Upgrading to HD axles... problems with removing old bearing extender

[kingtroller]

Hi!

I have a 2004 Avenger and just started my upgrade to HD axles. While removing the bolts on the bearing extenders I had to use an impact wrench. The corrosion on the fine threads effectively reamed the welded nuts. I'm worried that running a tap to clean the threads will not give me the needed strength when I go to tighten the bolts.

The frame is enclosed around three of the five bolts and prevents me from spraying PB on the remaining front extenders. I'm not real excited about removing the frame and welding new nuts in place. Thinking about increasing bolt size to the next higher metric and tapping the nut. Thoughts???

Thanks,
Mike

[msafi65]

The nuts that are pressed into the frame I believe are 7/16 x 20. If the nuts stayed I the frame you could tap to 1/2 20. I've had the nuts come loose on ones that broke the bearing extensions. With an extra hand you can hold a nut inside frame. It's a fix and shouldn't have to ever be removed. If the weld nuts are secure they can be helicoiled. The ones I've seen are just pressed in. Don't be suprised if they come out of frame when cutting threads. Good luck with the fronts

[Obsessed]

Don't remove the bearing extensions ...very good chance you will break a bolt off inside of one of the frame tubes where it is nearly impossible to fix...just knock the 4 studs out that used to hold the bearing in and use a HD bearing upgrade kit to remount the new bearings...super simple and easy, and will save you time, money, and a lot of frustration...works on all of the axles (including the middle ones without body modifications and special tools) and even on non Argo machines.

Hope this saves you some trouble...best of luck.

tim

[Old Tucker]

As tim said do not remove the extensions. Unless they are broken. Give Tim a call and he can help you with all the parts you will need. to make the job very simple. I put the HD axles and bearings on the front and rear axles. Adair Argo Sales were able to supply all the parts I needed, and the HD axles and bearings just bolted right in without having to remove the extensions.
I do not no why but It sure made a big difference on how the argo felt when you were running. It just felt more solid.?? . Now to do the mid axles. And again it,s just a bolt in no playing around Trying to modify anything.

Good luck Al

[kingtroller]

Thanks for the replies. I now have two extensions off and two on.

Tim... wish I knew about those adapters before spending the money on new housings.

I'm going to try to run a tap through the welded nuts and see what kind of purchase I get with the new threads.

[Rock Doctor]

What's done is done, but I'm a little confused.
With a 2004 Avenger, you should not need the adapters. The HDI Bearing carriers should fit right in the extensions you have. When I did the mod to my 2004 Conquest, it was a direct bolt in, other than needing slightly longer bolts.

RD

[kingtroller]

RD,

I was dealing with a company that instructed my current course of action. I bought their products and now here I am. They specifically said my extensions would need to be replaced. I purchased complete HD axle upgrade kits for all axles. Now I'm starting to second guess my approach to this issue... thought I was doing the right thing.

Mike

[rapidroy]

RD,

I was dealing with a company that instructed my current course of action. I bought their products and now here I am. They specifically said my extensions would need to be replaced. I purchased complete HD axle upgrade kits for all axles. Now I'm starting to second guess my approach to this issue... thought I was doing the right thing.

Mike

Mike could you post a pic of your extensions from the outer end, that way we can see if you indeed needed the new extensions. If they are the ones RD is referencing you could sell them to someone who wants to do the upgrade to HDI bearings on an older machine. Please dont feel it was the wrong thing to do, the HDI axle upgrade is not wasted money.
What shape are the original axles in? If they are decent, some folks may want them for spares or replacement for bent or wobbly units.

good luck // RR

[kingtroller]

Hi!

New development... because of the great info on this site, I'm keeping my original housings. This other company is taking my new housings back. Chasing the threads with a tap did the trick. I just need to verify if the plastic adapters are required or not. One thing is for sure though... I will need longer studs to accomodate the added width of the new hardware.

Thanks to everyone... I really appreciate it.

Mike

[kingtroller]

Housing pictures

Here are some pictures of what I'm dealing with.




The backing does fit into the opening of the bearing extender with minor play. The extender has a tapered opening and the backing has a 90 degree angle... do I need the adapter from Adair?

Thanks!

[spookum]

With regards to this picture:

If it fits all the way down in the hole.... You should be good to go. The adapters ar for if the bearing extensions Id (inner diameter) is smaller than the od (outer diameter) of the hdi bearing... If it (the part In the picture) fits all the way in ther your good to go... But Tim should chime in here. I would hate to be wrong!

[rapidroy]

Looks like you are cool buddy, thats the way they are supposed to fit. The older versions have the inner bearing cup cast into the housing for the smaller bearing and thus needs the spacer for the HDI bearing cup to fit. // RR

[Obsessed]

With regards to this picture:

If it fits all the way down in the hole.... You should be good to go. The adapters ar for if the bearing extensions Id (inner diameter) is smaller than the od (outer diameter) of the hdi bearing... If it (the part In the picture) fits all the way in ther your good to go... But Tim should chime in here. I would hate to be wrong!

Sounds correct to me spookum... If the parts fit correctly with the old-style axle hub extension then there's no need to use the custom quarter inch thick steel plate to give a ideal mounting surface (unless you just want to spread the bearing a little farther outward)...one bit of advice, argo recommends 3 gaskets but a prefer 2 so that you can get both flanges tight enough to hold the bearing and not allow it to start to "flop" around inside of the flanges and wear them out...use the third one behind the adapter plate to seal it up against the body or other mounting surface...

The custom studs that are provided with the kit will also help make it very easy and that part has been recently improved for a better assembly...

Hope this helps :-)

tim

[Rock Doctor]

RD,

I was dealing with a company that instructed my current course of action. I bought their products and now here I am. They specifically said my extensions would need to be replaced. I purchased complete HD axle upgrade kits for all axles. Now I'm starting to second guess my approach to this issue... thought I was doing the right thing.

Mike

Mike, I was by no means, implying you did something wrong. I just didnt understand why you were changing the extensions.

When I did my conquest, the upgrade Kits were just coming out. I didn't need axles, and through a little investigating I figured I could just buy the carriers and bearings and do it myself. There were a few snags, like the longer bolts, and having to dremel out the Argo body for the mid axles (wish I had had some adapter kits back then). Other than that, it went well.

Looks like you're good to go now.
Are you going to get the adapters from Adair for the mid axles now?

RD

[kingtroller]

RD,

Yes I'm getting the kits from Adair... if nothing else just to have the manufactured bolts. I appreciate everyone's help. You were spot on!

Mike