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Full Service

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    Stub Axle to Spindle Side Play

    in 1972-86 AMC/Jeep® CJ and Jeepster Models

    Posted

    Moses;

       The TF999 is a tank. I had it rebuilt because it was leaking. The tech said it was very good and needed only adjustments. On another note, my engine must have been swapped sometime in its life with an older 75ish 4.2L. Do you know where I can get a Rocker Shaft for a 4.2? All my research comes up empty. Mine is worn but I had to reuse it after a engine rebuild.

    Stub Axle to Spindle Side Play

    in 1972-86 AMC/Jeep® CJ and Jeepster Models

    Posted

    Moses;

      1983 Laredo 4.2, TF999 Transmission. The slide hammer was the way to get the bearing out...it was a challenge. I used your rag wrap /vise method to hold the spindle. After install and reassembly there is still some side play at the ujoint but it is comparable to the drivers side so it is normal or my stub shafts are worn, I expect it is normal...here's the story about chasing a suspension noise which got me to the bad ujoint and spindle bearing in the 1st place. I was getting a thumping noise on the passenger side on gravel roads. After checking under the dash and the passenger suspension many times (including jumping on the bumper) I found the ujoint and spindle bearing and fixed them but the noise persisted.  Afterward, I found the culprit by accident when shaking the hood. The jeep is old and the hinge pins on the hood are worn...The noise was the hood shifting forward and back on loose hinge pins on bumpy roads. A cut piece of fuel line mounted on the hood edge to add a little tension when closed did the trick. 

    Stub Axle to Spindle Side Play

    in 1972-86 AMC/Jeep® CJ and Jeepster Models

    Posted

    12 hours ago, Moses Ludel said:

    Full Service...If I'm understanding your question, you have either a splined drive flange or manual locking hub removed from the wheel hub.  You want to know how much play there should be between the stub axle shaft and the spindle with the flange or manual locking hub removed?

    CJ Jeep vehicles have either a bushing or a needle bearing and seal at the inner end of the spindle.  The needle bearing or bushing supports the stub shaft at the inner end of the spindle.  Either a bushing or a needle bearing (left in illustration below) provides support and centers the inner end of the stub axle.  The outer splined drive flange or free-wheeling/manual locking hub provides the outer support for the stub axle. 

    On a CJ front axle, the play that should be of concern is at this inner spindle bushing or needle bearing.  You can reach into the open steering knuckle with a pry bar or large screw driver and lift the axle shaft U-joint up and down.  You're looking for play between the bushing or needle bearing and the inner end of the stub axle shaft.  Moving the stub axle sideways or "radially" at the open steering knuckle end will indicate whether you need to replace the spindle inner bushing or needle bearing and seal with a readily available and inexpensive rebuild "kit".  (The image below is "Crown" parts.) 

    You will likely need to reinstall the drive flange or manual locking hub to support the outer end of the stub axle shaft while you check for inner bushing or needle bearing wear.  Otherwise, the outer end of the stub axle shaft will wobble and the shaft will move inward and outward.  This would throw off your test results.

    There should be very little if any stub axle shaft movement sideways/radially.  You're checking for a worn bushing or needle bearing or wear at the stub axle shaft where the bushing or needle bearing makes contact with the shaft.  If your spindles have needle bearings, you also need to be sure that the roller needles are not dry, rusted or seized up, which is common:

     

    j8126510.jpg

    Does that answer your question?

    Moses

    Yes it did.

    Moses, thank you so much for taking the time to answer me...your book got me through the 1st time removal of the spindle to get at the stub axle to replace a bad ujoint. Gob bless my plastic dead blow hammer on getting that spindle out as well as replacing age old ujoint caps. My spindle bearing is bad as well as the ujoint I replaced. The play you mention in your answer got me to the spindle bearing. I have it pulled now and am awaiting the kit you diagram above. Caution to others...when I checked wheel bearing play on my driver's side front wheel It felt a little loose....when I got to the bearing I found the locking tab on the lock washer, for the lock nut, was not bent. Needless to say a half turn of the bearing nut stopped the play...the tab on the lock washer is bent against the lock nut....this time. 

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