Thread: rear Axle play at hub?

Looks similar to the series 3 Sals setup, in which case the play looks normal. I've just put mine back together again from rebuilding it and there is nothing to stop the axle coming moving a bit out wards - the splines are cut about 40 mm down the axle. You should find it stops just before it touches the dust cap. I'll go and check and take a pic of mine to see if it is the same - I lost a circlip, so I haven't put the dust cap back on one side yet.

The lack of lubrication I would look at - mine were swimming in oil when I removed the dust caps. Is your diff low on oil? I'd probably whip the hub off while your at it and check your bearings.

Oh, and I'd probably do that busted wheel stud as well.

Maybe not quite as normal as I thought when fits looking at it.

Here's a pic of mine and you can see it only comes about 1/8" past the circlip. Maybe the lack of lubrication has caused the some wear on the drive plate - I can't remember how much meat is supposed to be in there - I didn't look at that on mine while it was apart, but it's only a few bolts to check if you want me to? You got a pic of the axle end at all?

The play is normal.
There is nothing to stop the axle from coming out, as per bacicat.
you've still got greased bearings I assume, so the axle spline should be greased as a regular service item.
Alternative is to go with oil lube mod.
Replace the hub seal with rtc3511, remove the seal in the stub axle and put on aftermarket drive flanges.
Your drive flanges are probably going to be worn out from running dry, adding to drive train clunks.

Did you do the "O'Ring" mod Gav?

Cheers, Mick.

No - didn't know there was one - tell me more?

Originally Posted by bacicat

Maybe the lack of lubrication has caused the some wear on the drive plate - I can't remember how much meat is supposed to be in there - I didn't look at that on mine while it was apart, but it's only a few bolts to check if you want me to? You got a pic of the axle end at all?

So you want me to pull the axle shaft out and take a pic of the diff end of it yeah?

Originally Posted by jboot51

you've still got greased bearings I assume, so the axle spline should be greased as a regular service item.
Alternative is to go with oil lube mod.
Replace the hub seal with rtc3511, remove the seal in the stub axle and put on aftermarket drive flanges.
Your drive flanges are probably going to be worn out from running dry, adding to drive train clunks.

yeah the bearings are still all well greased up to the inner seals...but everything else is bone dry :/ ...do I just pull the whole axle shaft out and apply grease liberally and put it pack in? Do you think I should go aftermarket drive flanges if I cant detect any movment by hand on the splines?


can anyone explain this 'oil lube mod' and 'oring mod'


thanks fellas

The oil lube mod is to have the wheel bearings and flange spline lubricated with diff oil.
By removing the stub axles seal, diff oil is allowed into the wheel hub lubricating the bearings.
The hub seal originally is a grease seal and needs to be replaced with the sIII hub seal,rtc3511.
You can get away with using the factory drive flanges but the aftermarket ones will seal better and have a machined end cap instead of rubber.

The o ring mod I assume is to increase the oil retention abilities of the rubber cap on pre defender models.
Most/all pre defenders were oil lubed AFAIK.