Major Malfunction!

[AndyD]

I knew this Sammy was almost too good to be true...

I'd even got all my warning lights and gauges working properly the other day,
But now I have my first major issue, something big's gone wrong in the rear axle
The low grumbling that I thought was a dry wheelbearing must've been the inner bearing on the diff.
Driving home last night it started sounding like bricks in a tumble drier,felt a lot of drag and jolting every now and again, I think loads of bits are gonna fall out the diff case when I check it...

Anyone got a spare samurai rear axle???

[ScottieJ]

Are you 100% sure its the diff? Have you jacked up each wheel and checked for play in the bearings etc.

No need to buy a complete axle it's only about an hours work tops to swap out a diff if it is the diff.

[AndyD]

No I'm not 100% sure what it is yet, kinda why I want I complete spare axle to swap whatever's gone and keep the rest for spares.
As I say, I thought it was just a wheel bearing at first but noises and clunks feel more like they're from the middle of the axle than the wheel.
When I got back home last night I felt the axle and it was unusually warm around the diff and the o/s end, compared to a colder n/s and the whole front axle (well the front diff was fairly warm but it is just under the engine).
I'm wondering more about the bearings the diff are on than the diff itself...

I'm away for a week so won't get chance to find the problem yet and I don't want to have it in bits for too long when i'm back, just erring on the side of caution (and bracing for sods law) with asking for an axle, but if anyone nearby did happen to have a spare? I'd take it...

[Edweird]

Is there any oil in the diff?

[ScottieJ]

Wheel bearings can feel pretty bad and make some bloody big chunks when they fail. Honestly from my experience you'll be better off working out what's wrong and then just buying whats needed to fix it rather than a complete axle that could end up being just as bad as the one you already have fitted.

Wheel bearings are also no more than 1hours work to change.

Diffs do get warm, that's quite normal.

[twiss]

If a wheel bearing is that bad you probably will be able to tell by jacking it up and wiggling the wheels.
I would jack up both rear wheels and have a play spinning them round... or get a mate to spin them so you can listen to the bearings and diff.

Rather than getting a whole axle... I would personally get a replacement diff (if it is the diff) and some brand new wheel bearings. Its a bit more extra hassle but well worth it in the long run!

[AndyD]

Right,
Well I finally got a chance to look at at...
Got wheels and drums off and the o/s is quite full of oil! (also a bit of brake fluid too!)
So I've got 2 new wheel bearing kits (may as well do both while I'm at it) 1 new wheel cylinder, new set of shoes and diff oil.

I'm just having a bit of an issue getting the 4 nuts off the axle housing to remove the retaining plate to get the axles out...
I'm guessing the stupid little lip around the plate is supposed to stop the bolts from spinning, which it doesn't do on rusty bolts, and that same stupid lip makes it impossible to get a spanner or socket on the bolt head! Who's crap design was that!
So... I got a nice solid drift and I'll try bending the plate away from the bolt head to get a socket on.
If that doesn't work then cut the bolts?
I'll put new nuts and bolts in either way.

Nothing's ever easy...

[AndyD]

Ok, so I've bent the lip back and got all the bolts off.
Looks like I won't have to disconnect the brakes as the backplate is separate to the retaining plate.
Do the bearing kits come with new plates? Or will it just be ok to reuse?
Just need to get the axle out now, but BFH and reversed drum doesn't seem to be working, am I gonna have to get a slide hammer?

[twiss]

Bearing kits dont normally come with new plates and it should be ok to use the retaining plates if they aren't ruined
You can sometimes pull the shafts out by putting the wheels and brake drums back on.
Gives you something to yank on

[ScottieJ]

http://WWW.muddyzook.com do heavy-duty bearing retainer plates, they also do split ones that make it nice and easy to swap out spare shafts