What are you doing today? [Part II]

Blackstone Labs. I don't recall where I got their name, undoubtedly here on this forum.
Blackstone labs report, compared to Speediagnostix, is not as detailed or thorough. Blackstone is less expensive though. I think by $15. My neighbor across the street has an F150 5.4 that me and my shop owner friend put an engine in about 1.5 years ago. Speediagnostix oil analysis reports for that engine is 4 pages of info. IIRC, Blackstone reports are 2 pages. I have never compared line by line though. You can visit the Speediagnostix web site to compare.
 
I finished up the brakes on our new to us 2020 5th gen Ram 1500. I bled 1.5 litres of brake fluid through it, greased the slide pins, popped the rotors, antiseize on the hubs and a little grease in the hubs. It is functioning great.

Today, I went to change the gear oil front and back. Noticed some weeping from the disconnect actuator. The rubber seal had a slight imperfection so I white trashed it with a little rtv to smooth things out. During this, noticed the driver side cv inner tripot had way to much lateral play. I am part way tearing it out and found the dam shaft splines are seized in the hub bearing. This girl has never been apart from what I can see.

I cycled some heat, penetrant and a hammer. No dice. I left it soaking and will try again tomorrow. Napa had a new cv in stock so I am ready to go.

The front gear oil looked damn near original, so its a good time to swap it out.
 
I finished up the brakes on our new to us 2020 5th gen Ram 1500. I bled 1.5 litres of brake fluid through it, greased the slide pins, popped the rotors, antiseize on the hubs and a little grease in the hubs. It is functioning great.

Today, I went to change the gear oil front and back. Noticed some weeping from the disconnect actuator. The rubber seal had a slight imperfection so I white trashed it with a little rtv to smooth things out. During this, noticed the driver side cv inner tripot had way to much lateral play. I am part way tearing it out and found the dam shaft splines are seized in the hub bearing. This girl has never been apart from what I can see.

I cycled some heat, penetrant and a hammer. No dice. I left it soaking and will try again tomorrow. Napa had a new cv in stock so I am ready to go.

The front gear oil looked damn near original, so its a good time to swap it out.
Is there a cir clip holding the axle in?
 
@movietvet there is no c clip from what I can see. The inner tripot came off the differential stub shaft easy enough but the rest had been a nightmare.

so, an all night soak, cycled more heat and wouldn't even budge with an air chisel. Ok, picked up an 8 pound sledge. Nothing. Began mushrooming the threads. Beat on it more. Nothing at all. Couldnt remove the cv/bearing as one as there is not enough clearance to get the bolts out. Had to beat the knuckle to get the lower ball joint off just to find there is not enough clearance to pull the whole knuckle.

Well, I put it all back together and had to clean up the threads with a grinder to get the axle nut back on. Had to use the 3/4" drive ratchet and a snipe to put the nut on, just for it to strip before fully seating on the hub. Well, piss on you, the rust will hold it together long enough for me to Jam it into a river.

After the long weekend, we'll look for a shop to get a second opinion. On a good note, I got the front and rear gear oil done. Used a left over half bag of valvoline gear oil from the skid steer hubs. Where were these my whole life? Topped the bag off with my favorite group 4 based 75w90 and it went quick.

I still need to pick up a pan/filter, fluid for the 8 speed and figure out what tractor fluid to use in the transfer case. Then start this all over again with the other vehicles we got....
 

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I can't ever remember that happening on any of my GMT360s. I guess this is on the Ram? 2020? And you're not even in the salt rust belt. That's all I'm sayin' ... :biggrin:

A large 3 arm gear puller should be able do it. I've seen SMA use an air chisel be able to push it in. If it's really that stuck, a shop might have to heat the hub and will need to replace that as well. At the absolute worse, might have to cut the axle stub still in the hub.
 
I misunderstood. I thought you were talking about having a problem removing at the transaxle. At the hub, there is no cir clip. There may not even be a cir clip at the transaxle.

You can thread the nut back on to where the outer edge of nut is completely flush with the end of shaft. Then use a large dead blow hammer.

I lived in the rust belt before, KC, Mo., and never had one I could not get apart.

HEAT!!!!!!!
 
Yeah, this Ram is a pain. I remember similar but not as severe when working on my 2011 Ram 1500. We do get heavy potash on the roads in the winter but we just don't have the humidity like you eastern boys. Its bad but not Ontario bad.

I am contemplating a large puller and just ripping it all apart. Hell, was even considering pulling the new CV apart and trying to mate the new inner tripot to the old cv........ regardless, I do not like having something that is not serviceable.
 
Round 1..... no dice. Used the puller and the 8 pound. Hopefull it might have budged, just a bit.... almost broke the windshield as a small impact socket I put on the forcing screw went airborne after a sledge strike. Made that nice noise steel makes hitting glass......

Tomorrow, I will go more primal. I have a huge steel breaker bar to lock the wheel lugs and will break out the 3/4" ratchet to give the forcing screw much more than the impact could give.
 

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When that thing breaks loose, stand back/by for a "shot" sound and maybe something flying. I still say heat or remove the entire assembly and take to a press.
 
Ok, the truck is booked in with a local heavy duty mechanic. Great guy, by the way. Swinging by the dealer parts tomorrow for a new hub just in case. While the dealer wants to absolve them of this, they at least are offering needed parts at a steep discount. Whatever, you have to pay to play.

I rolled the Jeep in to begin its maintenance. That thing is a fickle bitch. In 10 minutes, thats setup and cleanup, the rear diff was done. Took a while to remove the front splash guard as its an interesting contraption (will be much easier now on) but what a mess for the front diff. Just poor access. The fill is recessed in and you require an ability to contort and a liberal acceptance for gear oil to drip on you. The drain, while easily visible is partially obscured by yet another sort of sheet metal cross member. No, im not messing with another thing. Needed an 8mm Allen to open the drain plug and 8mm hex on a small extension for the fill. Either way, its done.

I found I was low on ATF so I'll do the transfer case tomorrow. Its actually easy to access with nothing to remove.
 

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