axel problems

[big block]

i was wondering if anyone knows any tricks to line up the left side of splined couplers inside a ford trac loc . i was swaping a differant pumpkin into my 65 f-100 from a bronco rear ive been saving for 20 years . to get a better ratio for my 429 c-6 combo the single trac 3:25 wasnt performing so this is a 3:50 posi but here is my problem left axel wont slide in all the way so after a few hours of cusing and trying to figure out why i pulled the third member to look at on the bench and can see the rt side has a coupler a inch or so wide the left has two smaller ones that equal a inch or so . my problem is the splines dont line up and i cant seem to move them indapendently . any suggesstions are appriecateed

[Eric L]

I can only think of 2 ways this would happen

1. someone has been inside the differential, and didnt put it back together right... what else they didn't do right is what scares me.

2. maybe the previous vehicle lost a axle bearing and as the axle slid out it caused the problem.

???

to fix you just need to loosen or remove the bolts that hold the carrier together and use an axle to line everything back up. there is too much spring tension on the assembly to do it controllably otherwise... not enough spring that you should worry about physical injury tho.. its not gonna fly apart and hurt you.

[big block]

eric,
thanks for your responce , this 9 in rear was in a running bronco when i pulled it in 1991. oem set up from ford. been moving it around since! 10 years ago i broke a axel in another bronco and pulled the left one out of this houseing it was the wrong size wheel bearing so i slid it back in and bought strange axels! i dont think it ever went in all the way since then and i didnt worry about it until now trying to use the third member . i was gonna try two axels w/ wheels attached but thought there might be a eaiser way. i dint really want to disturb the set up on ring & pinion. wes

[Hawkrod]

A slipped clutch gear is common on a Tlock and is no cause for alarm. They often slip when the axle is removed if it is rotated hard on removal. Lining them up can be fun especially if it has sat for a while. You simply instal an axle as far as you can and rotate it hard. It is best done with the center in a housing and the other axle in and the yoke locked as it makes it dramatically easier to break free. Hawkrod

[big block]

thanks hawkrod,
im going to put it all back together and try to rotate it . now that i saw and know shouldnt be to hard . thanks for your input ive probbibly changed 20 or so axels in the past but never ran into that before but i guess most were lockers / spools / or open diffs. thanks wes.

[Hawkrod]

thanks hawkrod,
im going to put it all back together and try to rotate it . now that i saw and know shouldnt be to hard . thanks for your input ive probbibly changed 20 or so axels in the past but never ran into that before but i guess most were lockers / spools / or open diffs. thanks wes.

No problem but be forewarned, it can take more pressure than you expect to break it free. If it is a tight Tlock and has sat they really don't want to move! LOL Hawkrod

[cdeal28078]

Do search on this also as I think somebody else just had this problem and found an easy way to get the axle back in. I never have luck with searches or I would find it myself. Others always seem to find what they are looking for those so I am sure you will find it
clint

[big block]

got it together put rt side axel in put truck weight on rt side tire bolted driveshaft to hold pinion put left axel in as far as it would go bolted a dead wheel to axel (kinda like a angle iron piece) jacked the the end of angle iron and pished in at same time got it! pulled hole shot iin front lot posi works but am going to get friction modifer today before i drive on the street diff seema a littel noisie and stiff .

[Hawkrod]

got it together put rt side axel in put truck weight on rt side tire bolted driveshaft to hold pinion put left axel in as far as it would go bolted a dead wheel to axel (kinda like a angle iron piece) jacked the the end of angle iron and pished in at same time got it! pulled hole shot iin front lot posi works but am going to get friction modifer today before i drive on the street diff seema a littel noisie and stiff .

Congrats! Bolting the wheel on was a good idea as it gives you leverage. Friction modifier is critical do not drive even a little without it. I have seen friction plates scraped clean in less than 2 miles because friction modifier was missed. Hawkrod

[big block]

all is good idrove her home last night 35 miles ea way she didnt lock up on me so i think im ok aftersitting for 20 years wasnt sure posi unit has gotten better though still chatters abit at slow parking lot turns . all in all GREAT SITE !! ive been working on cars & trucks almost my whole life 45 years old and have never asked a computer fourm type question but i found this site and have been reading old posts and other stuff all i can say is i will be here a while because i am a ford nut!! and this site has a lot of good people and tech . thanks hawkrod