Widetrack Install Problems

[beebee]

I've just tried to install my widetrack rear housing and axles in my lux using my same diff center but I'm having big problems.

The diff's in and siliconed up but the axles won't go in.

The axles won't go far enough into the housing for the brake backing plate and the flange on the housing to meet. They fall short by amout 6mm and each side is the same. There doesn't appear to be anything fouling at the outer end so the axles must be bottoming out in the diff center.

What do I do?

Need answers fast - Has to be ready for work on Saturday and there is lots more stuff to do yet.

[GRUNTLESS]

dont know exactly but when i put a 92 limo in a mates 81 lux the axles bottomed out on the center pin in the center so all i did was cut about 5mm off the axle spline...........................worked no problem since

just a suggestion

[beebee]

Yeah but the thing is that it should fit. I'm fine with chopping a bit off but that shouldn't need to be done to my way of thinking. I'm just unsure if that's the way that it always is or are my bearings etc pressed on incorrectly (highly unlikely and physiclly impossible [I think]) or if I'm meant to use a different backing plate.

Thanks for the suggestion though.

[GRUNTLESS]

i didnt thik of that though `really it should fit im running a 80 something model in the rear of my 4 runner and it fit no worrys

have you tried doing the nuts up to pull the axle in

[beebee]

Yeah tried that and it just wouldn't go. I tightened it up enough that the axle wouldn't turn so it's obviously getting fouled somewhere. I can't just be the backing plate up against the housing flange. Even when it bound, the backing plate was about 3mm off the housing flange.

[GRUNTLESS]

some one else that comes on later might have more of an idea..........

crack out the nine inch

[beebee]

STOP IT!

I don't need this peer pressure - the frustration is already building. :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

I don't know if I can hold out.......

[GRUNTLESS]

use a piece of 6mm ply to space the gap

[beebee]

Nah.... Just throw a few washers in there to space it out!

I've seen pics of this done to extend driveshafts.

[beebee]

Come on people post up. Surely I'm not the only one with this problem.

Having a shaft that is too long I mean.

[RUFF]

Dave are the Axles you are using from the housing you have?

Only reason i ask is that i remember someone saying that the coil sprung vehicles were actually slightly wider again but i doubted this before but now you have this prob then maybe they were right.
I have never had a prob fitting mine and ive bent a few axles.

[beebee]

No the axles aren't from the housing that I have. Is there enough spline length to just remove say 6-8mm from the end? The housing was from a leaf rear. Do all the longer axles have the larger circular plate (with the studs in it) on the outer end? I've had to machine the centre hole in my drums to accept the new axles. I was under the impression that the IFS Hiluxs (as opposed to 4runner and surfs) used the smaller outer hub thingie.

Thanks for your reply.

[RUFF]

Yeah i cant see it hurting to remove some of the axle. And AFAIK all IFS axles have the larger hub centre wether they are 4runner or not.

[beebee]

Thanks for the info Ruff. I'll get around to delivering that towbar. ATM it is all that is holding the rear of my chassis off the ground - plus the two stands underneath it of course. Now I got the axles sorted, I'll be able to get those wheels back on then I can start teaching it how to crawl.

[Wendle]

I have seen this phenomenon before. When we had the same problem we went back to the yard where the housing came from and compared a couple of different ones. There was two wide coily housings, one was the same width as the normal hilux IFS rear, and the other one was 16mm wider? maybe from a newer surf or something?? The dude at the yard didn't know what it was out of

[suprasurf]

Take the diff head back out again before taking to the axles.

Surely you need to confirm that they are hitting the diff. If you remove diff and the axles then fit.. well chop em BUT if you remove the diff and axles don't fit then choppin em aint gonna help !!

Hell its only RTV youre wasting instead of possibly wasting axles !!!

[beebee]

Thanks for the help guys but the axles have already had the weight customisation performed. I cut about 8-10mm of each spline. Do you think the reduction in rotating mass will affect braking or more power?

I didn't get a chance to get on here to see what others had said before I chopped them. But after the chop everthing worked well so no harm done. So diff is in, brakes fitted and set, wheels and tyres on but still gotta get a brakeline fixed as I crossthreaded it getting everthing back together. Hopefully ready for some wheeling on sunday!

[beebee]

Thanks for the help guys but the axles have already had the weight customisation performed. I cut about 8-10mm of each spline. Do you think the reduction in rotating mass will affect braking or more power?

I didn't get a chance to get on here to see what others had said before I chopped them. But after the chop everthing worked well so no harm done. So diff is in, brakes fitted and set, wheels and tyres on but still gotta get a brakeline fixed as I crossthreaded it getting everthing back together. Hopefully ready for some wheeling on sunday!