Front diff angle
30 Oct 2012 15:53 #1
by dandjcr
David and Janet Ribbans - Oka 148
Oka148 profile here.
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dandjcr created the topic: Front diff angle
Forum Home > OKA Maintenance > Front diff angle
Chris J
Member
Posts: 56
Hi, I’m concerned about the angle of the front diff on OKA-166. After returning from my Cape York trip I noticed that the front tailshaft has been hitting the starter solenoid, the diff centre appears to be tilted upwards. Could someone make comment on the enclosed photo, is this normal?
Regards, Chris.
--
Chris and Janice Jones - OKA 166
July 23, 2012 at 11:10 AM Flag Quote & Reply
Pete Fox
Member
Posts: 140
This is not normal!
Seems like your u-bolts are either loose or broken.
--
Peter Fox
OKA 266 Multi-cab.
Photobucket album
July 23, 2012 at 11:48 AM Flag Quote & Reply
Aussie Bight Expeditions
Member
Posts: 109
No not normal.
It appears from photo the the diff has rotated quite a few degrees. The diff on both of mine has the section at the rear where you attatch the uni is actually square to the ground yours appears to be at least 6 to 8 inches higher than normal.
Have a close look at the Gap between the bar that connects your two wheels together, ie the steering bar and there should only be a 10mm gap to the spring bottom you will have alot more than that I would guess. If not then the Axle has not rotated. You will need to look at carefully as there is a plate and locating device on the axle that locates it all in the correct alignment.
It could also be that the spring Hangers on the rear have broken or the spring locater has broken. From photo it appears as I think that it could be more likely that there is something amiss with the rear of the spring assembly.
Bit hard to tell from photo. Search and you will find as your diff has rotated up at the rear so I really would look at the rear of the front springs. because if this has happened then the diff can rotate as photo shows. Surely if this has happened you would of felt it through the floor.
But this is not normal. Needs to be looked at. Front left hand side spring looks bent out of shape behind the axle. Maybe springs have slightly inverted, Bent and stuffed?. Cannot see al,l so this is all a guess, good luck
Hope this helps
Regards
ABE TONY
--
July 23, 2012 at 11:55 AM Flag Quote & Reply
Dean & Kaye Howells
Member
Posts: 79
Can'r really tell from the photos but is the mating surface of the axle housing and the spring pack sitting flush ? ie. there's not a wedge shaped gap (wider at the front) between the two ?
This is a very common problem and easily fixed.
What happens is the U bolts become loose (and/or the 2 studs on the drivers side unwind a bit) and the axle assembly rotates a bit. When it does it looks just like your picture.
Easily fixed. Jack up the vehicle on the chassis, not the axle, so the axle housing hangs and re tension the U bolts and 2 studs. It's best to check that the head of the spring centre bolt, which locates in the axle assembly, has not been damaged / sheared off if the springs have been moving excessively.
Use a tension wrench, on the LT it's 190Nm (140 ft lb). It usually takes a couple of goes, with driving in between to get the tension right.
It's also worth considering spring sag. As the front springs sag the whole axle assembly rides higher but I'd expect the bump stops / Aeon rubbers to limit upper travel so that the drive shaft wouldn't hit the starter motor.
Deano
--
July 23, 2012 at 11:59 AM Flag Quote & Reply
Peter_n_Margaret
Member
Posts: 198
What spring hanger positions are you using?
I had some wedges added to OKA196 a while back to improve it (rotate it backwards), but it was not as bad as that to start with.
--
Cheers Peter, OKA196 Motorhome. www.oka4wd.com/xt196.htm
July 23, 2012 at 12:21 PM Flag Quote & Reply
Chris J
Member
Posts: 56
Peter_n_Margaret at July 23, 2012 at 12:21 PM
What spring hanger positions are you using?
I had some wedges added to OKA196 a while back to improve it (rotate it backwards), but it was not as bad as that to start with.
Hi Peter,
Setting is T
Regards, Chris.
--
Chris and Janice Jones - OKA 166
July 23, 2012 at 1:37 PM Flag Quote & Reply
Chris J
Member
Posts: 56
Hi All,
Thank you all for the quick response.
It appears that the two off the three castors wedges are missing
(Castor wedge part no 006738 Ref no 27)
Only one wedge appears on the driver’s side and that one is the wrong way (taper is pointing towards back) according to the drawing the taper should point forward.
On the LH side no wedge is present plus the top wedge is missing from the RH side.
Also had a quick look and found a couple of U-bolts not at tension. In the process of lifting the chassis to allow me to loosen the U-bolts and reset the diff position. I will need to order some replacement wedges.
