Rear axle question. Repairable?

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freddiepereyra1

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My 2003 5.7 rwd took some damage last night and I was wondering if this was repairable. It's the rear drivers side
https://imgur.com/a/3AmQw3O
https://imgur.com/a/r8WPrwA

I'd like to know if the entire rear axle assembly needs to be replaced or if that shaft is removable for a new replacement.
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HemiLonestar

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That's impressive, how'd you manage that lol? It looks like you tore the whole parking brake assembly off with it. Yes, you can slide that axle shaft out and replace it, but you might wanna replace that backing plate if you want your parking brake shoes to actually sit where they're supposed to (or weld up and redrill the holes).
 
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freddiepereyra1

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The axle is replaceable.
But what happened to cause the axle to snap?
I hit a pocket of water on the freeway and lost control. Not sure how it happened but I also snapped the front passenger side hub as well

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freddiepereyra1

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That's impressive, how'd you manage that lol? It looks like you tore the whole parking brake assembly off with it. Yes, you can slide that axle shaft out and replace it, but you might wanna replace that backing plate if you want your parking brake shoes to actually sit where they're supposed to (or weld up and redrill the holes).
Any chance you can point me to a write up to replace the axle shaft? Part number?

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HemiLonestar

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Any chance you can point me to a write up to replace the axle shaft? Part number?

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Download the factory parts and service manuals (they're in a sticky on this site). These will have everything you need. Basically you'll have to drain it, pop the cover, unbolt the and remove the pin, pop the c clip out then you can remove what's left of the axle shaft. You can use the driver's side axle and backing plate from any 02-08 1500. You should get a seal while you're at it, that one looks dicked in the pic.
 
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freddiepereyra1

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Is there a axle shaft on the Summit Racing website that will fit?

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pacofortacos

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Here is the biggest thing I would worry about.
Did it possibly bend the rear housing? If so (and it may be hard to tell without really doing a bunch of measurements) you may be much further ahead to just get a complete rear axle assembly from an auto wreckers.

To replace the whole assembly isn't too bad. This is route I would go.

To replace the axle, you need to
remove the rear diff cover and drain the gear oil,
On older trucks (I think this is similar but not certain), you pushed in the axle, removed the C clip and pulled the axle out.
Will need to replace the end housing bearing and seal,
Replace the backing plate and brake parts.
However if the housing is bent at all, you will have all types of issues.
 

pacofortacos

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I hit a pocket of water on the freeway and lost control. Not sure how it happened but I also snapped the front passenger side hub as well

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That is a lot of force required to snap those 2 pieces, I would worry about bent parts.
 
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freddiepereyra1

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So I was able to get a hold of a steering knuckle to replace the broken on and I pretty much finished the front passenger side.

So I moved on to the rear axle shaft. I decided to replace both since I was going to have the differential open anyway. I removed both axles easily and decided to replace the seals and bearings. Bearings and seals went in without a problem.

So here is where my problem starts. As I am sliding in the driver side axle I hear a noise like something fell into my oil bucket. Go under to check what it was and I see one or the spider gears in the bucket. It didn't seem like a big deal so I try to put it back in. I then notice the side gear and all the little plates also came out of position.

After about 30 minutes I finally get the side gear back in place with all the plates in the correct position. So I push the axle shaft through the side gear while holding it with my hand. It slips right in so I install the c clip back in place on both axles.

I put one spider gear in with the thrust washer while turning the axle shaft. The problem is I can't get it to slip in to place. It jams up against the (carrier?). So I try it without the thrust washer and still it doesn't go in.

After several hours of trying to get the spider gears back in the differential I still couldn't get them in. Has anyone done this successfully? Pointers/tricks? Sorry for the long post

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freddiepereyra1

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Spider problems b6e1bea495bfbcd8bd201c748525024e.jpg

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freddiepereyra1

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Would backing out the differential bearing preload help give me a little more space to put in the spider gears?

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wtabke

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Would backing out the differential bearing preload help give me a little more space to put in the spider gears?

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Seems to me, that would be a bad idea.

You should be able to rotate the side and spider gears into place with minimal effort.

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freddiepereyra1

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Seems to me, that would be a bad idea.

You should be able to rotate the side and spider gears into place with minimal effort.

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Signs of a bent axle?

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freddiepereyra1

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Pulled the side gear to inspect the carrier and clutches

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freddiepereyra1

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This is what I found 150ef87a414d3ad77363030a87f30a61.jpg86e76b73cc4d80f982a57236319d8d9a.jpg232a89260d92e25db7fafe5fb4667562.jpg4942155d548eec0d0900b3bcb5ef15ab.jpg306b7e7ec52ae01be50cdc74140dd8e1.jpg6b679700c6182513f405282b9472dc13.jpgacf6377f5835eab83b121c165a5f4eb4.jpge1566738aabc1c5a809530475f4eea2c.jpgd1ec7056d637f5b9048bd652e201c619.jpg

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BWL

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Looks like she was due for a rebuild
 

Ian_Olivas

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https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/spicer-carrier-case-l-s-80754/10724090-P

Should just drop one of those in there?

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So I've just rebuilt this same axle 2 times this year, those side gears with the clutch need a alot of force to press them in on each side to get those pinion spider gears to go into the correct spit. It's a huge pain in the ads, or you can do what I did. Buy a while new carrier assymbly with new spider gears and clutches already set up in there, the plus is it came with a spring pressing the side gears towards the clutches to keep tension and pressure on them to help the lsd with the force needed for the clutches to engage. If I remember right it was about $480 for it. I got the Yukon gear and axle lsd carrier assymbly
 
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