I switched out my hubs today and was pretty confused by some obviously missing bolts. I'm pretty sure there are supposed to be bolts there but they were missing from both sides:



what size are the bolts that thread into that hole and what are they really called?

Nothing goes there. It is for pulling the axle through the hub if needed when installing the c-clip. The c-clips retain the axle in the hub.

Michael

are you sure? When looking up the instructions for removing my auto hub the Haynes manual shows a bolt there:



the warn hubs also came with a couple of big washers (the instructions called them "spacers") that fit perfectly right behind the c-clip. but without a bolt there is nothing to hold them in <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Nope, no bolt goes there permanently. If you look at the picture, they're using the bolt in order to pull the axle shaft through. That's all. The C clips are what actually hold the axle shaft inside the hub.

Richard <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

thanks guys! that alleviates a lot of worry <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

is it common for that c-clip to fail? (that's why my auto hubs stopped working - I could have put a new c-clip on there and put them back on but I've wanted manual hubs for a while now)

Will

extremely common for me unfortunately. I just re-secured my driver side auto hub for the 100th time (it seems) last weekend. Heard some metal to metal action down there and yanked that hub cover off. Found the c-clip and three washers all tangled up inside there. I've had this truck (91) for about 6 years now and have replaced both sides at least 2-3 times per side. But see, I'm an idiot. I replace them with a cleaned up version of the same hub. Duuh. Well because that's what I have laying around. I remember the chap that sold this truck to me woudln't let me take it until he "fixes that front hub". At the time I had no idea what he was talking about and thought it was nice of him to do so. You have to have the exact amount of "play" in the axle which mean the exact number of shims that are an exact thickness. Sticking one or two on there to take up space or using a prybar to get that sumbitch as tight as possible before you squeeze that c-clip on are both bad ideas. Manual hubs. Good choice. Much stronger too (from what I hear). I'm kinda slow to catch up sometimes.

It's common for them to fail when someone has serviced them
in the past and not gotten the c-clip seated correct or
they sprung the clip when removing it and didn't replace
it with a good one.
Normally, the clips don't fail... the service person does.

It's always a good idea to replace those clips after removing them to service the hubs.. this helps ensure that
sprung clips don't get put in to cause damaged.