Crusty front axle tubes
 

I’m currently rebuilding my entire front axle (saving the gears set) on my k5. The axle tubes inside resemble sunken titanic phones. I would guess it is mud that turned to rust over the years.

I know grease doesn’t reside in these tubes like the rear axle but I can’t bring myself to put it back together like that. I think up I may buy a cylinder home brush the same diameter and hone them out anyone have any ideas before I do?

Thanks

Re: Crusty front axle tubes
 

Talk to a cemetery monument engraver.
I've gotten large pieces like axles sandblasted by one of those guys.

Re: Crusty front axle tubes
 

oh hey that is a great idea, i happen to live 2 blocks from a monument company

Re: Crusty front axle tubes
 

Find a round toilet bowl brush with a straight handle with a hole in the end, bend a 3’ish long piece of all thread around the handle and duck tape the all thread to the handle, chuck the other end in your cordless drill. I usually have a bucket of degreaser next to the axle I dip the brush into. Dip your brush, stuff it in the tube, turn your drill on and run that in an out of you axle tubes. Works great,makes a mess but works great

Re: Crusty front axle tubes
 

Clever! That sounds like a good plan.

Re: Crusty front axle tubes
 

That’s a pretty smart idea too. I ended up getting lucky, a found a drill cup brush that was about an 1” larger diameter than the tube. I started on the inside with the cup brush an (2) 12” drill extensions and drug the brush from the center section to the outer knuckles. Got almost a coffee can full of trash out of them....nasty

Re: Crusty front axle tubes
 

I found a wire brush with a long handle that I think is made for cleaning ducts or something. It’s just the perfect size for a D44 and also worked in my 14 bolt. I don’t recall where I found it now but it doesn’t seem like it was very expensive.

The drill brush was actually plan A but none of mine fit well at all.