How to clean out the front axle tubes?

[JEEPCJTJ]

I pulled my axle shafts to replace the universal joints and of course I have a huge amount of dried up mud in those tubes. I have used a half assed sheet metal hook I made to pull out as much as I could but there's still a considerable amount of dusty crap in there that I don't want to shove into the differential when reinstalling the shafts.

Also how in the hell do you support the inner end of passenger side axle shaft to get it back into the seal? I know I'm not the strongest guy in the world but I don't identify as limp wristed.

For the record, I haven't gotten this far yet so I've tried nothing.

 

[Irun]

Use a wet/dry vacuum cleaner, with solid extensions.

 

[AndyG]

Use a wet/dry vacuum cleaner, with solid extensions.

You know Milwaukee made some small ones for detailed areas that I regret not getting my hands on set- I’m actually going to look for some right now- They were a good 20 inches long maybe and connect together

 

[NWPA Jeepy T]

Compressed air. Loosen it up with a piece of copper pipe or pen then blow it out from the diff end

 

[JeepingNet]

I have a long threaded rod with a big thick wash bolted to one end. It's great for scrapping out tubes.

 

[P man]

I used a worn out round wire brush like you would put in a drill. I welded a piece of round bar to it. I can then put it in my drill and clean out the tube. I then brake clean the tube and stuff rags in and push them through the other side with a broom stick.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

To reinsert the axle shaft back into the inner seal/differential, just rest the axle shaft on the axle tube opening and angle it up slightly as you shove it inward so the end of the shaft can find the opening. No doubt you have done something like that many times before.

 

[mrblaine]

I used a worn out round wire brush like you would put in a drill. I welded a piece of round bar to it. I can then put it in my drill and clean out the tube. I then brake clean the tube and stuff rags in and push them through the other side with a broom stick.

We do the same without welding. I used a piece of all thread and just used nuts on either side of the hole in the wire brush.

 

[TheBoogieman]

I have a long threaded rod with a big thick wash bolted to one end. It's great for scrapping out tubes.

TMI.

 

[macleanflood]

I used a chunk of PVC pipe duct taped to my shop vac...and then wads of blue shop towels and copious amounts of brake cleaner.

-Mac

 

[JEEPCJTJ]

Thanks everyone. It all seems pretty simple now that I've read the replies, I just couldn't quite get my brain to figure this one out on it's own.

To reinsert the axle shaft back into the inner seal/differential, just rest the axle shaft on the axle tube opening and angle it up slightly as you shove it inward so the end of the shaft can find the opening. No doubt you have done something like that many times before.

I'm having some trouble replying to that. I want to type something about "just the tip" but I've never really understood that enough to try it.

 

[LONGJP2]

Also how in the hell do you support the inner end of passenger side axle shaft to get it back into the seal?

Have you looked inside the tube?
Maybe the oem axle guide is still in there.

 

[JEEPCJTJ]

Have you looked inside the tube?
Maybe the oem axle guide is still in there.
View attachment 415083

I did still have that on the short axle when I pulled it out but not on the longer axle shaft. I guess I'll get a flashlight and look deep inside the long tube. It's probably in there because, other than ugly tires, wheels and hopefully the oil and filter 20 times, nothing had been replaced before I bought it. Maybe I just didn't hook onto it at my first attempt to pull out the debris in there.