Pulling front drive shafts, 89bII 4x4

[virginiakid]

Once the spindle is freed from the knuckle (not the easiest task I've taken on!), will the driver's side axle pull out of the differential by itself? Or do I have to unbolt the diff and find a clip to remove? I pulled the passenger side already and the ujoints are shot, terrible rust, even the ears on the yokes are deeply pitted and reduced in size from rust. I'm worried I'll destroy the yoke just getting the ujoint caps to pop out.

Any advice?

[Phillippi]

The passenger side is the one with the c-clip on the shaft. The drivers side (short side) should come out freely when the spindle is off. Are you sure you got the short shaft that is c-clipped into the diff and not just pulled the slip shaft apart?

[Ranger Dave]

as stated above, the pass side has the C clip in the diff. the drivers side comes right out

[virginiakid]

Thanks guys. You are right, I've only removed the slip shaft on the right side.

I'm assuming that to pull the c-clip off the passenger side shaft, I'll have to actually unbolt and drop the front differential, so as to gain access.

My Haynes manual does not show anything about the front differential parts, clips, bearings, etc. Does the c-clip come out similar to the rear shaft/diff c-clips?

While I've got the front diff. dropped I want to go through it, check the bearings, seals, etc. Anything out of the ordinary in that process?

thanks for the input.

[Ranger Dave]

the C clip comes out just the rears do. theres a rool pin ya need to punch to one side to get the center pin out

[virginiakid]

There's no need to remove the coil spring or radius arm to drop the front diff, right? My Haynes says something about pulling the coil spring. Doesn't seem necessary to me.

My spindle bearing on the front right had long since frozen and was welded to the spindle. A few months back I bought a parts B2 for for $400 (and it was still running and had almost new tires!). I'm pulling some of the parts I need off this vehicle.

This is therapy for me.

Thanks for the help.

[Ranger Dave]

i take the whole beam out. its easier to work on. this is a 35

[Ranger Dave]

5 bolts and the driveshaft and its out

[virginiakid]

Thanks for the pics. You make it look easy....

[virginiakid]

What parts should I automatically replace in the front diff when I pull it? At AdvanceAuto they have three different kits for it, and all three seem to have different parts.

[Ranger Dave]

parts for the diff??? or all the outer stuff?? probably wont need anything for the diff itself. gonna need 3 u-joints,2 spindal bearing kits,2 inner wheel seals, maybe wheel bearings?? and 2 axel seals for the diff and some 80/90w

[virginiakid]

...for the differential.

[virginiakid]

Job is done. Thanks for the advice. I changed out all the u-joints, spindle bearings, seals, and spindle hub seals, and output bushings on the diff. Everything went back to together and is tight and all the pops and noises in the 4WD are gone!

[Ranger Dave]

did you drop the beam??