Big Hub Swap Q's

[nutt7]

I have been reading around ck5 to learn about this 76 3/4 ton big hub d44 that I have. One of the dials is broken and I need to replace it. If I can't find one at the jy, I was thinking of swapping internal hubs onto to it (my rings are a little banged up too).

I know I have the second design axle with 2 in. 'big bearing' spindles (same as internal hub spindle, right?). I know it is the rare second design with external hubs due to 3in od axle tube, round top knuckles, and tie rod ends. (1st design came with 2.75 tube, different oriented TRE's, flat top knucks, and small bearing spindles according to what I could find here).

Can I just swap the hub/rotor assembly from an internal hub donor? Will my stub shafts work out? I figured this would be a better option since the parts are easier to find for the internal locking hubs.

Patiently awaiting your expertise,
eric

 

[sweetk30]

if you have the big bearing spindle 2nd design then all you need is the wheel bearing hub section and internal style lockouts . then swap over and be done.

 

[nutt7]

Thats what I was hoping to be true!

 

[imiceman44]

I have been reading around ck5 to learn about this 76 3/4 ton big hub d44 that I have. One of the dials is broken and I need to replace it. If I can't find one at the jy, I was thinking of swapping internal hubs onto to it (my rings are a little banged up too).

I know I have the second design axle with 2 in. 'big bearing' spindles (same as internal hub spindle, right?). I know it is the rare second design with external hubs due to 3in od axle tube, round top knuckles, and tie rod ends. (1st design came with 2.75 tube, different oriented TRE's, flat top knucks, and small bearing spindles according to what I could find here).

Can I just swap the hub/rotor assembly from an internal hub donor? Will my stub shafts work out? I figured this would be a better option since the parts are easier to find for the internal locking hubs.

Patiently awaiting your expertise,
eric

You still need the stub shaft too, that earlier shaft is smaller and although it might seem OK to have the shaft free in a bigger hole, it's not guided by the bearings inside the spindle so it can wobble and that it does and destroys your locking hubs.
Get the stub shafts too.

 

[sweetk30]

never seen that before.

 

[nutt7]

You still need the stub shaft too, that earlier shaft is smaller and although it might seem OK to have the shaft free in a bigger hole, it's not guided by the bearings inside the spindle so it can wobble and that it does and destroys your locking hubs.
Get the stub shafts too.

Thanks. The jy had nothing 8 lug 4x4. I think it will just be more economical to buy new external MM hubs for $75

 

[imiceman44]

Thanks. The jy had nothing 8 lug 4x4. I think it will just be more economical to buy new external MM hubs for $75

The newer stub shafts are all the same wether 8 lug or 6 lug, you will not have a hard time finding those and it's an upgrade in strength too.
You might need to get the whole shaft though, I am not sure if they had a couple of years of big shafts with the older small Ujoint or changed all at athe same time.

 

[imiceman44]

never seen that before.

The spindle has a roller bearing on the inside and the shafts is supposed to ride on that, the smaller shaft floats in there and does wobble.
Happened to me is how I know.

 

[nutt7]

thanks again, you potentially saved me a(nother) headache!

 

[sweetk30]

i had a 70 open knucle drum brake 44 3/4 ton that i swaped in a newer big joint whole shaft inner/outer fit in perfect and no problems. so cant say what made it fit but she fit and worked.

 

[imiceman44]

i had a 70 open knucle drum brake 44 3/4 ton that i swaped in a newer big joint whole shaft inner/outer fit in perfect and no problems. so cant say what made it fit but she fit and worked.

As I said, I don't know if they made small bearing spindles with the bigger inner bearings for big shafts, but the ones I had all had the smaller inner and wouldn't fit the larger shafts, and when I went the opposite way after I broke my shafts and I was using the big bearing spindles, the small shafts fit fine, actually were too lose and ended up messing my locking hubs because they were not held by the inner bearings.