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Axle splines not mating with hub??

CSVT#49

CSVT#49

Addicted CEG'er
Joined
May 28, 2004
Messages
6,771
Location
Andover, MN
Alright this is getting on my nerves...

As the post implies I'm having a hard time getting the axles to slide into the hubs on the knuckles? I've tried greasing the splines to ease the mating of the hub, but it's like the teeth don't mesh? In the past these things have just slid right in. The teeth don't look damaged on either part. Anyone run into this before?? I need to get this car put back together before Monday. I'm really getting tired of driving my father in-law's 97 Nissan Altima, which has leaking spark plug well gaskets... ugh another car to fix once this cars done. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
 
A little background info...

I took the knuckles off to have new wheel bearings pressed in. So the knuckles (about two weeks ago) just had a new bearings pressed into it and the hubs pressed back on.

It almost seems as if the hub opening is now to small for the axles shaft. I'm dumbfounded on this one.
 
Well I have the car up and running and I just got back from the test drive. Everything checks out.

Here is what I'm guessing happened it may not be possible, but you be the judge...

After they pressed the bearing in and proceeded to press in the hub I wonder if the hub was someone compressed, such that the diameter was just a 1/2mm smaller then what it is normally.

What I did was basically 'pressed' the axle into the hub. I then removed it to inspect the splines to make sure I didn't screw something up and the splines all looked fine. I went to put it back on again, smooth as silk. I repeated it to the passenger side with the same results. I still don't completely understand it, but it worked. I'm guessing when I pressed the axle in I spread out the bearing a little. Not sure...

In any case my car is back up and running... dang I missed those short throw shifts. I feel like I'm driving a truck with this Nissan Altima 5 speed.
 
sometimes new or remain axles splines need to be "dressed" slightly with a file lengthwise with the spline as the machine process that makes the spline will leave an edge on the shaft
 
royalblue said:
sometimes new or remain axles splines need to be "dressed" slightly with a file lengthwise with the spline as the machine process that makes the spline will leave an edge on the shaft
Click to expand...

The only thing that was new was the wheel bearings. Everything else was existing. Although that is good info to know.
 
eepals said:
The service manual does mention this tool for the problem you ran into.


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/_Aut...id=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=65:1|39:1|240:1318
Click to expand...


Where does it mention that? Now I'm going to have to look for it.

How the heck do you use that? Thread it on to the end of the CV shaft and then what... use a slide hammer on the end? Thats got rip the CV joint right out written all over it. Only way I see that working is if you can some how thread it on the end of the shaft and then place a plate over it, which rests on the knuckle, and then tighten the nut to pull the shaft through... in which case you need another tool. Weird. Definitely going to look into this.

Followup: OK so I looked into the halfshaft installation portion of the service manual and found it. It does a poor job of referencing where it's used. It would appear that the ring is supposed to be larger then the one shown in that ebay auction, which then would support the tool against the hub allowing you to pull the half shaft through...
 
Maybe they just burred or distorted the ends of hub slightly when pressing bearings in/out. Them guys do not necessarily have the correct accessory parts to press everything they will encounter in the real world. Just the choice of what they used between ram and hub could have been something not really suitable for the job.
 
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