Quote:
Originally Posted by daimlerdude
Stretch, thanks for the tentative confirmation, and the link to the video, which originally led me to suspect that the axle was bad. However, I was trying to avoid having to remove it until I had a replacement, and I didn't want to get a replacement until I could confirm it was the axle.
Ergo, even though the video said it had to be removed to test it, I was wondering if I could tell it was bad without removing it. And you just did that to some extent.
Accordingly, I guess I need to look around for a good used axle or a rebuilt one, since the new ones I see advertised seem to be Chinese junk.
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It is harder to check the axles on the vehicle - if you raise the vehicle and then lift or lower the trailing arm into different positions you can get the axle to be in different "in out" positions and then you can wiggle / twist the ends to see if there is excessive wear: BUT! Because the axle cans are constrained it is possible to miss the greatest wear spot. It is much easier to find a problem with the axles removed.
As for replacement axles - well vstech (DD moderator) sells rebooted second hand units. Most people report good things about GKN axles. If, however, you get the annular axle type make sure you fit the bolts with loctite. (There have been reports of these bolts coming loose - this is the inboard differential end)