Cir clip on free wheeeling hubs

[Bruce]

After our jaunt at Levuka I had a strange noise in the r/f wheel on return home, investergation I found the cir clip had come adrift. Put it back on and put it in and out of 4wd no probs,but under a lot more stress I would think it would come off again, so do I just change the clip or is there a more sinister problem.
Hope someone has had the same prob and knowns how to fix.
Cheers Bruce

[geeves]

How far has your car been lifted. The only time Ive heard of this is when the cvs are at full stretch. which is normaly prevented by the upper bump stop but this can be beaten by ball joint flips and low profile bump stops.
It might also of not been put on properly last time but if it keeps doing it then you might need to check the cvs.

[James W]

Thats happened to me several times. I lost half the splines on one CV shaft on one ocassion with autohubs, luckily I was doing swap to manual hubs and they didn't use that part.

This usually happens at max flex in the front end, made slightly worse with front end mods, TB crank, ball joint flip, bump stop trim. But old clips seem to be the worst problem.
Buy some new ones, my bearing shop will only sell them in packs of 10 but only for a few bucks anyway. Also check the groove/slot in the shaft it may be getting a little rounded or worn and may need remachining.

But if the problem persits you could add a cap and bolt to the end of the shaft, there should already be a threaded hole there. I haven't needed to go this far yet.

Also check the shaft end play, it's important for the seals behind the wheel hub to seal. This can be dificult to impossible to maintain with Superwinch hubs..... Another story.

[Bruce]

Thanks guys well check these out.
Cheers Bruce

[3vilc]

I have the same problem on my front left hub. So it is an internal clip that fits into a groove in the hub? and a good push should fit it back in again? Havnt used the 4WD since I heard the knocking noise and doesnt appear to be any spline damage.
How do I get the shaft right out to replace the clip, is that a case of popping one of the ball joints and pivoting the hub out of the way or is there an easier method?
Also how would I go about removing the hub lock to install a cap in the end of the shaft if it continues to pop out? do I remove the nuts in the end of the locking mechanism or the ones that appear to hold it onto the hub/brake disk?

sorry about all the questions, this is my 1st 4x4

thanks in advance for any help,
Clive

[geeves]

assuming were talking the wheel end of the axle. You just undo the free wheel hub and go in from there Mark the location of the cap and main body as you go in to help assembly. Circlip is on he shaft and has packing shims behind it.
The only internal circlip is at the diff end This is a spring clip inside the housing for the inner cv Remove this to remove the inside of the cv from the housing then there is anouther circlip on the end of the shaft that holds the cv onto the shaft.

[3vilc]

yes sorry, shouldve mentioned the axle has come out at the wheel end. so there should be an outer type circlip on the end of the shaft? thats what I originally thought, the only thing worrying me was the nothing was going to spring off or fall out when i take the free wheel hub off..other than the likely several pieces of old circlip. I have a feeling the previous owner had driven on pavement in 4wd and popped it out and thought it was broken..looked like an easy fix to me tho so didnt stop me buying it at the cheap price

[geeves]

Hopfully if its been driven on the road in 4wd theres no other damage that has deliberatly been hidden by removeing the circlip.
good luck

[3vilc]

Still seems to lock in ok with what little of the shaft is in the hub, obviously wouldnt drive it like that though but it does engage and the hub locks ok..will get underneath on the weekend and try have a close look

[geeves]

Not much actualy comes through It needs to have very minimal free play which is why there are several shims in there It sounds correct although this is sight unseen

[3vilc]

ok have had the lock hub off and investigated and all looks good inside. the clip looks to be good now i am just contemplating whats the best way to put it back on without it pinging off and loosing it. the only circlips i have seen of that type have eyes at the split so they can be spread with circlip pliers, but the clip i found does not have these, unless its meant to and they broke off but no sign of any bits in the hub (the clip was stuck to the grease on the underside of the top cover). i have put a bolt and washer on the end of the shaft as a temporary measure to stop it rattling around.
whats the easiest way to put the clip back on? looks like a one handed job as the other hand would be needed to hold the shaft from behind otherwise it springs back towards the diff

[James W]

The factory fitted ones don't have the eyes if them for easy removal or fitting. You may want to consider buying some new ones. Measure the diameter of the shaft and pop into any bearing shop and buy some. it won't cost much. Mine 20mm dia shaft, with C-clip notch being about 19mm dia.

[3vilc]

yes i think thats what i will do..now i have the whole clip out in one piece it should be easy to match it up to a new one.. dont like the look of trying to put the factory one back in, it has some nasty sharp points where the eyes would be I was thinking after i replace the clip to put the bolt back on anyway such that if it pops again the bolt would still provide some hold, but looking at the hub wouldnt the head of the bolt stick out too far to put the cover on with the shaft in place?

[Harry]

Are your hubs manual or auto?The manual hubs have the normal clips with eyes.The auto ones have the other type.They're thicker than the eye types as well.I don't think the eyetype ones will fit into the recess in the hub.To install the eyeless ones you need a piece tube that's sliding fit on the shaft Either get a new clip or close the old one up a little with a pair of poly grips.Hold the clip against the end of the shaft [there should be a slight bevel on the end of the shaft to centralize the clip]with the tube and hit the other end of the tube with just enough enthusiasm to get the clip onto the shaft.Screw an 8mm bolt into the end of the shaft [yup,it's threaded] to hold the shaft out and work the clip into it's groove.
Good,Harry.