De Splining drive flanges

[WillWagner]

Anyone know the best and easiest way to de spline the front drive flanges? I was just gonna use a die grinder and a carbide burr.

 

[Djfreema]

Will, do have any buddies at a machine shop? If not, I do and they could use their things to bore 'em out. I think the die grinder would take a little too much time. I have an extra set of front flanges in case you want to still have 6 wheel drive capabilities.

 

[Jones]

They should be machined out and a bushing put in to carry the ends of the axles so that the splines aren't damaged by running steel against steel. Also, when they're bored out to accept a bushing, the walls of the splined boss inside the drive flange get thin enough to need to be reinforced with an outside collar or sleeve.
This way you can carry a second set of "live" drive flanges and when necessary they can be swapped out for the "idler" flanges to return to all-wheel drive capabilities.

 

[rdixiemiller]

They can be cut out far enough to clear the front axle splines without bushing them. I have desplined several sets, and have been running a pair for almost 3000 miles. I chuck them in the lathe and use an indexable boring bar with a C7 carbide insert. Some flanges have hardened splines, some don't. Send them to me and I'll cut them for you. Cost will be shipping both ways.

 

[WillWagner]

I have a lathe at work, maybe i'll see if I can chuch them up here 1st.

 

[bigmike]

Will,

I'd be happy to machine those for ya. Just get them to me along with the dimension you want it bored out to.