The attachment of the axle via the big nut is pefectly normal but it's to a sliding hub.
This sliding hub is splined to the drive member that bolts to the wheel hub ie the connection is not "rigidly fixed" as it is on normal drive flanges!
In effect there are 2 sliding connections for the axle. One at the diff & one at the FW hub. On the original set up, one end (at the drive hub) is fixed hence no endplay.
It looks like that's the price you pay for FW hubs??
It is of no consequence if the FW hubs are "free" as the axle does not rotate.
AND it MAY be that when the FW hubs are engaged, the end float is taken up but I don't if that can be checked without taking out the diff.
Last edited by geodon; 21st December 2011 at 08:08 PM.
Reason: more info
With the PowerLock hubs the drive shaft connects rigidly to a steel star gear, which (when the hub is unlocked) rotates on a nylon bush. This set-up gives perhap 10 thou of end float, though of course that may be due to the bush wearing over the years of use!
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