M38 Rear axle help

xdragoon · Post by **xdragoon** » Fri Apr 05, 2013 9:01 am

I installed my axles last night and found that the left bearing race went in flush with the end of the axle tube but the right bearing race was protruding out by an 1/8 of an inch. It seemed to be fully seated. I was wandering if this situation is normal or should they both be either flush or protuding out by an 1/8"?

jimm · Post by **jimm** » Fri Apr 05, 2013 12:19 pm

This has been discussed on the forum before. Search on "rear axle" and you might find the thread.
Basically, the left and right axles are interdependent - one affects the other because they meet in the middle - and their positions are controlled by shims, or more correctly, the combination of shims on the left and right sides. End play as specified in the manual is total end play - you can't do one side and then the other. If you care about centering, or equal protrusion, (which isn't terribly important), you can move shims from one side to the other to get what you want.

xdragoon · Post by **xdragoon** » Fri Apr 05, 2013 2:12 pm

Thank you for the reply. I did search for rear axle but could not find that specific issue. You gave me the info I needed.

Post by **wesk** » Fri Apr 05, 2013 4:38 pm

It's on page 250 of TM 9-8012.

xdragoon · Post by **xdragoon** » Fri Apr 05, 2013 6:25 pm

Hi Wes,
Thanks for your reply. I have read that section many times and could not figure this out. It wasn't until I read Jimm's post that the light bulb went on. I now have the axle's installed. Thank you for all the help that you and others provide on this site. I really appreciate it.