Axle shaft wont go back in

[chevythunder]

today i replaced a wheel cylinder on my '74 K20. i got everything back together no problems..but i cant get the axle shaft back in. it goes in this far and stops



i checked the splines on the shaft they look fine



i tried moving it up down left right and turning while sliding it in but it wont go...it came out with no problems why am i having such a hard time getting it back in? when it slides in i can hear it make contact with the outer area of the splines in the pumpkin but i cant get it centered i guess.. anyone else ever have a problem like this? any help is appricieated.

[Stewart G Griffin]

What you might want to try is to take a pair of vise-grip or regular plyers or a cresent wrench and clamp the flange at the top (12o'clock position).  Then as you try to push the axle in, gently pull backwards on the wrench.

The idea is to try to get the axle to go in straighter (parallel to the axle tube).

I used to install floater axles at my old job and this really helped us.

[Stewart G Griffin]

OK, update:
I did not read the part at the bottom where you already tried moving the axle while you slid it in.

In that case, is this the left or right side?

[chevythunder]

its the left side, the shorter of the 2.

[VileZambonie]

Jack the rear end up and turn the other tire and just make sure it's going in straight.

[chevythunder]

Thanks vilezambonie, i did what you said and it fits like a glove.

[Stewart G Griffin]

i was going to suggest that next, but he beat me to it.

The other thing you might try next time is to put it in neutral and turn the driveshaft by hand a little.  Use chocks of course, but you already knew that.