NAPA front CV axle concerns

[Steamdonkey]

I recently replaced the left (driver's) side front axle with a new NAPA Cardone assembly and I'm troubled by the fact that it doesn't want to stay completely inserted into the front differential. After the initial installation I noticed it was ~1/8 inch out so I hammered it in until the dust seal was flush with the diff housing. After taking a quick test drive I looked at it again and noticed the axle had pushed back out to where it was before. Is this typical for a NAPA CV axle assembly? This is on an '04 V8 4WD, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

 

[sggaz]

Hey Steam. Not sure but I think maybe your hammering was moving the axle itself rather than sliding the dust seal along the axle shaft. Is there a way you can visually gage if the seal itself is the only thing moving. You are looking to make a pretty small adjustment (1/8") so I think this is a possibility.

I recently installed new Napa max drive CV axles and thought the seal was out further than optimal. I haven't done anything about it but I have read comments from other guys who have successfully adjusted them.

 

[<<<<]

I've no idea how to fix that, but it shouldn't be out of spec like shown on your pic. Measure stock vs NAPA assembly and see if matching. GL

 

[Steamdonkey]

Hey Steam. Not sure but I think maybe your hammering was moving the axle itself rather than sliding the dust seal along the axle shaft. Is there a way you can visually gage if the seal itself is the only thing moving. You are looking to make a pretty small adjustment (1/8") so I think this is a possibility.

I recently installed new Napa max drive CV axles and thought the seal was out further than optimal. I haven't done anything about it but I have read comments from other guys who have successfully adjusted them.

I'm 99% sure the hammering was moving the axle and dust seal together, then they both moved back out a bit. Maybe NAPA makes these with a little extra clearance between the dust seal and diff housing. Looking at the OEM axle it looks like the dust seal would move to a smaller diameter section of the axle and become loose if I moved it out much. I'm assuming the installed NAPA axle is the same deal but I can't quite see that far in to verify.

 

[Kenworth]

Cv

Napa parts suck

 

[Steamdonkey]

Hmm.... So I just went out to the garage to take another look and noticed I can move the inboard portion of the axle in and out ~1/8" using just my hands. The retainer clip near the end of the axle that goes into the diff seems to be in the right location and is doing its job. The passenger side axle (original w/ 86k miles) is similar in that it moves a bit, so I'm really not that worried about how the NAPA axle fits. Thanks for the input everyone.

 

[Steamdonkey]

Napa parts suck

Oh crap! Where were you two weeks ago??? I would have gladly paid over 3 times the price for an OEM axle if I had known that 'Kenworth' thinks NAPA parts suck. Thanks for your well founded insights on the matter.

 

[Greydog]

My OE axle sits like in the pic below. It slides in to a flush position but also slides back and forth a bit.

I don't think it matters much as long as you got it in past the clip.

 

[gmyatko]

Napa doesn't make the axle assembly. Once the c-clip makes it to where it needs to go, by "adjusting" it, you are pushing the c-clip into uncaptured airspace. So when it relaxes, it is merely coming back to where it rests on a lip. I replaced my axles, not with Cardones, with someone elses offering. They look exactly like your picture. I recently had to remove my axles and believe me, the c-clip was firmly captured where ever it was located.