Sorry to have been out of this discussion since I went through this whole process a few months ago. Life intrudes, ya know?
It is not strange that the axles are different lengths, that is correct for your truck. Be sure you're IDing the axles correctly: left and right are based on you perspective from behind the wheel - left is driver's side, right is passenger's side.
Group # - 5.420
Left 28 3/4" OL Part # 3652341
Right 29 3/4" OL Part # 3652342
As far as I can tell, these axles are specific to 40-46 COMM only.
Dan's is where I got my replacement axles. Before you install the new ones you'll need to go to a machine shop and get your studs pressed in. THIS IS IMPORTANT: there is a metal oil deflector plate that is held on by the studs when they're pressed in. There MUST be a gasket installed under the plate before you press the studs in - I put some gasket sealer on both sides of the gasket first, then pressed in the studs. You also need to install another gasket between the axle flange and the brake drum when you put it back on. These gaskets are available through most old truck parts suppliers - I think mine came from Jim Carter. You DON'T need to put sealer on this one or you'll play hell getting the drum off again.
It's been my experience (owned the truck over 30 years) that the oil seals seep a bit. Notice that the deflector has a channel in it to point any seeping oil out through the hole in the axle flange and then through the hole in the drum. Be sure you align these holes! Without the gaskets, even with a pretty good oil seal, you'll frequently see just a bit of oil getting through to the inside of your brake drums.
Last edited by David Bush; 08/23/2016 5:59 PM.
