Hi Folks,

Here's the latest update on the situation for those interested in my axle saga.

I just got off the phone with the tech at the dealer. He tells me the wheel bearings are fine and that it's normal for them to have about 1/4" of play and to float up and down like they were doing. I remember a helpful post on this thread saying something like that, but I didn't quite understand it at the time until the tech explained it to me. The tech said that once I tighten the backing plate onto the axle tube flange, then that will be the final "press" that needs to be done for the bearings to fit flush inside the backing plate area. He also said that the bearings are the correct size on each of them, otherwise they wouldn't have been able to press them in deep enough to get them on the backing plate area to begin with. The only thing he noticed was that the other shop had put the retainer on upside down, which he's going to fix.

Apparently, the reason why the bad axle won't go in is not because of the bearings or the retainer (I remember someone else telling me this), but because it needs some more filing at the splined ends. The tech is going to show me exactly how to file and how much when I go pick them up this afternoon. He also said not to worry about filing them too much or messing them up, saying the axle will be perfectly fine.

So looks like I was able to narrow down the culprit as the splined ends not being filed down and tapered enough. Also, I'm glad the upside down retainers were caught in time before I re-install everything back together. So the advice from the others who told me to double-check the bearings and retainers was really helpful. Anyway, I guess I'll be spending yet another weekend night in front of the TV filing down the axle with my trusty little hand file - lol!

Thanks to everyone for their excellent and patient advice, tips and warnings. Hopefully I can finally put the dang axle back on tonight or tomorrow. Take care amigos!

Ed Q.