The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Axle sliding out of rear end

Hello all, well thanks to all of your guy's help I was able to finally get my big bolt running an driving. The last thing I touched was the rear wheel bearings/seals because one wheel bearing was absolutely shot so I figured I'll just replace both outers. Well, I took it for a drive after that and it made the first journey just fine..6 miles round trip. I took it out to easter dinner and on my way back, I lost my brake pedal and looked behind me to notice the axle/drum sliding out of the housing. I tore it all apart and everything seemed in order, but obviously I am doing something wrong reassembling or the outer hub is worn out allowing the drum to slide off? I'm not really sure. So, on the rear spindles I assembled it as(from closest to the rear end moving towards the wheel): round dust cap looking object, wheel seal, inner wheel bearing, outer wheel bearing, then I placed a spacer type object that had a keyway on it on the outside of wheel bearing, then retaining nut, then the caged/barbed look locking piece, then retaining nut. Am I missing anything? I know this may be hard to understand the way I am describing, but any information is appreciated. Or any pictures someone may have that would help me get an idea of how it should look. I have a 1946 Chevy 2 ton 2 speed rear end. If I can clear up any information, just let me know. Thanks in advance.

Hy AWick, it reads as if you assembled the rear hub correctly, did you set the preload on the bearings. Did you lock the inner nut in place once the preload was set with one tang of the "caged/barb look locking piece", did you tighten the outer lock nut down tightly and then lock its adjustment with a tang from the"caged/barb look locking piece"? Hope that helps.

Hello 3B, yep I followed the service manual as closely as I could. I closed a few of the tangs to lock it in place. The bearings all stayed on my spindle when the axle slid out. Those retaining nuts should not allow the drum to come off correct? I'm really thinking something is wrong with the hub or drum because when I originally got the truck that was the side the was in pieces as I pulled it apart. Thanks for the reply.

have you checked the threads on the (spindle) and nuts to be sure they are good and not worn the nuts should fit tight and not have side play or up and down play when threaded on by hand

The hub is falling off or the axle shaft is sliding out?

If the hub then the two large lock nuts, the spindle threads, and the locking washer/tabs are in question.

If only the axle shaft slides out and if the big end looks like a gear then it is held in with a small domed steel cover and a few small bolts. Or the big end of the axle shaft has holes in the flange and studs on the end of the hub and nuts hold it in, sometimes with cone washers, or sometimes with just bolts.

Thanks for all the replies. whiskey, I did check the threads on the spindle and they are quite tight and have no play. I threaded them on with the drum off to make sure everything seemed to go on tight. Grigg, I should have clarified that the drum/hub is sliding off which then obviously brings the axle with it as it bolts to the hub(as far as I know..which isn't much). So, I should may pull both rear tires and inspect both hubs/nuts more closely. I guess I just wanted confirmation that the drub/hub was held on by those two retaining nuts. Thanks for the replies, I'll have to take a closer look at what I'm working with.

I thought that was the case but just wanted to be clear.
Sounds like those large nuts are backing off or threads are stripped. I can't see any other way about it.

There should be a keyed flat washer between the two nuts with tabs that get bent down to keep the nuts from loosening once they are tightened against each other.
Jerry

Are the bearing races seated with proper press fit with a retainer/snap ring? Good luck.

Hey hotrod, yeah I tried describing the flat washer with tabs. I do have that on there and the nuts remain on the spindle when the drum slides off. Dave, the bearing races seem to be properly seated and the snapring remains in the drum when it slides off. Yet, the bearings remain on the spindle. Perhaps the snapring that was originally in the drum was incorrect allowing the drum to come off while the bearings remain on the spindle? Ill have to take both sides apart and compare the snaprings because the right side has given me no problems. I put both sides together identically and the left side is the problem child so I'm thinking its at least a problem with the parts and not the operator. How does that hub portion come off the top off the drum? Anyone have any ideas?

Hy AWick, any chance of some pictures??? It sounds as though the hub with drum attached and dragging the axle with it is walking right off the bearings. If I'm remembering correctly that would mean a bulkhead in the hub or a snap ring groove or a snap ring was missing, damaged, or incorrect.

I think we're onto something with that big snap ring(s?) and spacer that fits in the hub.

Pictures sure would help a lot.

Grigg

Yep, I would have to agree. I am away from the project for a week or two so we'll put this thread on hold until I can get some pictures and I can get a closer look at the parts. I'll snap some pictures of what I'm looking at while I'm there and we'll go from there. Appreciate all the responses.

One thing that i have saw happen was the bearings wouldnt slide on the stub axle very good makeing guys think the hub was all the way on when they put the wheel bearing nuts on. Good luck

i guess i did not see where the bearings are staying on the spindle.. i cant see anything else other than a bad hub or the wrong bearings.. do the races fit snug in the hub??

Hello old doug, The outside of the hub was flush with the second retaining nut I put on and the drum came almost right to the backing plate. I would assume that's as far as it would go and was on all the way?

Whiskey, Bearings seem to be correct. Hyatt was the original manufacturer back in that day correct? I ended up using the same Hyatt bearing number that I pulled out. The races appear to be snug. I definitely cannot move them by hand when they are pressed in. Maybe I'll get the part numbers from the bearings and see if anyone can confirm I have the right bearings for the heck of it. They fit on the spindle at the proper spots and their races seem snug in the hub so I would assume they are correct. If all that checks out, would you assume a bad hub? Any way to confirm a bad hub besides replacing it and seeing how that goes? Maybe i'll take the drum/hub combo from the right side(the good side) and place that on the left side and take it for another short drive. Then, if the right side stays on(the drum that was originally sliding off) and the left side still comes out like it has, I could confirm the hub is a-okay and perhaps bearings or nuts? Sounds like a solid idea to me. Thanks for all of the responses.

The hub sliding off is a pretty serious thing. If you think everything fits well and parts are in good shape then something is missing, perhaps that large snap ring in the hub.

I wouldn't try anything until after you put up some pictures and get some more eyes on the problem.