Two sets of marks for a limited slip.

[Justin]

(Sound of mind blowing)

[BNC04]

(Sound of mind blowing)

I'll second that.. LOL

I looked at all the pics again and was trying to figure out how he could have deduced that..
Good eye viperwolf.. I tried spinning the tires with both off the ground and they counter rotated but I didn't play too much with it,

A limited slip is a nice surprise. I need to use different fluid for the rear end now don't I ?

I'm getting these pressed off and on tomorrow and will get it back together Wed. Hope to have plates by then as well and actually drive this thing a little to see what else I need to attend to right away.

Brett

[Viperwolf1]

Spinning opposite directions-2 possibilities, trans was in gear so driveshaft couldn't turn (wheels have to turn opposite) or clutches are worn. Just use regular gear oil and only add limited slip additive if it gets grabby on turns. The additive makes it slip more.