Spider gear play

karstic · May 28, 2008

Should there be rotational play of the spider gear on the axle shaft?

I'm trying to track down a noisy front end. With one wheel on the ground and one in the air, when I rotate the wheel there is play between the spider gear and the splined end of the axle shaft. The play is on both sides.

Is this normal?

MisterFRjunior · May 28, 2008

You'll have some play between the axle and the side gears since they aren't a press fit. When are you getting the noise and what's it sound like?

karstic · May 28, 2008

MisterFRjunior said:
You'll have some play between the axle and the side gears since they aren't a press fit. When are you getting the noise and what's it sound like?

In and out of 4wd, rythmic grinding/rubbing/muffled clunking consistent with wheel speed. Visual inspection doesn't reveal any issues with axle u-joints.

MisterFRjunior · May 28, 2008

Spiders and side gears only come into play in turns so unless the side gears are flopping loose I would think you got wheel bearing or carrier bearing issues. Maybe pinion bearings. But if it's pinion or carrier bearings going bad then you'll probably also have gear whine. Have you tried veering left and right at speed to check for wheel bearings?

karstic · May 30, 2008

Update. Pulled the front drive shaft and noises are gone.
So time for an driveshaft rebuild/new driveshaft.

cal · May 30, 2008

karstic said:
Update. Pulled the front drive shaft and noises are gone.
So time for an driveshaft rebuild/new driveshaft.

I rebuilt my stock driveshaft twice before I gave up and had a new one made. The slip joint is just too far extended and too worn to really be solid, no matter how good the CV may or may not be.

Tom Woods makes great shafts mail order, JE Reel does exceptional work in Pomona, and of course Ray at OC Driveline does pretty good too.

Spider gear play

karstic

NAXJA Forum User

MisterFRjunior

NAXJA Forum User

karstic

NAXJA Forum User

MisterFRjunior

NAXJA Forum User

karstic

NAXJA Forum User

cal

NAXJA Forum User

Similar threads