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Thanks Les, it's just the joy of working on cars! The gift that never stops giving LOL. I showed my mom what you said about the towel and she had a good laugh hahah, I swear she is just as excited as I am to see the blazer make this road trip. So it was tough hearing that about the cv but you are correct since I'm going on a long trip right away here there's not much room for error anymore, I bit the bullet and got a new axle. I will keep this one as a spare if I ever need it. New axle will be here tomorrow.
I spent today taking the axle shaft off the cv axle, all it needed was a firm pull on the shaft side while I had the end of the cv in a vice. I also cleaned up all the parts, got ready to put it back together, tapped all the nuts and bolts, and gave them fresh paint. Something about having bolts that are clean and the nut just spins right down it, something I don't get very often. I still need to pull the gear out of the diff and the big washer behind then clean up that side, I will get that taken care of tomorrow. The front side of the housing where the actuator sits didn't clean up as well as I wanted but I'm sure it will still seal with some RTV, just hard to get in there with the grinder attachment and being careful of the actuator seal.
Now one thing I will have to do some searching on here is this big washer, pictured above is how it was when I took the diff out (picture of the diff above). However, in this video (at the bottom of post) I watched to give me an idea of what was all in there he has it a different way. I will have to do some searching here to confirm the correct orientation (shows the orientation of washer at 17:15 in video).
Thanks Les, that is a good thread there. It still doesn't confirm that washer orientation though! I was just looking at the factory manual and the instructions to put this back together are so bad, they don't tell you the orientation of any of these washers! I think all of the washers have a correct and incorrect way to put them in, so that's not very helpful...
So after watching all these videos and reading threads I think I'm just going to put a new vacuum switch in today too LOL, I remember when I replaced my 4x4 vac line there was a small bit of fluid in there and I said I was going to replace it soon but never quite got around to it. I'll also drain all the remaining fluid from the front diff and clean up the diff side parts. Looking more at that big washer orientation, I think how it is on mine looks more correct than in that video, I say because on mine those 2 bumps on each side are perfectly filling the gap in the bottom of the diff housing.
Okay, so I figured out the orientation of all these washers. For that big washer, it's going back in the same way it came out. I got a new vacuum switch coming Thursday (one day before I leave), other than that everything is ready and the washer kit will be here tomorrow. I will pretty much follow that video above for putting the gears back together.
Thanks Les, I will confirm everything is working after I have the cv in. I'm feeling good about this though! It has definitely been nice to learn all about the axle engagement and how exactly it works, and this side of the suspension will be nice and clean. Just hoping all goes as planned tomorrow. I might try and take Tuesday off work and finish off the blazer and get it back on the road! I get butterflies in my stomach just saying that "get it back on the road" LOL.
Holy crap I did it Les! 4x4 works a treat again!!!!!! That feeling of the cv axle locking in was out of this world relief. The housing and cv axle are in, I did hammer the end of the cv axle because the clamps weren't working. Just very light taps though and it went right in (I have hammered them in every time so far they never have just been able to slide in for me in the 2 times each I have taken the pass and driver off). Not even hard enough to mark up the end of the cv axle or nut. I'm 90% sure the axle is fully seated, it wouldn't go in any further so I guess so! I have some pics coming soon, it's time to clean up and grab a drink to cherish this victory. I'm taking tomorrow off work to button up the suspension and get her back on the road now!
Some pictures from the install. Feeling more confident about the cv being fully seated as I checked the other side and it has about the same hanging out of the diff, I think I'm good to go here.
That feeling of the cv axle locking in was out of this world relief. The housing and cv axle are in, I did hammer the end of the cv axle because the clamps weren't working. Just very light taps though and it went right in (I have hammered them in every time so far they never have just been able to slide in for me in the 2 times each I have taken the pass and driver off). Not even hard enough to mark up the end of the cv axle or nut. I'm 90% sure the axle is fully seated, it wouldn't go in any further so I guess so! I have some pics coming soon, it's time to clean up and grab a drink to cherish this victory. I'm taking tomorrow off work to button up the suspension and get her back on the road now!
