Bent axle re visit

[Denisefwd93]

While doing the brakes on the back of my truck over the past couple days I had a chance to take a more relaxed look at the right side axle, it definitely moves up and down. And the wheel or brake drum has a slight wobble very slight but it's definitely a wobble.

I know Explorer rears axles all the rage. But a single axle shaft is about $120, I don't think it's possible to get a rear and assembly (3.27) from an explorer for under $300

Big question, has anyone actually replaced and Axle I had that shake at 55 & 35 mph go away?

Just once before I die I would like to have a truck that doesn't shake various speeds!

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Is the bearing worn causing the up and down movement? I happen to have some NOS G2 brand outer bearings for the 7.5", could ship on your dime.
Without the drum on, if you put an indicator against the outside edge of the axle flange, you get runout? How much?

 

[Denisefwd93]

Is the bearing worn causing the up and down movement? I happen to have some NOS G2 brand outer bearings for the 7.5", could ship on your dime.
Without the drum on, if you put an indicator against the outside edge of the axle flange, you get runout? How much?

It's an 8.8, it definitely moves up and down 1/16" not a lot, but it does. I didn't use a gauge to check the wobble without the brake drum but it does

Years ago I had a Chevy full-size pickup truck had the same shake I spent over thousand dollars or more on driveshafts and everything at the shop and it still was shaking he said "well maybe it's a spider gear"

my awd Safari van, one day in the city drove off a curb it actually heard the rear axle bearing crack, then it started shaking on the highway.

It did it with the old 2 PC driveshaft. New u joints in the new old 1pc D's. Wheel balance is good rotating the wheels I thought had a bad tire but it wasn't, it's still shaking. when I get another break in the weather I'll get somebody to help me look inside differential. There is a definite "tink" in the rear when going from forward to reverse.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

It sounds like a bearing to me. They are not expensive and not that hard to replace. You need to get to the dif anyways to remove the c-clip to take the axle out. Do it all at once. Now if you're rotating the axle inside the axle tube and it's wobbling in and out, that is a bent shaft. The flange is no longer perpendicular to the shaft.

 

[Denisefwd93]

it's funny whenever I do a search for rear axles on the 8.8 it's all right rear always comes up. So I guess it's a fairly common failure. If I do a search for a rear end not from an Explorer but from a ranger I can probably get under $300.
when I get another break in the weather and I get up to the Poconos maybe we'll take the cover off and inspect it.

 

[Denisefwd93]

After sleeping on it I think I'm going to bide my time and just get another rear end for the truck. Much as I love the Explorer 8.8 swap, probably won't do that

 

[Denisefwd93]

Maybe not! It's making a slight chirping sound now when going from forward and reverse or just rocking the truck fwd rev. Sounds like maybe the left side. Next couple warm days I get I'm going to get it in the backyard again and pull the cover off the back I'm pretty sure it's low on lubricant.