Front stub axle inner bushing

[Benny78]

I just tore down the front end on my '64 IIA for refurbishment. As I was cleaning up the front stub axles, I noticed the bronze, inner bushings was very beat up, while they other looked very good.

I checked their fit on their respective half-shafts, and was surprised to find that they were BOTH very loose on the half-shafts. Now here's where it get strange....when I measure the diameter of the half-shaft journal, it is about .040" smaller than the outer diameter of the male splines at the outer end of the half-shaft, on both sides. In other words, even if I were to fit new bushings, I would have to open them up so far to get them over the outer splines, they would STILL be loose on the half-shaft journals.

What's going on here? Am I wrong to assume the half shaft should ride fairly snugly in those bushings?

The half shafts themselves are in good shape. The journals are smooth, and undamaged. I don't know their history, but I believe they have been with the truck for several decades, so they are not likely cheap repro parts.

[erik88lr]

I don't recall that problem on my Series III. Could you be describing part #27 of this diagram? http://www.roversnorth.com/Land-Rover-Parts/69 ?
Looks like it should be easy to beat out, drive a new one in. Maybe the bearings on one side failed in the past, allowing the axle to slop around and damage the bushing.

Have fun!

[Benny78]

I don't recall that problem on my Series III. Could you be describing part #27 of this diagram? http://www.roversnorth.com/Land-Rover-Parts/69 ?
Looks like it should be easy to beat out, drive a new one in. Maybe the bearings on one side failed in the past, allowing the axle to slop around and damage the bushing.

Have fun!

Yes, #27, but it looks like RN lists them as NLA.

I'm wouldn't be worried about the task of replacing them, but I still don't understand how they are supposed to provide any support to the axle shaft journal when the splines are a larger diameter than the journal???

[cnfowler]

I don't recall that problem on my Series III...

That's because they are only on early SIIa vehicles. My '69 2a doesn't have them.


Colin

[Benny78]

That's because they are only on early SIIa vehicles. My '69 2a doesn't have them.


Colin

Do later trucks have something different, or did they just do away with them?

[cnfowler]

I'm assuming they did away with them.


Colin