99 Yukon front axle

[Patten]

New member.......The passenger side axle will not stay in place. Seems the clip will not hold it in place and the axle subsequently slides out to far to make contact to make four wheel drive. Has anyone seen this? What did you do?

This vehicle is not lifted.

Thanks

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Welcome to the Forum from NH.

Lots of knowledgeable folks here who freely share their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives. Knowledge is power.

I hope that you will become a participating member in the Forum's discussions.

Pics of the truck, please.

I cannot personally help you with your question; however, other members on this Forum that are much more knowledgeable than me will chime in.

 

[B-train]

Does the axle slide out of the hub towards the center of the vehicle? Those axles should have a large retaining nut and washer thar holds them into the hub. The other side should have 6 bolts to the flange on the front differential. Are we talking about the same stuff here?

 

[B-train]

Or, is the axle flange walking out of the front differential?

 

[Eman85]

I honestly haven't had one of those apart in quite some time. So from what I read your right side axle will move out of the axle tube and not allow the 4wd actuator to engage it? If that is truly the case I'd pull it apart and have a look see. Can't say I've ever seen this, usually the little rings hold the axles pretty good.

 

[wjburken]

As stated above, what you are describing is not a common failure mode on these vehicles. A picture or three showing what you are talking about will go a long way in allowing folks here to help you.

 

[Patten]

The axle is walking away from the diff. I will try to post the pics I have.....sent to my phone a month or so ago.

 

[OR VietVet]

There is another thread going on about this kind of problem. Sounds like a cir clip release problem inside the diff. Read thru this:

Inner axle shaft fixin

@89Suburban yea I have been beating my head on this thing for the past 3 weekends. I have never fought with something so much. I just need to get the race for the needle bearing out because I trashed the bearing pulling the shaft back out. @George B I'll have to check that out.

www.tahoeyukonforum.com

 

[Patten]

I can't convert the pic to something I can open and attach. The fella working on it says the "circlip keeps popping off of the axle shaft and we lose the front wheel pulling."

The axle is walking away from the diff.

 

[B-train]

You'll have to pull the front diff down and apart then. 6 bolts for each axle flange, and (4) 21mm (l think thats the size, been awhile) nuts that hold the diff to the fram. 1 wire harness connector for you actuator.

After that, you can inspect the axle in question. If it's loose and can be removed by hand, try pushing it back in and see if you feel resistance. There is a retaining ring in the aluminum housing that holds the splined shaft in. You need a rubber mallet to remove or reinstall to get past that clip. I have heard of the clips getting packed full of metal shavings and NOT wanting to release the axle shaft.

If it feels/looks like it's all the way in and you don't have that clip resistance (use the seal wear line as your guage for depth) then the case will need to be split and looked into.

If the axle DOESN'T want ro push all the way in you can tap it with a mallet to see if it will lock into place. Just beware of what I said above about metal shavings locks those clips tight.

If you pull the diff, I'd recommend draining it first to see the condition of the fluid. Thar may give you info before you dig deeper. The drain plug has a magnet on it, so wipe it on a new towel and see what's stuck to it, if anything.