Rear axle end float?

[Luke]

My cousin has a 04 plate Jumbo, after inspecting the rear axle he has found there is endfloat on both rear wheels

he rang fords and the local dealer says all axles are like that

is this true

also the diff oil is a metallic silver - could this be a clue? any ideas

[Nighthawk]

Luke

It is normal to have a few mm of float on the type 51a single wheel axle, the movement your feeling is because of the slight gap between the ½ shaft retaining clip and the sun gear.

As your probably aware on that axle the wheel bearing is inside the axle tube and the shaft/hub is a fully floating affair. If the float wasn't there you'd not be able to fit or remove the clip or shaft.

It's also normal to feel and hear a slight roughness in the assembly if you raise it and spin it by hand.

The oil does indeed take on the metallic shine but it'll be ok

[Luke]

nice one mate - cheers