Confused on 52 m38 front axle

edmmatj · Post by **edmmatj** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 8:45 pm

Working on getting my 52 m38 running again. Front drivers side axle was grinding and binding up so I tore into it. Once I split it apart 3 ball bearings fell out. It was real nasty in there. 4 of the balls are completely round and one has a groove with a hole in it. I reassembled the shafts(which are a little wore on the knuckles) out of the axle housing and put the bearings back in them. It seems that when I turn the shafts as if i were turning the wheels the ball bearings do not want to stay in. I just want to try to find out why the bearings fell out of there in the first place. If anyone has any experience with these and could enlighten with some info me that would be excellent. thanks a lot
Matt

Post by **wesk** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 12:43 am

Matt,
Are you looking at a Tracta, Bendix or Rzeppa? The Rzeppa has a cage for it's balls. The first two do not. The Bendix center ball is groved. The restricted inboard / outboard movement of the knuckle halves keeps the balls in. They won't stay when you are turning them on the table by hand.

They do not make parts for the first two. You can still find Rzeppa parts here and there. The final move is to upgrade to the Spicer cross bolt joint. Looks like a regular "U" Joint. The Spicer restricts steering travel slightly so the stops have to be readjusted.

The rest of the cahpter is here:
http://jeephubs.mypicgallery.com/

edmmatj · Post by **edmmatj** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 5:12 am

Thanks a lot for the great info. I have the third assembly from the top (second picture) with the ball bearings. I did no find a pin in the center ball when i disassembled. Could this have broke causing my problems?

Post by **wesk** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 9:31 am

Yes the missing pin or pins for the center ball will allow the other balls more rrom to move that they should not have.