Help!!!! trying to remove axles from a 12 bolt differential

From : Annonymous

Q: picked up a 85 ram and had a set of mags from a 83 ramcharger but the bolt pattern was different so changed front rotors no problem but the back axles has me stumped please anyone with info....help email dhjjl @wildroseinternet.ca .

Replies:

From : tom lawrence

picked up a 85 ram and had a set of mags from a 83 ramcharger but the bolt pattern was different so changed front rotors no problem but the back axles has me stumped please anyone with info....help email dhjjl @wildroseinternet.ca im not familiar with the axle but theres three possibilities 1. c-clip axle. these are axles that are secured in the differential by pieces of metal resembling the letter c - hence the name. to remove these you must first remove the differential cover then remove the differential cross shaft usually held in place by a bolt but sometimes a roll pin. once the cross-shaft is removed push in on the axle and remove the c-clip with needlenose pliers or a small magnet magnet usually works best. then simply slide the axle out of the housing. the axle bearings are pressed in to the axle housing and if need be can be pulled out with a slide hammer with inside fingers. 2. full-float axle. these axles bear no weight and float inside the axle housing. they can be identified by a small flange with bolts in the center of the hub. remove the bolts holding the axle flange in place and just pull the axle out may need to tap on it to break the seal between the flange and the hub. there is no axle bearing as the axle is supported by the hub which has its own set of tapered roller bearings. 3. pita axle. i dont recall the proper name for these but they have the outer bearing pressed on to the axle shaft and use a retainer to clamp the bearing into the axle housing. if you see a hood-type looking piece of metal inboard of the hub bolted to the axle housing you may have this type. remove the bolts holding the retainer to the housing then using a slide hammer and adapter bolted to the axle flange/wheel studs rap on it to pull the axle out of the housing. if you need to replace the axle bearing you usually have to bust off the bearing retainer smooth round piece fiercely pressed on to the axle over top of the bearing with a cold chisel then press the bearing off with a large press and a bearing splitter. press on a new bearing and a new retainer. see why i call them a pita if you dont see any characteristics of #2 or #3 you probably have a c-clip axle. .