Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ radiator

2003 TJ Dana 30 axle guides

Vtx531 said:
Ya, good to get that tube cleaned out whether you decide to use the guides or not. I maybe spoke too soon about them being loose. Yes, they are loose but when I tried to insert the axle, the ring sort of drags along the bottom and folds down forward. There is enough pressure on it from the weight of the axle to keep it in place. I think it is going to work really well. Not so sure you need two of them for the short drivers side but might be nice to have two on the longer passenger shaft.

View attachment 666750
View attachment 666751
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Excellent..
 
Vtx531 said:
No, not the outer opening. My understanding is that they go on the axle shaft, one near the splines, one maybe more near the center. It just allows you to insert the shaft through the tube without having the splines accidentally touch the dirty inside part of the tube and bring debris with it into the differential. Then they just spin harmlessly with the axle inside the tube after installation. They are just to help during installation.



My main concern is cleanliness of the splines, not guiding into the hole.
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So these either spin with the shaft and potentially ride on the inside wall of the axle tube, or they I guess bind up in the tube and then the shafts ride on those bumps? Nothing about this seems like a good idea, but I clearly don't understand the necessity so I'll Homer Simpson right back into the bushes.
 
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Vtx531 said:
They came today. The fit is pretty loose. I was hoping it would fit snuggly. It *might* work as-is just to give it a little buffer to help with install. Or maybe I'll tape it on or add a couple zip ties on each side just to help keep it from sliding back when the axle is inserted. Not exactly how I was picturing this.

View attachment 666735
View attachment 666736
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Well I have everything I need but weather is way to cold for me..
If it's not to much trouble can you confirm axle is 1.13" diameter and tube opening is 2.5".. while I'm not doing anything ill try and make my own guides
 
Sinister1957 said:
Well I have everything I need but weather is way to cold for me..
If it's not to much trouble can you confirm axle is 1.13" diameter and tube opening is 2.5".. while I'm not doing anything ill try and make my own guides
Click to expand...

I measured 1.22" at the main part of the axle, 1.11" where is necks down at the splines, 1.97" ID of the tube.

How are you going to make your own? Doesn't seem like it would be worth it.

I thought about maybe attaching a string the to ring before inserting and pull the ring out once the spline is past the seal. Then cut the ring out once off near the end. Not sure if that would work to not have it loosely spinning around in the tube permanently.
 
hear said:
So these either spin with the shaft and potentially ride on the inside wall of the axle tube, or they I guess bind up in the tube and then the shafts ride on those bumps? Nothing about this seems like a good idea, but I clearly don't understand the necessity so I'll Homer Simpson right back into the bushes.
Click to expand...
Had I known anyone would actually buy those, I could have sent some out for the cost of shipping. We've dug many of them out of the tubes after seeing a few get pushed through the seals. Happens when you pull the axle and the guide stays in the tube. We keep a piece of welding rod handy with a hook on the end to reach in and drag them out.

We have a piece of 1/2" all thread with a 2.5" flat wire brush on it. Run that with a drill to clean up the insides after we carefully stuff a rag in the seal to keep crap out of the diff.
 
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Vtx531 said:
I measured 1.22" at the main part of the axle, 1.11" where is necks down at the splines, 1.97" ID of the tube.

How are you going to make your own? Doesn't seem like it would be worth it.

I thought about maybe attaching a string the to ring before inserting and pull the ring out once the spline is past the seal. Then cut the ring out once off near the end. Not sure if that would work to not have it loosely spinning around in the tube permanently.
Click to expand...
All you have to do is stick a prybar under the shaft in the end of the tube and use that as a fulcrum to keep the shaft out of the goo. You're making it a lot harder than it needs to be. Our tubes are not pristine and spotless so I care that I don't push the splines through gunk in the tubes.
 
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Vtx531 said:
They came today. The fit is pretty loose. I was hoping it would fit snuggly. It *might* work as-is just to give it a little buffer to help with install. Or maybe I'll tape it on or add a couple zip ties on each side just to help keep it from sliding back when the axle is inserted. Not exactly how I was picturing this.

View attachment 666735
View attachment 666736
Click to expand...

Well I have everything I need but weather is way to cold for me..
If it's not to much trouble can you confirm axle is 1.13" diameter and tube opening is 2.5".. while I'm not doing anything ill try and make my own guides
Vtx531 said:
I measured 1.22" at the main part of the axle, 1.11" where is necks down at the splines, 1.97" ID of the tube.

How are you going to make your own? Doesn't seem like it would be worth it.

I thought about maybe attaching a string the to ring before inserting and pull the ring out once the spline is past the seal. Then cut the ring out once off near the end. Not sure if that would work to not have it loosely spinning around in the tube permanently.
Click to expand...

Thank you..i do a lot of wood work and have a scroll saw it would be easy enough. I'll make them ..when I am ready to do job they will either work or go in the pail..
 
mrblaine said:
Had I known anyone would actually buy those, I could have sent some out for the cost of shipping. We've dug many of them out of the tubes after seeing a few get pushed through the seals. Happens when you pull the axle and the guide stays in the tube. We keep a piece of welding rod handy with a hook on the end to reach in and drag them out.

We have a piece of 1/2" all thread with a 2.5" flat wire brush on it. Run that with a drill to clean up the insides after we carefully stuff a rag in the seal to keep crap out of the diff.
Click to expand...
 
Already made one of those 😃

17685776608294323247338563871692.jpg
 
mrblaine said:
We have a piece of 1/2" all thread with a 2.5" flat wire brush on it. Run that with a drill to clean up the insides after we carefully stuff a rag in the seal to keep crap out of the diff.
Click to expand...

Thinking I don't have this correct but a brush like this? Maybe hose clamp to attach? I wonder if the allthread would work for punching out the seal too.

IMG_6587.jpeg
 
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hear said:
This thread makes me feel extremely efficient.
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If I felt like I needed an axle guide for the dozens of times I have installed shafts, I might just wrap a strip of cardboard around it a few times and tape it in place.
 
Moglocker said:
Yep,he’s overthinking it,now my dumbass feels like a damn brain surgeon (lol)
Click to expand...

If only somebody had told him a week ago (a) that he was overthinking it, (b) how to use a lever to lift the end while guiding it in, and (c) to get a brush to clean out the tube.


Wait hang on.....some of that sounds familiar.

hear said:
I was a little paranoid about this the first time I did it, and I can safely say you're overthinking it. But in order to make it ever so slightly easier, I have stuck a long screwdriver down the tube and then sort of pried up on it to lift the end of the axle shaft to help guide it in. But it's completely unnecessary. Just don't bang it down there like an absolute caveman. Honestly its like prom night. Just move it around until you find the opening.

Or get you a long handled brush and wipe out the inside of the tube I guess?
Click to expand...

/homersimpson_bushes.gif
 
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