2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Bent Axle... How can I fix it?

[Alphacowboy]

Alright guys, need some help. Last year I swapped out my D80 rear for a AAM 11. 5 axle out of a 03 Dodge. (there are alot of reasons why I did this, but at this point that is irrelevant) Anyway, I have had issues with it being kinda squirrly and feeling "loose" especially when its slick out. Figured it was tires or something and said the hell with it. Well after chewing threw yet another set of rear tires (not fully do too my heavy right foot, but somthing else) I decided to do some looking, and pulled the rear shafts today. Drivers side slid out with out issue. The bearing was a little loose, as I could move the hub up and down by hand, so I snugged it up as it should be. Passanger side is where it got ugly, and I figured this was where the issue was due to the wear pattern on the tire (inside edge had double the wear as the outer edge of the tire)... I had to pry the shaft out. It definately was binding. When I got all the bolts out, the hub bolt holes and shaft holes didnt line up anymore like they normally do. It looks to me like the axle housing needs to go forward 1/8" and down 1/16+". So now I am stuck, what do I do? I cant afford to swap axles again, as well as find one with 3:73 gears... Is there ANYWAY I could straighten it out? When I worked on race cars we would tweak axles (long story) with a torch by heating up the tubes in certian spots to get them to slightly bend the way we wanted them.



Just looking for some wisdom here, any body got any ideas?

 

[TAbbott]

A good truck shop (repeat -- a good truck shop) that is equipped to do frame straightening might be able to help you.



You need someone who has been around a long time, as it used to be common practice in the old days to straighten axles by chaining them down and using heavy jacks to get them back to where they need to be. I don't think it's a practice that's in much favor anymore, but it can be done if you have the right equipment and some old hand with the moxie to get-r-done.



I doubt there would be much if any warranty that went with the job, because today they just say "replace it" because it's difficult to straighten them properly without weakening them, and, if they're not right, as you've seen, there are problems down the road.

 

[MoparBob]

A good truck shop (repeat -- a good truck shop) that is equipped to do frame straightening might be able to help you.

What TAbbot said. Find a "Spring and Frame" type shop that is reputable and inquire with them. I found a good one locally when I took my Freighliner in for an allignment. Now they do all of my Allignments, Collision repair, Suspension and frame needs. They straightened a front axle on one of my trucks and it did wonders for the front tire wear.

 

[Alphacowboy]

what ya think this would run me cost wise?

 

[dsherman]

save yourself some money and put the d 80 back in, its a much better unit.

 

[Alphacowboy]

save yourself some money and put the d 80 back in, its a much better unit.

I cant, dont have it anymore, plus, it needed bearings, had drums, and 3:55s were to high for the tires I run (35") when towing. The 3:73s are perfect for what I needed. Anyway, that is neither here nor there, I just need to figure out how to fix it, and if I can.



Plus, I dont know why the D80 is really any better, in physical size, the 11. 5 is larger and beefier than the D80, they all have Disk rears, and most of the D80s had drums. I blew up the D80 I had, and the AAM has lasted 25k miles with a bent tube, go figure.