Quick question about B4000 front axle/transfer case joint

[Toadclub]

I finished replacing the clutch of my 1998 4x4 b4000 last night, and had to pack the bearings into the joint about a dozen times with the transfer case balanced on my knees and stomach so it was hard to tell details! Since the Haynes manual doesn't actually have any details regarding the connection or picture I had to puzzle it out. I want to double check before I engage it.

The connection on this truck (if they're not typical) is channels inside the transfer end coupling and the axle end has a spindle with channels, with six bearings in a loose race. The way I assembled it was pushing the bearings into the race just enough that they were trapped and the assembly could fit into the coupling, held in by moly grease, and then guiding the spindle into the assembly while lifting the transfer case up and onto the transmission. I had to do this a few times and at some point the axle rotated into the next alignment, ie offset by 60 degrees, but since the channels have a paired pattern this seems ok.The joint bolts tightened without trouble.

The bearing race in the connection is pushed back into the coupling, at an angle, does it need to be resting evenly between the coupling grooves and the spindle grooves? The channels looked symmetrical (well three sets,) is it super bad that they are offset by one pair?

Lastly, when I spin the axle by hand the joint travels through a pretty irregular rotation, it goes from mostly centered to offset nearly even with the side of the coupling, but I can turn it with two hands so it's not locked up. Is this meant to be a cambered joint?

 

[pjtoledo]

are you talking about the constant velocity joint at the transfer case end of the front driveshaft? no wobbles allowed there. it is critical to clean and lube that CV joint, it will shake like heck if you get a dry ball.

 

[Mickey Bitsko]

Hope you don't have to replace it, costs an arm and part of your leg, just had to replace mine ...ouch

 

[Toadclub]

Yeah, it must be the CV, it's opposite the u joint. I bedded the bearings in new grease and put a blob in front of each to work onto the spindles, without over packing it.

I'm not too worried about blowing it out, it's never engaged. I have to finish some side work before I can attack it again, and I'll build a proper harness for my jack so it's supported properly. Any ideas on assembling it more easily?

 

[Toadclub]

Mickey your advice cost me a little sleep but good thing, as I took the truck into a great trans shop, Stan's in Vancouver, and it was definitely assembled incorrectly.
The reason I had so much trouble is the outer casing didn't come off the transfer case when I dissasembled it, apparently it was very stuck. The shop pointed out that assembling this joint by trying to drive in the inner shaft into the bearings wouldnt work.