Axle question

[rallymedik]

While changing out the struts, I pulled the axle out. Everything went back together fine, but now I have a thud noise at speed like something is hitting every rotation..do the axles have to go back in a certain way..or does it matter?

[RobbieD]

There are three bearing inside the boot. I once pulled an axle out too far and when I pushed it back together a bearing came off. It only had two, which made it asymmetrical, and caused a vibration you could call a thump. To fix it I cut the metal band holding the boot on. I looked inside and sure enough a bearing was floating in the grease. I pushed it back on and used a plastic zip tie to put the boot back on. It still holds fine after two summers and winters. Those zip ties are f*cking amazing. They hold most of my car together.