rear hub pulling question

wtb853 · Post by **wtb853** » Sun Jun 20, 2010 9:38 am

I am rebuilding my axles and would like to pull the rear hubs. I purchased a hub puller, but am stuck on how to finish the job. The photos and articles I researched all show an axle shaft separate from the hub to bear against. However, I have a full floating(?) setup where the axle shaft bolts to the outer hub flange.

The way I see it, I am pulling on the lug studs and pushing on the hub flange (via the axle shaft). I don't see how this can work and am hesitant to crank down that hub puller. What am I missing?? [/img]

Post by **wesk** » Sun Jun 20, 2010 10:07 am

If the axle in your photo is your rear axle then you have a Dana/Spicer model 23-2 WWII MB rear axle which by the way had 4:88 gears or you have a very early CJ2A axle which had 5:38 gears. Either way the hub is removed by removing the jam nut, lock tab washer and lock nut inside the hub and sliding the hub/drum assembly off.

The correct rear axle for the M38 is the Dana / Spicer model 41. This axle is a semi floater and is removed with a puller.

This manual will cover your full floater rear axle.

You need to remove Y, Z, Y and then slide the hub/drum assembly off catching the outer bearings.

You use the same spindle nut socket you use for your front acle hub nuts.

wtb853 · Post by **wtb853** » Tue Jun 22, 2010 1:03 pm

Thanks Wes. That "23" cast into the flange did seem curious. My questions branch out a bit at this point.

First, I have read about the rebuilding and refurbishing of war-time jeeps in Japan, Germany, and here in the US where jeeps were reassembled from piles of parts. Considering my M38 has this axle, M38A1 backing plates, and a GPW model 7700 T/C, is there any way these swaps could have happened at a facility like that? Or are the components from too different of a time period?

Second, the axle in question has "GPA4025" cast in the upper flange. I understand Ford's copy of the Spicer 23-2 put in GPWs was the model GPW 4001. Can anyone make sense of this casting and differentiate if this was an MB or GPW axle. Thanks.

wtb853 · Post by **wtb853** » Tue Jun 22, 2010 1:15 pm

Here is the axle from the original post. I was messing with my album and....................

Post by **wesk** » Tue Jun 22, 2010 5:53 pm

That is most likely a casting number for the housing only. The final machined axle assy with gears would probably be the 4001.

As I mentioned above the ratio of your axle is 4:88 to 1 and the stock front and rear M38 axles are 5:38 to 1. The very early post WWII CJ2A full floating rear axle had 5:38 to 1 gears.

The difference of your front 5:38 to 1's from your rear 4:88 to 1"s will only make be an issue in 4WD on dry surfaces.