Hub Nut

[peterbylt]

I'm thinking that the fact the nut is welded onto the end of the axle housing is bad.

Probably also helps explain the stripped lug bolt and the loose Brake linings.

I will get a grinding wheel for my Dremel tomorrow and see if I can get the nut off.

Anyone seen anything like this before?
 
New rear-end housing in my future?




Peter

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

WOW! I think I would replace everything on both sides as who knows what else the previous owner did.  Then you will know you won't have to worry about it.

Gary

[buswarrior]

That sort of crap is beyond intelligent comprehension...

You want to do a full inspection on every wheel end... and a really close look at the steering too.

In medieval times, we would hunt this sort of person down and put the exorcist onto them...

Truly possessed.

Good that you got into it and found this!!!

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

[luvrbus]

That's not good 1st time I ever saw that,I have come across a few the outside nut was tacked to the inner nut before for some goofy reason

[bevans6]

When I took my clutch cover plate apart to rebuild it the finger height adjusters were welded to the straps.  The threads for the nut were probably stripped on that axle, so it was probably weld it or find a new axle.  Now it's probably find a new axle...

[chessie4905]

I saw a fuel delivery truck at the shop years ago that had the axle flange welded to the hub. Mechanics replaced three hydrovacs because they couldn't get any pedal. I had them cut the welds loose and remove hub. Sure enough, the brakes on that side were shot. New drums, lining, studs and axle shaft and guess what??? Good brakes then. Truck had been sitting in shop for two months before I got there.

[buswarrior]

The trucking industry has mobile welders put new spindles on trailers.

Can you do that with a drive axle?

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

[peterbylt]

Anyone know where I can find a Drive axle assembly for a 1989 MCI 96A3?

WIll the drive axle from a 102A3 fit will the drive axle from a B,C or D model fit? Maybe from an MC9 or MC8?

Any small project is just one issue away from a major project.
The reason I opened that hub up was to replace a stripped out Lug Bolt the Bus came preequiped with, then found oil on the brake shoes, then found the pads loose cracked and broken.

Debating if I should cut those welds and remove the nut and hub to see what else is damaged, If I do that I have crippled the Bus, I could reassemble and still move the Bus until I get a replacment Axle assembly.


Buswarrior,

Do you have any more information on the spindle replacers?

Peter

[bevans6]

What I would consider doing is leave it until I had a plan in place for the worst case scenario.  If the hub bearings are good.  It's obviously been like that for a while.  Can you replace the stud and the brakes with it like that?  Are you using the bus a lot, moving it a lot, or mostly working on it?

[peterbylt]

What I would consider doing is leave it until I had a plan in place for the worst case scenario.  If the hub bearings are good.  It's obviously been like that for a while.  Can you replace the stud and the brakes with it like that?  Are you using the bus a lot, moving it a lot, or mostly working on it?

We are currently not using it a lot, The hub bearings appear to be good, there is some side to side slop in the nuts not being tight to the hub.

The Stud would be difficult to replace without removing the hub, probably not impossible.

I will attempt to clean and tighten up the current liners on the shoes, don't see much point in putting new liners on to be covered in gear oil, the seal is leaking pretty bad.

I suppose I could remove the welds replace the seal and possibly bearings, make sure everything is good and then weld the nut back on?

Then I could replace the brake linings.
That would give me time to search for a Drive axle assembly.

I am now suspect of the entire drive axle, I see that it is leaking at the differential gasket as well, also the hub was packed full of grease.

I need to pull the axle on the passenger side and see what mysteries await me there.

Peter

[buswarrior]

You need an axle from a 96 wide bus, the 102 is no good to you.

The configurations of all the mounts need to be confirmed.

The MC12 may be a good donor candidate, and there might be spares still kicking around, with greyhound having run a few million miles on them.

You have to be sure about compatibility.

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

[chessie4905]

If MCI still sells parts maybe they can give you the info you need. Or give Luke a call.

[bevans6]

It sounds like you think the bearing is loose, no/incorrect pre-load, so I would not run it.  I would cut those tacks and undo it to see what you can see.  Might be spun bearings, loose races.  Nothing good about installing bearings with a Mig welder...

[buswarrior]

Don't disable that coach until you have a total solution planned, and further, confirmed that you can act on it.

I'd go after a donor axle and build that back up.

If something goes wrong with parts availability, once it is apart... you are doomed to spending money, even to scrap it.

Keep it a roller, you have options.

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

[wildbob24]

The trucking industry has mobile welders put new spindles on trailers.

Can you do that with a drive axle?

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

Yes, Peter should be able to find a mobile axle doctor who can replace that spindle. I would look into that before replacing the whole axle housing.

Bob