axle shaft types

Axle shaft types which might be found in Dana 25 front axles.  Click diagrams to enlarge.

Early axle shafts were either Bendix or Rzeppa joint.  These used shims to set end play, and a castle nut & cotter pin to hold in place to the driving flange.

    

• A1: p/n A-853, spindle bushing
• B:   p/n A-780, thrust washer (needed ONLY for Bendix axle)
• C:   p/n A-6362, axle shaft bushing

Note the nut on the end of the axle shaft, and the spline "bump stops" just inside of the driving flange.

Thrust washer "B", and shaft bushing "C", were installed in all axle housings, even though only necessary for Bendix axles.

Sometime in early CJ3A production, the design was changed to eliminate the threaded axle end, the nut & cotter pin, and the need to use shims to set end play.  Bendix, Rzeppa and Spicer joint axles were used in this new configuration.

    

• A2: p/n 649783, spindle bushing w/flanged thrust face.

To use a new style axle shaft in an old axle housing, you need to swap spindle bushing A1 for A2.

Note the nut on the end of the axle shaft has been replaced by a snap-ring, and the spline "bump stops" have been eliminated.  The new style Bendix axle shaft DOES NOT USE the snap ring, it's only used on Rzeppa and Spicer axle shafts.

End float of the Bendix shaft is set by the flanged face of "A2", and thrust washer "B".

End float of Rzeppa & Spicer shafts is set by the flanged face of "A2", and the snap ring.

NO SHIMMING NECESSARY!  Only threaded axles require shimming.

Edited by sean - 29 May 2008 at 1:43pm

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