Ranger Front axle shaft removal

[BPiston]

1986 Ford Ranger, 4WD. 2.3L engine. Trying to remove the right axle shaft for the purpose of replacing ball joints. Rotor is off, Spindle is off, Splash shield is off. Cannot get the right axle to pull through. The axle/ujoint shaft splines into the stub shaft. There is suppose to be a rubber boot at this point where the axle shaft slides into the stub shaft. I guess the previous owner may have removed it but anyway it has been exposed to the elements now and it appears that these two pieces have become one. I am looking for suggestions as to how to seperate the axle shaft. I have applied some heat from propane torch. That is all. Right now it is going to soak over night with PB blaster sprayed on it. Thanks!

 

[kunar]

sounds like you are on the right track. on that side you will have to split things at the slip joint, which it sounds like you already know. if that slip joint is seized up, pb blaster and heat would be my first choice as well. alternate between the two, might take a few tries.

 

[70roadrunner]

if you have acces to a slide hammer, that may help also. dont bang too hard, you may damage the u-joint, but i would replace the joint while it was out anyway

 

[BPiston]

OK, It is out. Heat it up, sprayed cold PB blaster, attack with air hammer with flat round bit. Did this over and over. Took just over three hours. Destroyed the end cap. ( I think it is some kind of a seal)I didn't try the slide hammer cause I couldn't see a good place to attach it. Inner U-joint still looks good. No free play. So I guess I can finally get going on the ball joints. Does anybody know where I can get the rubber boot that goes on the axle shaft slip joint to keep this from happening again? Ford dealership here said no longer available. It is the Dana 28. Thanks for all your advice!

 

[PanamaExpat]

Do you have enough of the old boot for a comparison? Here when I need a boot I take as much of the old one as I have left to one of the parts stores and they guy will go in the back and match it up to something Japanese or Korean. You will find those boots are like shocks... Many vehicles use the same ones. Try NAPA they may have the boot you need in their books.

 

[BPiston]

Panama Expat wrote: Do you have enough of the old boot for a comparison?


Good Idea. I have half the boot. The part that went on the female side. The part that goes on the outer axle was missing or cut off. That side would be a little smaller. And I guess this boot would have to flex some. I haven't tried putting the shaft back in yet but I have to make sure it will slide in and out as necessary as the suspension requires. I am planning on using zip ties if I do find a boot. Hope that is OK.

 

[70roadrunner]

i would seriously consider getting a new shaft from a junkyard. replace both joints before installing. the 2 halves need to slide freely or you are gonna damage parts

 

[BPiston]

i would seriously consider getting a new shaft from a junkyard. replace both joints before installing. the 2 halves need to slide freely or you are gonna damage parts

Not a bad idea either. I will check it out.

 

[BPiston]

Six States is ordering the boot for me. However, I believe I am going with "70roadrunner's" idea of getting a complete right axle from a salvage yard. No one in Utah had one but I found one in New Mexico. The reason I am going with another axle is because I can't get these two parts, (the right outer axle shaft and the stub shaft) back together without hammering it in. I think that is what the previous guy did and thus why I had such a hard time getting them apart. It maybe possible that the wrong axle was forced into the stub shaft. I don't know but it has to be forced with the "persuader". So if the used axle does not have a boot at least I have a new one coming and now I am going to have to drop the differential to remove the stub shaft. (Do we see a C-Clip emliminator happening?) All this because I just wanted to change my ball joints. Is it really possible this is the wrong axle or maybe it is just out of round and damaged? Looks fine. Cleaned it the best I could. Thanks guys!

 

[88_Eddie]

LMC truck should also have the boot

 

[BPiston]

LMC truck should also have the boot

Thanks. I called LMC truck. Boot no longer available.

 

[BPiston]

Update Installed a complete right axle from a salvage yard. The rubber boot on it was in very nice condition. All back together now. Just need an alignment. Thanks for all your ideas.

 

[fyre82]

Good job!