Unidentified metallic ring in front axle

[Rob]

What is this:

On the other side this part is pressed into the axle casing just past the inner axle oil seal. On this side it is loose. Weird thing is that I cant find it in the FSM or on Toyodiy so no idea how to get it back in place Do I need to remove the diff and get at it form the other side

 

[Paul_Humphreys]

Not sure what it is, but has it even had a broken diff? As it could be part of an old diff. But it dose need removing, just incase it works it way back into the diff.

Paul

 

[Rob]

Never had a diff failure but I do not know the vehicles service history, only 2 stamps in the book. You can feel one on the other side just past the inner axle oil seal so its not part of the diff, but I suspect that it might need to be pressed on from the inside which may need diff removal unless I make some fancy puller. I just have no idea what it is as I would rather replace it rather than reuse it. Also no idea what it does

 

[Rob]

Found a pic of it:

If is the metal ring in the pic above, any idea on what its for or how to replace it?

 

[Rob]

Ah crap, on MUD they call it an index ring and it seems that Toyota sell it with a new axle casing. It is used as a pivot point to get the halfshaft seated into the diff.

 

[Rob]

I have done some reading and there here are the solutions I have come up with:

1 swap the axle casing for another one £££
2 Pull it back in place with a slide hammer or bearing puller (will definitely fall out again)
3 Use metal epoxy to keep it in place (need to ensure surfaces are very clean, probably a diff out job)
4 Remove ring (either diff out or bend the ring so it comes out through the end of the axle) and drill a couple of tapped holes in the casing near the diff to guide the shaft into the diff (diff out job to clean the swarf)
5 machine up a new ring and press it in (diff out job and very difficult to measure the bore inside the axle where the ring sits accurately enough to machine a new part)

I have not seen anyone do or suggest 3 or 5 on MUD, and these are my 2 favourites. Anyone got any ideas and thoughts on the solutions above?

 

[Paul]

Removing it seems needed.
I know on Gregs it came loose and was removed as not really needed, makes a fiddle to get halfshafts in but still possible.

 

[Rob]

Trouble is that this is on the long side, if it was the short side I would not worry too much. Also I don't like the idea of pivoting the long shaft on the inner axle oil seal.

 

[Paul]

You dont have to, you can suspend some wire rope through the top swivel hole and pivot on that instead.

 

[Rob]

Put the shaft and CV in before you put the top swivel bearing in? Ok so that is option 6, makes servicing the front axle a pain though...

 

[Rob]

Just an updating the thread. I went for option 2 in the end, I managed to get it back in with my fingers, I was very careful when putting the shaft in so I could use it to leaver the shaft into the diff. Managed to do it on the first attempt, no idea why I was putting this off for so long....