I just installed my new 35 spline shafts and when I put the driver side (long side) spindle on I notice that the shaft was not centered in the spindle. It was touching the top of the inside of the spindle. If I push down on it I can center it. I think it must be because my housing is bent. I am not sure what to do. Should I try and strighten it or should I just leave it. The last 2 shafts I broke were on that side but I don't think that is why they broke. If it is bent it is probably only 1/4"-1/2". What should I do?:confused:

retube it.

Do you think it could be straightened with a porta-power and then gussted?

use a caliper and check the surface of your side bearing races
these should be parallel top and bottom, front and back
if not your housing is "sprung"
I had this problem with mine, the top was 1/8" closer than the bottom, and I'm gonna get a new one
from what I understand if the tubes are bent you just replace the tubes
if the cast housing is bent it's time for a new housing

If the casting is bent then start over. If the tube is bent you should not have to retube it with a 9" you can heat straighten them the 60 is much thicker and I am unsure how well that would work but you could just cut the end off and recenter it and weld it with maybe a sleve for strength.
Just thoughts

Heat straighten it............you can use heat to straighten a D60 tube no problem, you may need to go get a real 'rosebud' tip for the oxy-acetyline torch though.
figure out which side it's bent towards then heat up the opposite side.(just do one small area at a time) then quickly quench the area that you heated with cold water...
it shouldn't be too hard to get a 1/4" back....:D

Yes you can straighten the 60 tube with a rose bud torch and a porta power as I have seen it done. Also, another problem could be that the kingpin/bushing and bottom bearing (in the knuckle) are excessively worn.In one of my 60's I had the exact same problem with the stub axle sitting off to the side.replaced the kingpins,bushings and bottom bearing and now it sits in the center...which put a smile on my face:D Hope this helps.

You can have them done for you at a large frame shop, the one's that will replace rig frame rail. At least they can do it when it is in a truck.

Wait a minute here. The weight of the axle shaft will let the axle droop some while not connected to the hub right? Is this thing just drooping more than the other side because its the long side? This would make the axle droop at the U-joint and raise on the outer shaft thus making the axle hit the top of the inside of the spindle. Am I totally off base on this?

If not whala!
Your bill is in the mail.

I'll shut up if I am off base.

:D

I'm pretty sure it is bent. I have to push the stub down pretty hard to center it. I am really hoping I can straighten it but I haven't figured out where it is bent yet.

Is this a front axle ? ...what makes you think the housing is bent ? If it IS a front axle there is a u-joint in that axle and you won't learn anything by using it as a straight edge...just run it as it is...

If this is a rear axle you may have a problem...

BTW.... in terms of a axle 1/4-1/2" from straight is a huge amount....get a combination head protractor or some other accurate angle gauge and locate the problem...

Originally posted by mudtruck44
I'm pretty sure it is bent. I have to push the stub down pretty hard to center it. I am really hoping I can straighten it but I haven't figured out where it is bent yet.

I had to push on mine real hard to...so much so that I had to take the tie rod OFF of the knuckle to turn the knuckle farther then it is designed to get the drive flange to slide into the bearing hub.Otherwise, the drive flange would not slide in and you could actually see it offset from the I.D. of the bearing hub by a significant amount..After having to remove the tie rod to get the flange in I was convinced it was bent...But, I thought I would try replacing the knuckle components first and to my suprise it fixed it in my case.If the knuckle components are excessively worn it will change the angle at which the outer knuckle is aligned(or malaligned)..Also, sometimes when thetube is bent it makes it difficult to slide the axle into the carrier side gear..Do you have any problem with the axle sliding in? If not it still could be bent..Hope this helps.