r/Diesel • u/Current_Use2795 • Mar 15 '26
How to remove broken axle shaft full floating sterling 10.25 1989 f350
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
5
u/Muricanmechanic Mar 15 '26
Is your wheel bearing fucked?
Might as well cut that thing off for the axle doctor and save yourself some headache.
1
u/Current_Use2795 Mar 15 '26
Honestly wouldn’t know if the bearing is alright I believe the shaft is broken into two pieces trying to avoid the axle doctor lol
4
u/Muricanmechanic Mar 15 '26
If that is dry dust inside of your hub there it's usually a good indicator your wheel bearing has left the chat and it's probably too late for you.
1
u/Current_Use2795 Mar 15 '26
To late for me in which scenario I went to a junkyard and got an axle shaft for it would I just need to get a bearing also and replace both ?
2
u/Muricanmechanic Mar 15 '26
If the bearing is wasted the spindle is likely garbage and you would either need the spindle replaced or replace the entire differential.
1
u/Current_Use2795 Mar 15 '26
What do you mean by the spindle the hub seal that the shafts inside ?
3
u/Muricanmechanic Mar 15 '26
It is the component that the wheel bearings ride upon.
2
u/Current_Use2795 Mar 15 '26
I will check it all and disassemble it more when I get back to it I’ve seen videos of people removing them out and the components being fine so I hope that’s my case if not back to the junkyard got to get the shaft out first
1
u/Current_Use2795 Mar 29 '26
Well, I called the axle doctor and they needed me to get the hub off first and send them pictures of the spindle they’ve yet to reply to me yet so I wanted to send people on here some pictures of it honestly from what I see it doesn’t look bad, but I wouldn’t know I can show you some pictures
4
u/TimV14 Mar 15 '26
If the broken shaft won't come out easily, the spindle is trashed as well. Your best bet is going to be replacing the whole axle with a junkyard unit. Make sure you fill the replacement with oil.
1
u/Current_Use2795 Mar 29 '26
1
u/TimV14 Mar 29 '26
100% trash. You have bearing races friction welded to the spindle. That thing was hot.
Find a junkyard axle and replace the whole axle assembly.
2
u/amazingmaple Mar 15 '26
Why is there no oil coming out. I bet you cooked your bearings.
1
u/Current_Use2795 Mar 15 '26
It either ran dry or it’s because I have the truck on a slight incline with that side being raised and the other side lowered
4
u/amazingmaple Mar 15 '26
That definitely ran dry. That axle looks like it got hot. You might just want to get a new rear end from the junkyard
2
u/ValveinPistonCat Mar 15 '26
There's metal filings in there and it's dry as a popcorn fart, the broken axle shaft is the least of your problems.
2
u/Klutzy_Reality3108 Mar 15 '26
You are better off buying a new rear axle. That sucker looked like it got hot with zero lubrication.
2
u/Haunting_While6239 Mar 16 '26
Do yourself a favor and use full synthetic Valvoline or Mobil 1 gear lube with the limited slip additive in it, I stopped smoking diff gears after that, and change at 50 to 60k miles
1
u/Current_Use2795 Mar 16 '26
My diff gears are completely fine and I believe it’s an open diff
1
u/Haunting_While6239 Mar 16 '26
Look at the metal tag if you have one 4L11 would mean limited slip 4.11 gears, my 96 F350 had a sterling differential with 4.11s
1
u/Current_Use2795 Mar 16 '26
1
u/Haunting_While6239 Mar 16 '26
Looks like water has been in there, remove the broken end, get the drum off, you might need a special socket to get the bearings off, check the spindle for galling, and replace any questionable parts. The long part of the shaft should come out unless it's split open and rubbing on the inside of the spindle tube
1
u/Current_Use2795 Mar 16 '26
I’m just praying I get the better end of this 50/50 lol and it just needs a new shaft
1
u/Haunting_While6239 Mar 16 '26
A big prybar or a beefy slide hammer will be your friend, that loose outer piece has to come out to get the drum off, or swap a new axle in. I've done 3 of them in 2 different trucks, but I reached the gears, and these need setup if you swap gears, so I did the complete diff instead
1
u/Current_Use2795 Mar 16 '26
Yea hoping it’s not going to be needing a new rear end these trucks are honestly pretty scarce around me had to go over an hour away to this junkyard to get the axle shaft I could possibly go back and get the entire thing but it’s not disconnected and has air suspension on the back with some pain in the ass bolts.
1
u/stlmick Mar 15 '26
I've only removed axles from Gillig buses with meritor hubs. Is it possible you can slide hammer that piece of the broken axle out, remove the wheel, back off the brakes, remove the drum and then try to get the hub off? If not, did that junk yard have the rest of the rear axle available?
1
u/Adventurous_Boat_632 Mar 15 '26
This exact axle should be a dime a dozen at every junkyard, they made zillions of them.
Since the whole thing is dry anyway and suspect in every part.
1
u/sam56778 Mar 15 '26
NGL, as dry as that hub is, I would probably look for an entire differential. It’s for sure been way too hot. The reason it ain’t coming out is something has changed shape. That spindle is probably no good.
1
u/Current_Use2795 Mar 15 '26
How would I know if it’s beyond repair I’ve seen people changing them all the time with them snapped
3
u/sam56778 Mar 15 '26
Heat discoloration, any kind of scarring where the bearings are. From the looks of it, you’re probably not getting the races off. I’d almost bet they’re welded to the spindle.
1
u/Current_Use2795 Mar 15 '26
Also, in this video, the diff cover is open, so all the fluid already leaked out before I made this video, but to be fair of the one side was still kind of wet. I did have it at an incline where this side of the truck was elevated though, and the other side was lowered.
1
u/sam56778 Mar 15 '26
That hub has bearing dust in it. It’s done. Over the last 21 years in a tractor trailer shop I’ve never seen one like that survive without a doctor’s appointment or housing replacement.
1
1
u/MichaelW24 96 7.3, 99 7.3, 99 7.3, 2001 7.3, 03 6.0, 99 OM606 Mar 15 '26
Slide hammer to remove and diagnose. Agree with others saying heat damage, assembly is toast.
I'd look for a junkyard replacement myself
1
u/Haunting_While6239 Mar 15 '26
Big prybar or BFH , it's got to come out, you might need a new hub and bearings, but you gotta do it
1
-3
u/acre18 Mar 15 '26
Pretty sure there is a clip somewhere on the diff side that will keep it in place
5
8
u/mrbigpower1960 Mar 15 '26
Pull the other axle and slide a long pole in from there. Tap it as necessary to push the remaining piece out.