diff --git a/piker/ui/_chart.py b/piker/ui/_chart.py
index 88ac871b..96187bf2 100644
--- a/piker/ui/_chart.py
+++ b/piker/ui/_chart.py
@@ -634,6 +634,7 @@ class LinkedSplits(QWidget):
             axis.pi = cpw.plotItem
 
         cpw.hideAxis('left')
+        # cpw.removeAxis('left')
         cpw.hideAxis('bottom')
 
         if (
@@ -750,12 +751,12 @@ class LinkedSplits(QWidget):
 
         # NOTE: back-link the new sub-chart to trigger y-autoranging in
         # the (ohlc parent) main chart for this linked set.
-        if self.chart:
-            main_viz = self.chart.get_viz(self.chart.name)
-            self.chart.view.enable_auto_yrange(
-                src_vb=cpw.view,
-                viz=main_viz,
-            )
+        # if self.chart:
+        #     main_viz = self.chart.get_viz(self.chart.name)
+        #     self.chart.view.enable_auto_yrange(
+        #         src_vb=cpw.view,
+        #         viz=main_viz,
+        #     )
 
         graphics = viz.graphics
         data_key = viz.name
@@ -1106,6 +1107,12 @@ class ChartPlotWidget(pg.PlotWidget):
         pi.chart_widget = self
         pi.hideButtons()
 
+        # hide all axes not named by ``axis_side``
+        for axname in (
+            ({'bottom'} | allowed_sides) - {axis_side}
+        ):
+            pi.hideAxis(axname)
+
         # compose this new plot's graphics with the current chart's
         # existing one but with separate axes as neede and specified.
         self.pi_overlay.add_plotitem(
@@ -1209,17 +1216,21 @@ class ChartPlotWidget(pg.PlotWidget):
                 pi = overlay
 
         if add_sticky:
-            axis = pi.getAxis(add_sticky)
-            if pi.name not in axis._stickies:
 
-                if pi is not self.plotItem:
-                    overlay = self.pi_overlay
-                    assert pi in overlay.overlays
-                    overlay_axis = overlay.get_axis(
-                        pi,
-                        add_sticky,
-                    )
-                    assert overlay_axis is axis
+            if pi is not self.plotItem:
+                # overlay = self.pi_overlay
+                # assert pi in overlay.overlays
+                overlay = self.pi_overlay
+                assert pi in overlay.overlays
+                axis = overlay.get_axis(
+                    pi,
+                    add_sticky,
+                )
+
+            else:
+                axis = pi.getAxis(add_sticky)
+
+            if pi.name not in axis._stickies:
 
                 # TODO: UGH! just make this not here! we should
                 # be making the sticky from code which has access
diff --git a/piker/ui/_display.py b/piker/ui/_display.py
index 72b0d76d..fde3124e 100644
--- a/piker/ui/_display.py
+++ b/piker/ui/_display.py
@@ -1320,13 +1320,6 @@ async def display_symbol_data(
                     name=fqsn,
                     axis_title=fqsn,
                 )
-                # only show a singleton bottom-bottom axis by default.
-                hist_pi.hideAxis('bottom')
-
-                # XXX: TODO: THIS WILL CAUSE A GAP ON OVERLAYS,
-                # i think it needs to be "removed" instead when there
-                # are none?
-                hist_pi.hideAxis('left')
 
                 hist_viz = hist_chart.draw_curve(
                     fqsn,
@@ -1362,9 +1355,6 @@ async def display_symbol_data(
                     axis_title=fqsn,
                 )
 
-                rt_pi.hideAxis('left')
-                rt_pi.hideAxis('bottom')
-
                 rt_viz = rt_chart.draw_curve(
                     fqsn,
                     ohlcv,
diff --git a/piker/ui/_fsp.py b/piker/ui/_fsp.py
index 9f1eec65..6da93b71 100644
--- a/piker/ui/_fsp.py
+++ b/piker/ui/_fsp.py
@@ -691,7 +691,7 @@ async def open_vlm_displays(
         # the axis on the left it's totally not lined up...
         # show volume units value on LHS (for dinkus)
         # vlm_chart.hideAxis('right')
-        # vlm_chart.showAxis('left')
+        vlm_chart.hideAxis('left')
 
         # send back new chart to caller
         task_status.started(vlm_chart)
@@ -759,10 +759,6 @@ async def open_vlm_displays(
                 },
             )
 
-            # TODO: should this maybe be implicit based on input args to
-            # `.overlay_plotitem()` above?
-            dvlm_pi.hideAxis('bottom')
-
             # all to be overlayed curve names
             dvlm_fields = [
                'dolla_vlm',
@@ -845,6 +841,8 @@ async def open_vlm_displays(
             # liquidity events (well at least on low OHLC periods - 1s).
             vlm_curve.hide()
             vlm_chart.removeItem(vlm_curve)
+            # vlm_chart.plotItem.layout.setMinimumWidth(0)
+            # vlm_chart.removeAxis('left')
             vlm_viz = vlm_chart._vizs['volume']
             vlm_viz.render = False
 
@@ -872,7 +870,6 @@ async def open_vlm_displays(
                 },
 
             )
-            tr_pi.hideAxis('bottom')
 
             await started.wait()
             chart_curves(