OK, I took the hubs, axles, and 3rd out of one of my rockwells last weekend, and today I shaved it for clearance. The outer knuckle boots are pretty tore up, so I am looking to get replacements for those. The first question I have is, is there a press-in inner axle seal (similar to those found in a toyota p/u front housing) that is supposed to go on each side in a rockwell axle? There aren't any in mine currently, but when I pulled the 3rd I found a circular spring floating around in there that you would normally find in an axle seal, so I'm thinking maybe mine are just missing. I don't want to piss gear oil everywhere, so I need to find out if I should be ordering these along with the knuckle boots. Second question: When I remove the knuckle from the axle housing, is there anything I should know about re-assembly? Is it fairly straightforward? Third question: Did you guys leave the sheet metal guards that go around the knuckle boot attatched, or did you remove them? I was going to keep them, but I can see that one of them was bent into the knuckle boot, which is why the boot is torn. So maybe I'm better off without them. Last question: Does anyone have a decent picture of how they mounted their ram to their axle? I am probably a week from setting up steering, so I need to get some ideas for mounting the rams (front and rear). As always, any help is appreciated.

nobody?:( :)

http://www.homestead.com/teamzebra/files/Zram.jpg
Dont pay any attention to the lift block!! Im not asking for opinions of my truck, LOL!!! Its just a temp fix for the bigger 54" tires on my mud truck. I will be welding in something to get rid of them soon! Dont think this pic helps much.

Yeah, there are supposed to be inner axle seals, make sure you get the ones that correspond to what kind of shaft you have, and make sure taht you have the retainers, or you will need those too. Reassembly is easy, just heavy... I don't run the knuckle guards as they are too thin to stop anything i would be jamming into them and i think the boots look cool i got new ones for mine, too and they look sweet with a little armor-all!!

L8tr!

Great pic. That's just what I was talking about. I just wanted to see any variations from what I have already seen out there. There's not a lot of options, really. As far as the lift block goes, I'm SURE that's a rear steering axle you pictured, so it's no big deal. :D

Elf: Thanks. That's a good point on the guards, they are thin, and have already both been bent. Where did you get your replacement boots? I would want to buy them from Daniel at USA6X6 first, but he is out of them right now. Boyce wants $28 each, which isn't all that bad, but I wondered if there are any other sources out there for rebuild parts. I'm going to go take off the knuckles right now so that I can put a parts order together for tomorrow. Thanks for the input.

Eric

I get all my parts from where I got my axles. www.clarktruck.com

Tell Richard, that CJ with the Jeep and rockwells sent you. He has everything in stock and ships the same day.

I put new boots on but ditched the guards, I worried about something denting the guards and pushing it into the boots. Then on steering the boot would be rubbing against that guard possibly causing a rip. I dunno if that would happen or not but I just left them off.

I wish I had replaced my front axle seals when I had everything apart, I don't know how well they'll seal. My rear steering axle was new so those were in good shape.

CJ

thanks for the contact CJ, I will get a quote from them tomorrow on the parts I need. So far it's looking like four knuckle boots and four inner axle seals. I like that same day shipping. If they will ship two day (I'll pick up the tab, of course) I could have axles under my rig by the weekend! :D

Eric, are you shooting for having it running for Memorial Day?

Oh, hell yes I am, although it may kill me. My day goes like this: 7am to work. 8pm back from work. work on rig till I pass out at the helm of the welder. sleep on garage floor. Wake up at 6am. Hose self off with nearest fire extinguisher. repeat till wheeling or till dead. :D

Originally posted by Aceguy
Oh, hell yes I am, although it may kill me. My day goes like this: 7am to work. 8pm back from work. work on rig till I pass out at the helm of the welder. sleep on garage floor. Wake up at 6am. Hose self off with nearest fire extinguisher. repeat till wheeling or till dead. :D that will be me starting friday till memorial day. hope i can do it, if not oh well. jiMMy

I have to make it. I haven't missed a Labor day or Memorial day on the Con in three seasons. That includes two labor days in a row that I went alone cause nobody else that I knew could go. I'm on a roll. Not only that, but the whole reason I got bigger tires and axle was that last year I couldn't climb the rock in the box that Lance was taunting me from in order to run him over. I was kinda hoping he'd be standing on that same rock when I come through this year. :D