No patterns that anybody has? how about dimensions?
How many different sizes are there? or are they all the same?
Will any 1990's Fortravel fit my 1989 ?
Mark,
I know some will question this but go get a big Nerf foot ball from some toy store. Take a razor knife and cut it in half so you have 2 "Ta Tas" Remove the axles and insert the pointed end into the empty hole. The covering on the football will keep the foam from soaking up the rear end grease and the foam will expand and seal off and hold itself in place. (one size fits all) With as little of a pull as you have a piece of cardboard will work (if you don't want to destroy a Nerf football) and can be cut out with a pocketknife.
Pamela & Mike
Mark,
If you want a set of factory made covers call these people up and tell them what you have and they will have what you need. They are good people to work with. Blank Title - Home (http://www.axlecap.net/index.html)
Pamela
Thanks Pamela,
I didn't realize there were so many patterns.. I don't have the coach here.. anybody happen to know how many bolts on my axel hub ?
I called Wayne a little bit ago with Axel caps in new York.. 845-357-0829
He knew the required cover right off the top of his head.. all I said was Foretravel..
Said he sold 6 units from people calling from the Foretravel forum a while back because someone had made mention of him..
He offers 55 different models..
8-stud MR8D-1 $39.00 plus shipping.. 3 day UPS is gonna cost me 24 bucks
Evidently all the Foretravels are the same? he only made mention of this one model stating he was 99% sure it would fit and I could return it for a full refund if It didn't.
I don't remember even mentioning a year..!
Nice guy
I talked to him several years ago. As I remember, he is the owner. Yes, nice guy. Can't beat the price. On some you have to remove every other wheel nut as the chrome cover hides the axle
After a bit of an argument, I called Dana Corp (our rear end manufacturer) and spoke to one of their engineers. He said that in 100% of tows, you have to remove both axles as it will cause long term damage to tow with only one removed.
Pierce
Thanks for that info Pierce.... That's huge !!! :)
I've got people telling me from this forum that only one has to be removed,, and it doesn't matter which one.. I hope they read this..!!!
I did order the covers.. they will be here by Wednesday UPS ground.. 24 bucks shipping.. beats the hell out of 80 bucks over night, which would only gain me two days..
Mark
Mark,
Spider gears allow the outside wheel to turn faster than the inside wheel in turns. Going straight down the road, they are motionless and only start to turn when you make a turn, slowly on a gentle turn, faster on a sharp turn. Because they don't turn much, they have bushings rather than ball bearings. Many are damaged when street cars go to a drag strip and spin a wheel at the start (usually the right rear). With a lengthly spin, the spider gears turn very rapidly, oil is thrown off by centrifugal force, the bushings then lose lubrication and are damaged.
You can imagine how fast the spider gears spin at 55-60 mph during a tow with only one axle removed. The engineer at Dana laughed when I told him some advocate only removing one axle during a tow. He said that they are always having trouble with towing companies and that at seminars, always teach that both axles must be removed during a tow. When you have rear end trouble down the road, how much responsibility does the towing company take for a tow a few weeks or months later? I liked his closing statement, "why do you think they sell the axle covers in pairs?"
Closeup of the ring and pinion with two spider gears the axles slide into with the other pair top and bottom at: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/Differential_%28Manual_of_Driving_and_Maintenance%29.jpg
Pierce
Very Thorough Pierce, Thanks !!
Where does one get replacement hub gaskets?
Any truck parts store. 95 cents for the cheap ones, 2-3bux for the good ones.
OK.. I guess I just ask for an 8 stud axel gasket? for a Dana Rear ?
I've always taken my old one in...or now, I just take the spare new one in. You want the holes to be tight.
My rear is a Rockwell/Meritor