I just had a buddy bring me an '86 CJ7 from California. He noticed some leaking a few months ago & had a local shop replace the outer bearings & seals in the rear-end (AMC 20 rear-end). He then towed the Jeep 3,000 miles to South Carolina on a tow dolly. Now, when I try to use 2WD it won't move. I pulled the differential cover off & there were no metal shavings in the fluid & all of the differential gears are turning perfectly. The driveshaft is also turning properly. I did notice that the left rear wheel was tilting in & out when I put it in gear & release the clutch. When I jacked up the rear-end, the bearings are clearly loose.
I'm thinking the mechanic may have not followed the proper re-assembly instructions or torque settings in the manual (250 Ft Lbs AMC vs. 150 FtLbs Dana) since the procedures are so very different on the AMC 20 versus the conventional Dana 44. I'm considering taking off the hub, & inspecting the axle splines for damage & cleaning up any damage if possible, then re-installing with the proper procedures & torque settings.
I also read in another post that the hubs on th 2 peice axle are notorious for stripping the splines off of themselves or the axle shaft itself with lots of stress from things like larger tires or hardcore off road duty. This Jeep has seen neither. It's been alot of stop & go road duty, but it has been used very gently.
yes te two piece axles are notorious for failure, and yes that could be your problem. the left rear wheel tilting in and out is a good indicator that the hub may be bad.
I just replace my two piece AMC 20 axles with single Superior Gear and Axle shafts. I tried pulling the rear axle shaft hubs apart , but it was just impossible, so I just pulled everything out and cut the bearing off the shaft so I could remove everything from the hubs from the inside. I even tried pulling the hub off with a chain from my Dodge 2500( Cummins Diesel), just didn't want to come off.
When I took the new one piece axle assemblies to the shop to have the new bearings pressed on I asked the mechanic about how to pull the two piece axles apart, the mechanic told me it took him around 20-to 25 tons of pressure to pull the hubs off. So if you plan on trying to pull the axles apart yourself , good luck !
I suggest you buy a set of single piece axles for the AMC 20 and just replace all that old two piece shaft assembly, your going to end up doing it anyway !
If the mechanic did seperat the hubs from the axles, they are nearly impossible to get lined up ahain with the splines. They typically go back together much weaker than before. It does sound like your problem though. I would see what the mechanic has to say. You may be able to get someting out of him to help pay for a new set of 1 piece axles.
I would be asking.......Was the rear driveshaft removed for the long trip on the towdolly? If not, the T case was spinning too.
Next, I would ask if the T-case is in 2H mode? Next, Does the rear driveshaft spin as the clutch is let out? Is there a grinding sound from the rear wheel?
pull the dust cap off the large nut on the axle, and see if its spinning when you are trying to move forward. I had the *exact* symptom when my 2-piece axle crapped out, the tire looked like it was wobbling while sitting still because the hub stripped. I jacked up the axle, removed the cotter pin and the nut turned off easily BY HAND (instead of 200+ ft lbs???) and the tire and hub fell right off. I would bet 1-piece axles are in your future. Heres what mine looked like after it stripped:
Wow, I think I've made my decision. I'm going to scrap the whole thing & go with a Dana 44. Easier to work on & parts are a dime, a dozen. I found a 78 CJ that's complete with the exception of a motor for a good price. So, I think I'll drop the cash for that & keep the extra parts to cover my future blunders in 'wheeling.
Thanks, this my first time using a message board forum & it's been really helpful. I plan to visit frequently & learn as much as I can. Thanks to all who replied & provided some really good info!
Wow, I think I've made my decision. I'm going to scrap the whole thing & go with a Dana 44. Easier to work on & parts are a dime, a dozen. I found a 78 CJ that's complete with the exception of a motor for a good price. So, I think I'll drop the cash for that & keep the extra parts to cover my future blunders in 'wheeling.
The only issue with that plan is you'll be going from widetrack to narrow track axles. Is the 78 a CJ-7? It may also be a quadratrac in which case the rear axle won't work without swapping the t-case as well (and the quadratrac tcase is less desirable than the D300 in your 86) so check that before you put any money into it. Justa couple things to check on.
D300 did not start until 1980. Quadratrac has the rear output offset to the pass side just like the front output. The rear axel will have the pumpkin off to the pass side if it has the quadratrac.
Find a scout rear 44. It has your 5 on 5.5 bolt battern and is the right width.
There were only a handfull of Dana 44 rear axles supplied with the quadratrac transfer case with front and rear driveshafts offset to the passenger side.
Lee me know if that 78 has quadratrac and a Dana 44 rear, that would be a great find.
before you go and chuck your 20 and do an axle swap consider what you need it for. if it's on road, moderate off and tires less than 35, i'd read this first...
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