Rearend and front end

[1971ford]

If they both work fine, but you are doing a frame-off total rebuild on the truck, would you fully disassemble both axles to rebuild them?
I'm thinking I'll just replace the 1 or 2 leaky axle sealas or brake cylinders or whatever it is thats leaking, change the oil and be done. Besides stripping it and POR-15 to be purdy.
If it ain't broke don't fix it? Or should i have you guys put together a list of seals and such for me to replace..

[fordman]

that kind of depends on several factors. is the truck going to be driven alot? daliy driver? are the bearings worn out and sloppy? is it going to be a show piece? is it going to be resold. do you want to spend the money? do you know how to do the work or will someone else have to do it for you (pay them)?
my front axle needs it. the pinon yoke moves back and forth. so the bearing is worn out. who knows what might be damaged in there.

you know if its in pretty good shape i wouldn't do it. if it is untrusty. then i would look at it drive it to test it out. if its worn enough go ahead and do it now.

[1971ford]

Good questions...
It is going to be a stripped down frame-off rebuild, not a show piece though. It will also be my daily driver, off-road racing CHASE truck, tow vehicle to tow the race truck to the races and off the side of the course or back onto its wheels and accasional goofing off on some obstacles. I'll spend the money if i have to. My dad has done a rearend or two before, but other than that i don't have expererience. I'm sure i know a guy who know's a guy though... I have quite a few connections.
I haven't touched either axle yet... ok i took the tag off the rear to clean and read it to see what gears (4.10's) but that's it.

So what check/test's should i do?

[averagef250]

None of my vehicles are show winners, but they are clean, good drivers. What I do is measure the ring gear backlash and run a test pattern on the teeth for refference, tear the axles mostly down, inspect everything and have all the parts including the housings hot tanked. I do not sand blast axles, it's just too much crap to get inside for me.

I replace all the seals, make sure the bearings are good, check the pinion and carrier preloads, replace any bad fasteners, replace trunnion bearings/U-joints, tie rods and pack the front wheel bearings. Replace anything in the brakes that looks suspect, buy brand new E-brake cables from inline tube. I completely assemble the axles then I paint the axles up with either low gloss black urathane equipment enamel or low gloss back rattle can engine paint. I also try to locate the thicker dana axle covers for the front and rear when I put them back together.

All this sounds like a lot of work, but it isn't that bad really. You're just cleaning everything up and inspecting it so you know exactly what's going on under your truck. If everything is in working order you're looking at around $350-$600 in parts.

If your front axle is sloppy it's a good idea to switch it out for a newer disc brake unit. The old drum closed knuckle axles are difficult to maintain.

[zakt]

Got the rear axle for my frame off and have to regear it so might do the hot tank depending on cost but will clean the housing and make it pretty just depends how . So will buy the master kit and do everything and it is a rear drum so convert it to disk brakes also while Im at it. The front will be new axle so wont have anything to do there...