Taking the Driveshaft off of a TT Ruckstell

[Jacob Mangold]

How do you take the driveshaft off of a TT Ruckstell? I took off all the bolts and removed the rear cap and main bolt holding the worm gear. I need to remove the worm gear, right? Any help is appreciated.

Thanks, Jacob Mangold

[A Whiteman]

Hi Jacob,

Take a look a the diagrams Martynn has made in our technical drawing section: app.php/gallery/album/59
These may help you understand what fits where and what parts need removal.

To help us a little, what are you trying to do? What stage of disassembly are you at? Can you please post a picture? .. as it depends what you are up to and what you want to do as to what explanation to give you.
Is the rear axle/torque tube assembly out of the truck?
Are you dismantling the rear axle ? (the only way to remove the worm)


For example (same idea with Ruckstell or std diff):
To remove the drive shaft you need to remove the pins holding it in the connecting shaft at the front of the axle (pink coloured in Martynn's drawing).
To remove that you need to remove the torque tube.
To do that you have to remove the universal joint.
To do that you have to knock out the pin through the holes on the front casting.
To do that you really need the unit removed from the truck.

You cannot remove the drive shaft through the rear of the diff or by removing the work.


Take it a bit at a time

Cheers
Adrian

[Jacob Mangold]

Ok, that was a big help. The ruckstell that I have is currently on the ground with the driveshaft, torque tube, radius rods, and the U joint. I want to remove the driveshaft because I want to strip it down to paint it before I add it to my truck that already has a standard axle. I did not get too far into it, I was only able to take the nut off the rear of the axle and take out the first thrust washers and bearings. I was only able to pull the driveshaft 6 inches back so I should be fine. I’ll take it off the right way tomorrow.

Thanks, Jacob Mangold

[Nv Bob]

Drive out the u-joint pin remove
Unfortunately radius rods and tube bolts
Now pull the tube
There is a union joint collar with a pin in each end drive out the pin pull apart
If you don't the housing need to be split to get Worm and bearing out

[Jacob Mangold]

Well I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that I was able to remove the torque tube and locate the pins to take the driveshaft off. The bad news is that I could not seem to get it off but worse of all, pulling on the torque tube caused both of the inner roller bearings to come out of their sleeves. Does this mean I have to split the case? Any tips or tricks are appreciated.

Thanks, Jacob Mangold

[Jacob Mangold]

Can someone give me detailed instructions on how to take the pins out of the connecting shaft so I can take off the driveshaft itself?

Thanks in advance, Jacob Mangold

[A Whiteman]

Hi Jacob,

At the front, where the U joint fits in, there are bolts screwed into the casting.
Undo these - one at the top, and the other is 180 degrees below it.
Use a drift (long punch), line up the pin through the top hole and knock the pin out through the bottom hole .
You can now pull the U joint out the front, then pull the torque tube off the drive shaft.

Once this is done, use the drift again to knock the pins out of the splined casting at the rear end of the drive shaft.

You may have to wack it a bit as the end of the pins will be peened.

[Jacob Mangold]

Ok. Now I have one last problem. Me being not so smart accidentally made the roller bearings fall out of their sleeves when I was pulling the torque tube. I am able to get one seated at a time but not the other. Is there an easy way to get them back in. Pardon my stupidity.

Thanks, Jacob Mangold

[A Whiteman]

Hi Jacob, keep up the good work

Can you take a picture of where you are up to please?

Thanks
Adrian

[Jacob Mangold]

I will take a picture as soon as I get a chance but it might be a while until I’m able to take a picture. Thanks for helping me out Adrian.

[A Whiteman]

Probably the best idea is to get a copy of the MTFCA booklet on ruckstell axles.
https://mtfca.square.site/product/servi ... egory_id=3

This has a section on TT rears as well. If you have gotten this far my advice is to split the diff, clean it out, check it and reassemble with new lubricants. It is actually not that difficult to do if you follow the book instructions (just heavy)
It is better to sort any problems before you start using the truck. I had a ruckstell basket shear at a busy intersection. That meant no drive and no braking, I certainly bent the hand brake lever that day trying to stop.......

Finding a crook bearing now can also save a lot of cash later and hassle pulling the diff and stripping it.

[tom_strickling]

BE extremely careful if you decide to seperate the back of the drive shfat from the worm. The coupler will split if you beat on it too much.

Unless you are replacing the worm or if your driveshaft is bent, you shouldn't need to seprate it, so don't.

[Jacob Mangold]

Thanks for the suggestion on the book. Also, thanks for alerting me to the dangers of taking the ruckstell apart but I am not going to take it all the way apart. First of all, the person in my T club I got it from said that it was in great working order and that he got it from a guy who was chopping up a TT that had a rux. Also, from just tinkering around, I can already tell that it is fine because from what I have seen, the thrust washers are in great shape, the bearings are in great shape, the worm is also in pretty good shape and so is the ring gear. The was also no visible rust except for a tad in the end cap and exterior rust. I do not think it needs to betaken apart m after my observations. I think that all I need to do is check the shift lock assembly and then get it painted up and looking pretty. I will have picture of my situation by Friday night at the latest.

Thanks, Jacob Mangold

[Jacob Mangold]

Here’s where I’m at now.

Driveshaft side bearing is in but I cannot seem to get the other one quite in all the way.

[StevenS]

I have a TT truck with a Ruckstell rear end, and I had to rebuild it. I have taken 8 more TT Ruckstell rear ends apart to get parts and spares for my truck rear end. From my experience I would take apart your rear end completely to inspect it. All the rear ends I have taken apart all had some sort of damage in them. The MTFCA rear end book (seen above) is a needed tool for a good rebuild. Here are some more articles that maybe helpful. Also got any questions feel free to ask. Also take lots of pictures as you disassemble it. I also built two carts to rest each half of the rear end when I split it and reassembled it.


https://www.mtfca.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=35036


https://www.mtfca.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=6433


viewtopic.php?t=886


https://www.mtfca.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=17771


https://www.mtfca.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=17629


viewtopic.php?t=6273


https://www.mtfca.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=17242

[Jacob Mangold]

Was able to get both bearing back in with an extra set of hands.