Regards. Chris
--
Chris and Janice Jones - OKA 166
July 23, 2012 at 1:44 PM Flag Quote & Reply
chris @ shirley james
Member
Posts: 17
Hello all, there is also no safety ring around the tail shaft. With the diff at the angle shown and the hits to the starter etc,the front of the shaft could have let go and dropped to the ground while moving forward, then you would have more than a small problem. regards, Chris #96
--
July 29, 2012 at 4:22 PM Flag Quote & Reply
len&rina
Member
Posts: 38
chris @ shirley james at July 29, 2012 at 4:22 PM
Hello all, there is also no safety ring around the tail shaft. With the diff at the angle shown and the hits to the starter etc,the front of the shaft could have let go and dropped to the ground while moving forward, then you would have more than a small problem. regards, Chris #96
Is the safety ring a standard fitment.I havent got one either
--
July 29, 2012 at 5:04 PM Flag Quote & Reply
Greg #210 and Dean #366
Member
Posts: 58
#210 has a ring
--
July 29, 2012 at 5:21 PM Flag Quote & Reply
Chris J
Member
Posts: 56
len&rina at July 29, 2012 at 5:04 PM
chris @ shirley james at July 29, 2012 at 4:22 PM
Hello all, there is also no safety ring around the tail shaft. With the diff at the angle shown and the hits to the starter etc,the front of the shaft could have let go and dropped to the ground while moving forward, then you would have more than a small problem. regards, Chris #96
Is the safety ring a standard fitment.I havent got one either
Hi All,
The front safety ring is missing it appears to have been cut off at some stage prior to my ownership.
I have now removed the driver’s side castor 3 degree wedge that was in backwards and found a 1.5 degree wedge under the passenger sidespring bundle; both wedges were severally flattened and distorted. I have replaced the castor wedges and now have good clearance between the starter solenoid andthe tail shaft. The clearance between the steering link bar has also reduced from almost 100mm to about 30mm. Managed to take the truck for a short run and my findings were that it now drives like a car its light on the steering, handles and sits well on the road. I will get the truck in for a wheel and diff alignment in the next week or so.
Thanks for everyone’s input for sorting out the problem. I’m now onto the job with the speedo reading erratically when power on the throttle.
Regards, Chris.
--
Chris and Janice Jones - OKA 166
July 29, 2012 at 5:50 PM Flag Quote & Reply
Dandj
Member
Posts: 367
I think safety rings are standard, front and rear.
My front ring was missing (broken) when we bought our Oka, probably snagged on a rock or branch.
I made up one which bolts to the ring bracket so it's easier to remove to drop the shaft.
--
David and Janet Ribbans, Oka 148
July 31, 2012 at 6:10 PM
Chris J
Member
Posts: 56
Hi, I’m concerned about the angle of the front diff on OKA-166. After returning from my Cape York trip I noticed that the front tailshaft has been hitting the starter solenoid, the diff centre appears to be tilted upwards. Could someone make comment on the enclosed photo, is this normal?
Regards, Chris.
--
Chris and Janice Jones - OKA 166
July 23, 2012 at 11:10 AM Flag Quote & Reply
Pete Fox
Member
Posts: 140
This is not normal!
Seems like your u-bolts are either loose or broken.
--
Peter Fox
OKA 266 Multi-cab.
Photobucket album
July 23, 2012 at 11:48 AM Flag Quote & Reply
Aussie Bight Expeditions
Member
Posts: 109
No not normal.
It appears from photo the the diff has rotated quite a few degrees. The diff on both of mine has the section at the rear where you attatch the uni is actually square to the ground yours appears to be at least 6 to 8 inches higher than normal.
Have a close look at the Gap between the bar that connects your two wheels together, ie the steering bar and there should only be a 10mm gap to the spring bottom you will have alot more than that I would guess. If not then the Axle has not rotated. You will need to look at carefully as there is a plate and locating device on the axle that locates it all in the correct alignment.
It could also be that the spring Hangers on the rear have broken or the spring locater has broken. From photo it appears as I think that it could be more likely that there is something amiss with the rear of the spring assembly.
Bit hard to tell from photo. Search and you will find as your diff has rotated up at the rear so I really would look at the rear of the front springs. because if this has happened then the diff can rotate as photo shows. Surely if this has happened you would of felt it through the floor.
But this is not normal. Needs to be looked at. Front left hand side spring looks bent out of shape behind the axle. Maybe springs have slightly inverted, Bent and stuffed?. Cannot see al,l so this is all a guess, good luck
Hope this helps
Regards
ABE TONY
--
July 23, 2012 at 11:55 AM Flag Quote & Reply
Dean & Kaye Howells
Member
Posts: 79
Can'r really tell from the photos but is the mating surface of the axle housing and the spring pack sitting flush ? ie. there's not a wedge shaped gap (wider at the front) between the two ?
This is a very common problem and easily fixed.
What happens is the U bolts become loose (and/or the 2 studs on the drivers side unwind a bit) and the axle assembly rotates a bit. When it does it looks just like your picture.
