Rear axle help!

My truck was making some horrible sounds from the rear that I figured to be the rear wheel bearings. So after looking up a few "how to" vids i decided this job was not for me, given i dont own a press and had a busy weekend ahead of me already. So i called my local mechanic who has done nothing for me other than yearly inspections. He assured me he could do the job. This was last Thursday mind you. He calls me last night and told me he has some bad news.... He said he cant get the axle back in. he said it came out slick as shit but he cant get it back in. So ive been on the net all morning and cant find anything similar. What could be causing this?? Im hoping its just something dumb. So what im hoping to get from you guys is a list of things to try and or check for that could be the issue. Thanks!

 

What was the problem...the bearing? Why can't he get the axle "back in"?

 

yes he agrees the bearing was bad and got the new one in but called me last night with "bad news". He says he cant the the axle back in. he says its as if the shaft has "swelled" or something. Hes stumped.. and not sure where to go from here. he told me it came out just fine.

 

I had the same problem! simple fix as much as I hate to say it you have to take the drive shafts back to a Toyota dealer for they have a special press! noting that if the bearings are not pressed back to the specified length on the shaft the seals will leak!

 

That sounds like another potential problem to me. he cant even get the shaft back into the pumpkin! how can this be?

 

maybe the noise was the spider gear ? have him pull the 3rd member out and inspect the gears?

 

Sounds like a idiot. All you have to do is rotate the pinion some as you jiggle the axle in.

 

Ill look into that when i go over later.

I hope this is all it is... something simple... Ill be going over once he calls me.

 

You kinda gota lift the axle up a bit to. But nothing hard to do...

 

prob doesnt know what he's doing...

 

I had same prob recently. The mechanic was trying to get bearimgs out and he hit the end of axle. After inspecting it closely I could see the end mushroomed a bit on one side. We had to grind that side down a bit and file out the grooves. It went right in.

 

he managed to mushroom out the end of a hard ass axle???

 

Your 'mechanic' may have used the 'shade tree' method if he didn't have a press.
The following image has been 'borrowed' from 4x4wire.com

 

The previous owner of my Tacoma pressed bearings/retainer ring on too far or not far enou, anyways 2 new seals and they still leaked. $1500 later I no longer have leaking gear oil into my drums.......

 

I guess mushroomed was an exaggeration. Lol. But it was hit hard on one side. I just changed my rear fluid twice today 50 miles between each change and the fluid is loaded with metal. Tons of little bits and a few big ones on magnet. Fluid is very dark already. Guess I should have taken it to dealer first time. I think its about to get real expensive. Hope you get yours figured out.