I am changing U-joints in my front axle (2000 Ram 1500 ). I got the passenger side done yesterday and put back together. Just got the drivers side shaft done and have been trying to put the axle shaft back in. Both sides look like they are all the way in, but before I took it apart yesterday, I could spin the pass. side tire and the drivers side tire would turn the other direction. Now I can spin either side and the opposite side doesnt move. I tried turning the front driveshaft and nothing turns that way either. I also tried turning the front driveshaft and looking into the axle tube on the drivers side with the shaft out and nothing turns.How do you tell if the shafts are all the way in? I remember yesterday sliding the pass. side shaft in and I thought I felt it go into the splines, not sure what Iv'e done. If anybody can help I would appreciate it. Been a long freaking day, had to walk away from it!!!!!!! Thanks

 

First off, thumbs up for walking away and not breaking your truck.

Second just slide the shaft in as far as you can and move it around like you did to the passenger side until you feel it go into the spline.

 

Kevin, Nice looking Indy Ram! I looks like it would not go in any farther and Ive tried several times. Now I wonder if I got the pass side in all the way.

 

Hmmm, I am not all that great with 4x4 setups, more of a RWD kind of guy. I will check my manual I have and see if I can help you out when I get back.

P.S. - Thanks man, I appreciate the compliment.

 

I got everything back together. I measured into the axle tube where the shaft stops, then re-inserted the axle....its all the way into the splines.Took it for a short drive, tried the 4x4 and everything works fine. I just cant explain why I could spin the pass. side tire, then the driv. side tire would spin the other way-like the rear end would-then when I get it put back together it would not do that.

 

I just did my driver side front axle ujoint now i used anti seize on the ujoint clean the axle shaft and used anti seize where the hub bearing and axle meet . You gotta be careful that you dont take the seals out in the axle housing .. the axle nut if i rembered used 360 lbs of TQ..

 

My pass. side axle nut came off easy, had it off not long ago changing the hub.The drivers side wasnt so easy.I broke a 3/4drive ratchet today geting that off.

 

The only way that you could have spun the passenger side and had the drivers side spin the opposite direction would be to have the truck t-case lever in 4wd or a malfunctioning CAD unit.

The passenger side axle shaft is actually 3 pieces, a stub shaft, an intermediate shaft and a inner shaft. The inner shaft and intermediate shaft have to be connected via the CAD (central axle disconnect). The only way for those two axle shafts to couple together is to have vacuum operate the CAD and move the axle coupler to connect the inner and intermediate axles together.

In 2wd, spinning the passenger shaft would result in the stub shaft and intermediate shaft spinning, but because the inner and intermediate are not connected, the carrier and spider gears will not turn and there is no way the drivers tire would turn as a result of spinning the passenger side.

With the truck in 4wd, then the axles are connected together and spinning the passneger side would result in having the spider gears turn and ultimately spinning the drivers side tire backwards.

You must have been in 4wd when you tested it the first time, or your CAD was stuck.

Just to clarify, if you have the factory open differential still and a functioning CAD, it would be normal to be ablt to spin the passenger side tire and not have anything happen on the drivers side (in 2wd). Spining the drivers side should not effect the passenger side either, and may or may not spint the driveshaft.

The reason the driveshaft may not spin while hand turning the drivers tire is because the drivers side inner axle shaft would turn the spider gears inside the differential which will turn without actually spinning the carrier (which needs to turn to spin the pinion gear and differential yoke and driveshaft). The driveshaft should and will spin while driving down the road as the friction from the spider gears turning rapidly will sort of "slightly" spin the driveshaft, but it's not a 1:1 thing.

Hope that clears it all up for you.