cautionary tale

mikem · #1 (**permalink**) 12-21-2003, 11:42 AM

Hi,
I dropped the rear axle out of my Duetto yesterday...literally. I wasn't under the car when it happened, but did get my 3rd finger between the brake rotor shield and garage floor. Got x-rayed this morning and it wasn't broken, just real bruised and sore. I had been unable to loosen the trunion to axle nut, and was lowering the axle with trunion disconnected at the body instead. Everything else was disassemmbled. When I wiggled the assembly out it rolled backwards off the garage jack onto the floor upside down. My hand had been on top of the rotor guard, and rotated around with the axle to end up under it. In retrospect it seems logical that the center of gravity is pretty close to the axle tubes, and not the flat part of the differential wher the jack was. I guess it could have been a lot worse... Can anyone who has done the rear axle R&R offer some advise? Should I have left the limit straps attached until everything else was disconnected?
Thanks,
Mike

**tubut** · #2 (**permalink**) 12-22-2003, 01:57 AM

Mike,

I'm glad you kept your finger(s).

FYI: There are car jack extensions that allow you to strap or chain the rear axle (or transmissions, for that matter) onto the jack so that it can't rotate or fall off. However, these extensions do not prevent the jack from tipping over. So, being careful is still in order.

When I took the rear axle down on my 2600 Touring Spider, I used 3/8 ropes on each side to essentialy perform the function of the limiting straps but with variable length. That way, I could control the descent of the rear axle quite carefully.

To put the rear axle back in, I'm planning to jack up the body and then lower it onto the rear axle, reattach the radius rods, put the ropes back in place, and then lower the body further and/or jack up the rear axle, if necessary, until the springs are compressed enough to attach the limiting straps.

In any case, it is advisable to do this with a friend. Too much can go wrong if you try to do 250 pound acrobatics all by yourself. But I guess you already know that.

Happy holidays,

Ruedi

mikem · #3 (**permalink**) 12-22-2003, 05:06 AM

Hi Ruedi,
Thanks for the advice. Yes, you are right, too much can go wrong and way too fast. I guess I'm kind of looking at it like a wake up call. I'm not careless, but certainly I'll be spending more time "thinking" and less time "doing" in the future.
Mike

ossodiseppia · #4 (**permalink**) 12-22-2003, 06:31 AM

Attach a piece ot 2X12 to your floor jack to act more as a shelf. That will keep the differential from rolling forward. Jack it up and put jack stands under it.

Since you are going to take it apart, you might want to consider putting only the axle tubes back on before putting the unit back on to the car. It makes it much lighter and easier to move around.

One word of hindsight advise....if it starts to fall, let it fall.

mikem · #5 (**permalink**) 01-12-2004, 05:05 AM

Thanks Osso, great point about taking out the axle shafts. Now that my fingers move again I got back into it, picking up the rear end from where it fell

Once I took out the axle shafts it was much more manageable for the trip to the basement. The trunnion was also much heavier that I thought it would be. I'll also make sure it's secured to the jack before it goes back in.
Thanks again,
Mike