Rear Axle locked up

Bonnie_72_F100 · Post by **Bonnie_72_F100** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 8:43 pm

I've been posting on FTE with no avail to figure out what could be wrong with my rear axle.

I thought it was rusty drums, but I removed the drums and with the truck in neutral and the e-brake off I cannot get the axle to turn.

I'm about to 'give up' and let my mechanic take a look @ it this week. Please let me know if anyone here has any experience with the same or may know what is locking up my rear axle.

Thanks!

Cooke

averagef250 · Post by **averagef250** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 9:01 pm

What? You weren't satisfied with FTE???? Welcome to Fordification! A good percentage of the members here are permanantly banned from FTE and pretty proud of it too!

What's the history behind the axle? Was it sitting for awhile before you tried to move it? How hard have tried to force it and were you trying to turn the axles or the pinion yoke?

I've seen axles that have sat outside for awhile develop rust in the pinion bearings. In fact, I just put a late model sterling in a customers truck that had sat outside and had that happen. I pulled the pinion out and used some coarse scotch brite on the bearing races to get the rust off. Put it back together and it's doing fine.

Blue Cloud · Post by **Blue Cloud** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 9:02 pm

That happened to me years ago in high school. I went through 2 rearends from spinning out too much.

Sounds like your rearends shot.

Bonnie_72_F100 · Post by **Bonnie_72_F100** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 9:26 pm

averagef250 wrote:What's the history behind the axle? Was it sitting for awhile before you tried to move it? How hard have tried to force it and were you trying to turn the axles or the pinion yoke?

I've seen axles that have sat outside for awhile develop rust in the pinion bearings. In fact, I just put a late model sterling in a customers truck that had sat outside and had that happen. I pulled the pinion out and used some coarse scotch brite on the bearing races to get the rust off. Put it back together and it's doing fine.

It definitely could be a rust issue somewhere other than the brakes. It was garage kept for 18 years but the garage did have some moisture & there is significant under-body rust. I have zero automotive experience. Is pulling the 'pinion' out & using scotch brite on the bearing races something that I can do with only a jack and a could small jack stands?

What is my mechanic (who I trust mostly) going to charge me to rub some scotch brite on this & get it going??

Thanks!

BobbyFord · Post by **BobbyFord** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 9:45 pm

It's going to need more than scotch-brite.
You can get a used 3rd member for around $100.

lightning_msd · Post by **lightning_msd** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 9:58 pm

If it were me i would try to do a brake stand

averagef250 · Post by **averagef250** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 10:09 pm

That way he can replace his third member and driveline!

Thunderfoot · Post by **Thunderfoot** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 1:20 am

Not sure which trany you have, but you might unhook the drive line from the rear end to be sure it is a problem with the rear and not the trany

fmartin_gila1 · Post by **fmartin_gila1** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 3:38 am

Thunderfoot wrote:Not sure which trany you have, but you might unhook the drive line from the rear end to be sure it is a problem with the rear and not the trany

Yep, cause if it's an auto in Park or if it's a manual in gear and you have a locker of any type, you will have a hard time to turn the axle.
Fred

MadMaxetc · Post by **MadMaxetc** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 12:02 pm

He said he had it in Nuteral.

I have never had a rear end lockup before. Even ones that sat in a salvage yard for years still turned.

What Year and size of truck are we talking about.

I kind of suspect the Trans myself.

Bonnie_72_F100 · Post by **Bonnie_72_F100** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 4:48 pm

It's 1972 F100, 2WD with a 360 FE...

I was afraid someone would mention a possible "T-word" problem. I just had one repaired on my wife's sedan & it cost an arm & leg.

I will play around with the drivetrain tonight and see if the problem is isolated to the axle/differential.

Can I take the back cover off the differential (to try & see what's not-rotating inside) without jacking the truck up?

Thanks, Cooke

Thunderfoot · Post by **Thunderfoot** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 5:44 pm

If it still has the stock Ford F100 rear end, then there is not a rear cover on the housing... It should be a 9" rear end and the carrier assembly comes out the front of the housing. You have to remove the axles to pull it out of the housing...
If it has something differant in it that has a rear cover, Yes, you can remove the cover with it sitting on the ground. Just put a drain pain under it to catch the oil...

Post by **FORDification** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 5:46 pm

You should have a 9" Ford rearend under your F100, and it won't have a removable rear cover. In order to inspect the gears you'll have to pull the axles out of the housing and then drop the third member out from the front. It's actually very easy, and only requires a gasket to replace.

Bonnie_72_F100 · Post by **Bonnie_72_F100** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 7:58 am

Yup. 9" ... but the story continues.

I called the tow truck to bring it to the shop b/c I'm anxious & dying to be able to actually drive bonnie. The tow truck came and began towing her up onto the flatbed... WOULDN'T you know it!?

THE BACK AXLE ROTATED!!!!

I was so obnoxiously frustrated & dumbfounded that I told him to tow it anyway. I called the shop & told them to check the brake system & give me a call.

Sigh, gotta love the classic trucks...

MadMaxetc · Post by **MadMaxetc** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 9:46 am

hope you get it figured out.

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