1700 series gear reduction hub coupler

jmp1177 · Sep 16, 2014

Hi! I bought a 1700 series Ford awhile back and took the gear reduction front hubs off to repair leaky seals. Now I can't get them back on. The joint assembly connecting the axle stub in the hub to the axle stub in the axle housing seems impossible to get on. There seems to be no way to hold it and line up the axle without it flopping out of position. You can't fit a hand in there and you can only see through the small gap while the gear reduction hub is getting close, then nothing. I know there has to be some kind of trick, or special tool to do this. I'm about to the point of taking out the whole axle and taking it to a dealer to put together. Before I get desperate and start shelling out money, could someone enlighten me please? Thx- Mike

square1 · Sep 16, 2014

Got pics?

TractorTech · Sep 17, 2014

Did you try taking the shaft out of the axle, install in the hub and then stab back into the axle.

jmp1177 · Sep 17, 2014

No, but that sounds like a good idea! What's involved in pulling the axle?

TractorTech · Sep 18, 2014

I was thinking pulling the axle shaft, insert the end into the hub, then stabbing the assembly into the axle. You still have the axle shaft to line up with the differential splines, but you can oscillate the hub while turning the hub and engage it that way. It is certainly worth a try.
Alternatively, you take the axle tube off of the center housing, assemble everything as described, then assemble the axle onto the center section.

jmp1177 · Sep 19, 2014

TractorTech said:
I was thinking pulling the axle shaft, insert the end into the hub, then stabbing the assembly into the axle. You still have the axle shaft to line up with the differential splines, but you can oscillate the hub while turning the hub and engage it that way. It is certainly worth a try.
Alternatively, you take the axle tube off of the center housing, assemble everything as described, then assemble the axle onto the center section.

I'm thinking pulling the axle tube off might be the easiest, I think I'll have to give it a try. Thx again - Mike