I Do This For The Glory
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Nobleboro, Maine
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Re: Did I ruin my axle?
Here's the problem with welding the axle. When you weld it, the place you welded becomes weaker, and I have heard of axles that have snapped off at the weld, causing the wheel to fall off. The only thing that spinning the key will do is cause the jeep not to move. You can have it hammered (with a gun or a big 'ole breaker bar with a pipe on it) down like was previously mentioned, then throw 2 tack welds on it, but do not weld the whole thing. I'd also be honest and let the seller know it'll need a new axle, but from your posts, I assumed you'd do this already, you seem honest enough. You can try adding a new key, it's possible it'd last a little longer, but if you're taking it apart, throw the Loctite I mentioned on there as well, it's designed for such an application. Good luck, I couldn't get mine off, so I left the nut a little loose, threw it into 2WD Low, and put the bumper against a brick wall. It loosened up after the swampers stopped spinning on the pavement. The gray goo in the diff was probably just water, it's normal, just change it often.
JEEPN
Winter Harbor, Maine
'81 CJ-8 Scrambled!
It's a Jeep, Chevy, IHC kinda thing!