I have a 1973 CJ-5 with dana 44's from a '78 J-10 the front and rear both have Detroit Lockers in them. The rear has always been great, but I think there might be something wrong with the one in the front. When I am driving down the road (in two wheel drive) every once in a while there is a big pop from the driver's side of the front axle, and it pulls very slighly to the left. I looked at the front axle, and both shafts have a lot of play in them (they slide in and out of the axle tube almost half an inch). At first I thought it was a broken or missing retaining clip in my selectable hub. I had an extra set of hubs laying around so I just swapped them out. The retaining clips were still intact, I swapped them out in case the problem was my hubs somehow, and there is still a lot of play, the clips keep the axle from going in towards the differential too far, but they can be pulled out about half an inch from where they are supposed to sit. My next guess is my locker, does anyone else have any ideas? Sorry about babbling on, but I dont want to just install a new locker because I think that might be what it is. Thanks for any suggestions.

I doubt that the front locker is the problem with the excessive play in your front axle.

It sounds like the inner spindle bearing (not the wheel bearings)may be shot -- that's the needle bearing that's between the axle shaft (the stub axle part of it) and the inside of the spindle.

Half an inch is way too much play, although you may normally have a little -- never measured it, but I'd say it should be less than 1/16". On a lot of them that I've worked on, there was just enough play to get the hub retaining clips into the groove on the axle.

I believe ther should be a teflon thrust washer next to the spindle bearing. If this is gone, it could contribute to axle end play as you describe.

So the spindle bearings limit the play in the axle shafts in and out, not side to side? Im guessing to replace those i have to remove the hubs, the rotors, then the six bolts behind the rotors? Then what?

Looking at my 80 Jeep FSM which also covers FSJ's, they show seals between the axle stub and spindle along with the spindle bearing for CJ's. For FSJ's they only show the spindle bearing. There should be the same stuff there as in CJ's. I know when I pulled my CJ-5 D30 apart, there was the spindle bearing, a thrust washer and a seal. The text in the manual mentions a bronze thrust washer and it doesn't differentiate between FSJ's or CJ's. In rebuild kits, this thrust washer has been replaced with a plastic/teflon item. I think the manual diagram is incomplete. Hate to leave you with a question mark but if you have 1/2" of endplay on your front axle shafts, something's wrong and you need to tear into it and have a look see. Once you remove the six bolts behind the rotors, you should be able to remove the brake dust shield and the spindle which is very reluctant to come off at times. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

If it was me, I would pull both front, hub/ wheel bearing assemblies completely apart, and pull out the axle shafts and see what all is worn. Odds are if you have been driving it with this additional play, additional parts are worn. I had a drivers side front axle u joint wear out on my Ford, and it had worn out the locking hub as well, just from the additional movement. So the problem may have started as something simple, but after you get into it, you may find you have more parts worn out.

Sean

Well I needed to do the rotors, so I went to my local U-pull and pay, got a set of rotors and hubs, machined the rotors, replaced the races, packed new timkin bearings, got out my extra set of warn locking hubs, and replaced all of that. My bearings looked fine, my locking hubs looked great still. So I am hoping that the only thing wrong with my axle is the spindle bearings. Hopefully I'll be able to pick some up and replace them this weekend. Thanks for the responses.

Be prepared to sweat a bit getting the spindle off. They are usually a SOB to get off. Also, as long as you have the axle shafts out, that would be a good time to go ahead and replace the u-joints on the shafts. take a good look at the dust shields, also, and make sure they're not bent.

So the spindles should just pull out after the six bolts are removed? Any tricks to make them slide out easier?

The spindles are a snug fit in the steering knuckles and on top of that, have a tendency to rust in place. Using a good penetrating oil like PB Blaster helps. I was able to knock one of mine loose with a deadblow mallet. The other side required the use of a gear puller pulling against the axle shaft and doubled up spindle nuts.