What did I do wrong - new axle no torque

XPlorID

XPlorID

Member
Feb 9, 2012
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I swapped in a new passenger side one-ton axle/cv from Applied. On the test drive it was hard "torque steer left" - like the passenger side is
producing little to no torque.
With the caliper and shock absorber removed I certainly had to wrestle the old one out and the new one in. Spindle nut torqued to 170.
Any guesses on what I did wrong? Is is possible the new axle assembly was not right? The outer cv seemed a bit stiff to me before installation, but
what do I know.
Jeff
--
1974/94 GMCII by Explorer
Manny 6.5 TD Al radiator
1 ton front 4 bags back
 
Maybe when you had the caliper off, the brake hose was damaged and now its holding brake caliper pressure on the passenger side front brakes.
Although I would think that would make it pull right.

--
Bruce Hislop
ON Canada
77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.1 ton front end
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that
 
The old axle had a split in the outer boot.
Since it had to come out I got the new axle to swap in and save the time in the driveway (no RV parking in my neighborhood).
The "old" axle is just a year old I think so a re-boot should give me a good spare axle.
I watched Manny change axles in an hour or less. I took me most of the day.
Brake calipers seemed fine on the short drive back to storage.
Torque steer left is not subtle, and from my limited knowledge that means torque is being mostly transmitted to the left wheel.
I have no clue to the mechanics of a CV, guess I'll have a better idea after the re-boot.
What are the chances that all that wrestling to get the new axle in somehow messed up the CV?
I cannot think of anything else that would get in the way of power to the wheel.

--
1974/94 GMCII by Explorer
Manny 6.5 TD Al radiator
1 ton front 4 bags back
 
FYI, Since you have a one-ton, the bolts that fasten the driver side axle to the final drive flange are shorter than the passenger side. If you put a
longer bolt in from the passenger side, the bolt will hit the final drive housing and prevent the Driver's side wheel from turning. I don't think
this is your problem since you did the passenger side which uses the longer bolts.

The differential gears in the final drive balances the torque between the two axles. If the differential got locked up, you would be skidding one
front wheel or the other while turning a corner.

I can envision a dragging front passenger side brake causing you the symptoms you describe.

--
Bruce Hislop
ON Canada
77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.1 ton front end
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that
 
Really sounds like the right caliper is sticking after you use it to come to a stop and then it lets go at speed so the brakes feel normal next time.
Except when you go after a stop the caliper is still clamped on the rotor or the mount is corrupted/worn out or assembled incorrectly and it is
jamming upon application.
--
Terry Kelpien

ASE Master Technician

73 Glacier 260

Smithfield, Va.
 
I'm confused: "Torque steer left" makes me think that during acceleration
the coach wants to turn left. In that case, I'd say the passenger (RIGHT)
side wheel is applying MORE torque to the road than is the left (driver's)
wheel. So, with your situation appearing to be reversed from my reasoning,
I can't begin to come up with a reason for it. Please clarify for me.

Ken H.

> I swapped in a new passenger side one-ton axle/cv from Applied. On the
> test drive it was hard "torque steer left" - like the passenger side is
> producing little to no torque.
> With the caliper and shock absorber removed I certainly had to wrestle the
> old one out and the new one in. Spindle nut torqued to 170.
> Any guesses on what I did wrong? Is is possible the new axle assembly was
> not right? The outer cv seemed a bit stiff to me before installation, but
> what do I know.
> Jeff
> --
> 1974/94 GMCII by Explorer
> Manny 6.5 TD Al radiator
> 1 ton front 4 bags back
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>
 
Thanks again for the thoughts.
Torque steer left means when accelerating the coach goes to the left and the harder the acceleration the harder the pull to the left. The difference
after the passenger axle swap is clear and pronounced.
I thought that meant more power to the left wheel than the right.

I am in no hurry to do all that crawling around so soon, but default is to repair the axle boot on the removed axle and re-install it.

Maybe I will discover something else along the way.
--
1974/94 GMCII by Explorer
Manny 6.5 TD Al radiator
1 ton front 4 bags back
 
More than likely had something to do with how you R & R'd the
axle/jackshaft assy. If you had the control arms loose, particularly the
upper one, your alignment has a very good chance of being incorrect. You
need all the caster that you can get while still matching what the other
side of the coach has. Camber should be 0° at the correct ride height.
(Both sides). Toe in/out should start at 1/16" toe out. But that varies
with individual coaches. Some like a bit more, some a bit less. Cut and try
it to see if your coach responds.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Oregon

> Thanks again for the thoughts.
> Torque steer left means when accelerating the coach goes to the left and
> the harder the acceleration the harder the pull to the left. The difference
> after the passenger axle swap is clear and pronounced.
> I thought that meant more power to the left wheel than the right.
>
> I am in no hurry to do all that crawling around so soon, but default is to
> repair the axle boot on the removed axle and re-install it.
>
> Maybe I will discover something else along the way.
> --
> 1974/94 GMCII by Explorer
> Manny 6.5 TD Al radiator
> 1 ton front 4 bags back
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>
 
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