My car has a 3.08 Posi rear in it with Drum Brakes, (1987 rear, 26 spline?)

I have a 3.23 Posi Rear with Drum brakes(1982 rear, 26 spline?) which has really low mileage, but it also appears to have a bent axle. I had swapped it into my car, but I had problems with the brakes rubbing on one side, due to what looked like the axle spinning out of round, the drum looked as if it was off centered, but after taking the drum off and spinning the rear end it was the axle.

I was thinking of swapping the axles on the two rears, and using the 3.23... would I have any problems just swapping the axles? I don't have to remove the carrier or anything, just unbolt and knock the pin out, pull the c-clips and swap the axles, right?

Are the bearings pushed in, or are they floating (can I just replace them, or do I need something special to remove/install them?) Both splines should be the same for the years that the rear are correct?

 

The axles *should* directly swap; they should both be 26-spline.

You need 4 special tools to change the axle bearings: a 6' piece of ¾" galvanized water pipe; a BFH; some kind of a drift or DULL chisel or large punch; and a piece of wood like a 2x4 about 6" long.

Stick the pipe through the rear and bonk the bearing & seal out from the other side of the car by catching it on the back of the bearing. Install the new bearings by tapping in with the punch. DO NOT try to put the new seal in by tapping around the edge; if you try that, you will make it leak, EVERY TIME. Instead, put it up against the housing, hold the wood against it STRAIGHT, and with one big whap with the BFH, knock it in.

 

Do I have to remove the carrier to get the pipe all the way through?

 

No. It's smaller than the axles.