Thanks for the reply. I feel so stupid here, I really have not done much rear end work in my life. When I started this project I just pulled the 53 rear apart to replace the axle seals, and look at the bearings. the axle bearings were fine but the bearing on both sides of the carrier were pitted and bad. I purchased new ones and had them pressed on. now when I went to put it back together it seemed very tight. I had to pound that square blok into place with a chunk of oak wood. I now know that was wrong, there is supposed to be14 thousands of space in that block. this is where I most likely put too much pressure on the c clip and that broke the end off the axle. ok axle broke, I purchased the second torq tube from a 48' pulled the left axle, yeas I know they are different lengths, found that out the hard way as well. With the axle pushed in all the way from the out side and I guess the inner splined gear that the end of the axle passes through on the way to the C clip, the axle is bound up tight, you can not even turn it with out a bar. So let's just say the housing is fine, what the heck is causing the axle to bind even before I put the carrier assembly in there and then why was it so tight the first time I re assembled it. That square block just fell out when I pulled the pin when I tore it apart the first time. I could even maybe guess we did not get the bearings pressed on right from the beginning. I am kinda at a loss here. any help will be appreciated. I would like to try one more time with the 53 assembley but I still have to grab the left axle out of the 48 cause my old one is toast.
Dan