Easily fixed. Jack up the vehicle on the chassis, not the axle, so the axle housing hangs and re tension the U bolts and 2 studs. It's best to check that the head of the spring centre bolt, which locates in the axle assembly, has not been damaged / sheared off if the springs have been moving excessively.
Use a tension wrench, on the LT it's 190Nm (140 ft lb). It usually takes a couple of goes, with driving in between to get the tension right.
It's also worth considering spring sag. As the front springs sag the whole axle assembly rides higher but I'd expect the bump stops / Aeon rubbers to limit upper travel so that the drive shaft wouldn't hit the starter motor.
Deano
--
July 23, 2012 at 11:59 AM Flag Quote & Reply
Peter_n_Margaret
Member
Posts: 198
What spring hanger positions are you using?
I had some wedges added to OKA196 a while back to improve it (rotate it backwards), but it was not as bad as that to start with.
--
Cheers Peter, OKA196 Motorhome. www.oka4wd.com/xt196.htm
July 23, 2012 at 12:21 PM Flag Quote & Reply
Chris J
Member
Posts: 56
Peter_n_Margaret at July 23, 2012 at 12:21 PM
What spring hanger positions are you using?
I had some wedges added to OKA196 a while back to improve it (rotate it backwards), but it was not as bad as that to start with.
Hi Peter,
Setting is T
Regards, Chris.
--
Chris and Janice Jones - OKA 166
July 23, 2012 at 1:37 PM Flag Quote & Reply
Chris J
Member
Posts: 56
Hi All,
Thank you all for the quick response.
It appears that the two off the three castors wedges are missing
(Castor wedge part no 006738 Ref no 27)
Only one wedge appears on the driver’s side and that one is the wrong way (taper is pointing towards back) according to the drawing the taper should point forward.
On the LH side no wedge is present plus the top wedge is missing from the RH side.
Also had a quick look and found a couple of U-bolts not at tension. In the process of lifting the chassis to allow me to loosen the U-bolts and reset the diff position. I will need to order some replacement wedges.
Regards. Chris
--
Chris and Janice Jones - OKA 166
July 23, 2012 at 1:44 PM Flag Quote & Reply
chris @ shirley james
Member
Posts: 17
Hello all, there is also no safety ring around the tail shaft. With the diff at the angle shown and the hits to the starter etc,the front of the shaft could have let go and dropped to the ground while moving forward, then you would have more than a small problem. regards, Chris #96
--
July 29, 2012 at 4:22 PM Flag Quote & Reply
len&rina
Member
Posts: 38
chris @ shirley james at July 29, 2012 at 4:22 PM
Hello all, there is also no safety ring around the tail shaft. With the diff at the angle shown and the hits to the starter etc,the front of the shaft could have let go and dropped to the ground while moving forward, then you would have more than a small problem. regards, Chris #96
Is the safety ring a standard fitment.I havent got one either
--
July 29, 2012 at 5:04 PM Flag Quote & Reply
Greg #210 and Dean #366
Member
Posts: 58
#210 has a ring
--
July 29, 2012 at 5:21 PM Flag Quote & Reply
Chris J
Member
Posts: 56
len&rina at July 29, 2012 at 5:04 PM
chris @ shirley james at July 29, 2012 at 4:22 PM
Hello all, there is also no safety ring around the tail shaft. With the diff at the angle shown and the hits to the starter etc,the front of the shaft could have let go and dropped to the ground while moving forward, then you would have more than a small problem. regards, Chris #96
Is the safety ring a standard fitment.I havent got one either
Hi All,
The front safety ring is missing it appears to have been cut off at some stage prior to my ownership.
I have now removed the driver’s side castor 3 degree wedge that was in backwards and found a 1.5 degree wedge under the passenger sidespring bundle; both wedges were severally flattened and distorted. I have replaced the castor wedges and now have good clearance between the starter solenoid andthe tail shaft. The clearance between the steering link bar has also reduced from almost 100mm to about 30mm. Managed to take the truck for a short run and my findings were that it now drives like a car its light on the steering, handles and sits well on the road. I will get the truck in for a wheel and diff alignment in the next week or so.
Thanks for everyone’s input for sorting out the problem. I’m now onto the job with the speedo reading erratically when power on the throttle.
Regards, Chris.
--
Chris and Janice Jones - OKA 166
July 29, 2012 at 5:50 PM Flag Quote & Reply
Dandj
Member
Posts: 367
I think safety rings are standard, front and rear.
My front ring was missing (broken) when we bought our Oka, probably snagged on a rock or branch.
I made up one which bolts to the ring bracket so it's easier to remove to drop the shaft.
--
David and Janet Ribbans, Oka 148
July 31, 2012 at 6:10 PM
David and Janet Ribbans - Oka 148
Oka148 profile here.
Visit our technical and travel blogs: here.
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