Help w/ seating the axle shaft in rear bearing/hub

[Klueh]

I have completely rebuilt the rear suspension and trying to install the axles back into the hubs. The splines on the axle shaft line right up with the splines on the hub and slide right in. I bolt the other end to the transmission and then attempted to put the axle nut on the axle shaft in order to tighten it on to the hub. The picture is as far as the nut will go on for both sides. I did not take a before picture but I am certain the nut was fully engaged on the axle threads.

Am I having a problem on the back side of the bearing with the axle shaft press fitting into the bearing? I tried to start torquing the nut thinking it might pull the shaft the rest of the way through but it did not seem to move.

What am I missing? When the hubs were off the car they slide nicely all the way on to the axle shafts. Here is a pic of the current install which does not look right to me.

[Klueh]

I may have stumbled on my mistake while looking at other posts. When I pressed the hub into the rear bearing, I neglected to support the inner race on the backside of the bearing.....I supported the outer. I will have to take it apart to see if I ruined the bearing but I am guessing this is why the axle nut will not fit completely on the axle shaft.

[MConn]

Klueh,
I had a similar problem on one of the rear bearings, the hub didn't fully seat into the bearing. Taking it back apart ruined the bearing. The next time, I heated the trailing arm/bearing assembly and froze the hub, and put some lube on the hub. Once I got the hub installed, I put the CV axle through the hub and tightened the nut to make sure the hub was fully seated.

Mike

[Maxhouse97]

Reviving this thread - I’m trying to install my axles. I can’t get the axle to seat by hand (even using rubber mallet). I’ve read that you can get the nut started to help pull the stub axle through, but as you can see below I’m having a hard time even getting it lined up. Can I start the nut as is without it being exactly centered? I’m worried about damaging the splines, but I also can’t see how to get them started (and this is the nut that is supposed to get torqued to 300 ft-lbs).

[Maxhouse97]

The answer to my question was yes - put the nut on, the shaft will align itself as it pulls through (for those after me).