D44 Dana 44 & 14BFF 14 Bolt Full Floating Rebuild (Complete!)

[mr.smartass]

Well no new pics, but I need some help, I found the spicer spindle kit I need and have called every place in town to see if they have the part, but no luck so far.

http://www.riversidegear.com/categories/4-x-4-front-axles-and-parts/chevy---gm-4-x-4-parts/products/product-572.html

SKU: RSGM706971

Anyone got any ideas? Maybe a way to cross it over to a National Number, no one seems to carry these... I've got most of my parts gathered up, sent the money for my carrier, waiting on a response about some warn hubs, waiting on a quote for gears and install kit, sent the PM a while back, maybe I should just find a phone number for CCOR...

 

[MuddinManny]

Well no new pics, but I need some help, I found the spicer spindle kit I need and have called every place in town to see if they have the part, but no luck so far.

http://www.riversidegear.com/categories/4-x-4-front-axles-and-parts/chevy---gm-4-x-4-parts/products/product-572.html

SKU: RSGM706971

Anyone got any ideas? Maybe a way to cross it over to a National Number, no one seems to carry these... I've got most of my parts gathered up, sent the money for my carrier, waiting on a response about some warn hubs, waiting on a quote for gears and install kit, sent the PM a while back, maybe I should just find a phone number for CCOR...

www.4wdfactory.com

512-917-2621

Let 'em know I sent ya. He'll hook you up!

Manny

looks good. I'm hurting, so I'll be back to give you my thoughts. All good though!

 

[mr.smartass]

Manny I hope you get better soon! Keep us posted on your trip to the hospital!

I found the kit locally, after calling every where in town, I called the Napa in Petal (small town next door) and told them what I was looking for and they knew what I wanted and had 2 in stock. It's a BK-1, instead of SBK-1 which only comes with the seals, and bearing.

If the rain slacks off I'll head out to the house and get back to work and snag some pics.

 

[mr.smartass]

Well I decided to get off my ass and get back to work on the D44! I've got almost all the parts I need, and everything is cleaned up and painted. Installed the knuckles and started working on the steering.

The N-terpinal fell through when my turkey fryer on ebay went a little higher then expected, I still hope to try that stuff soon though.

Here's the pics!

Got the balljoints installed in driver's side steering knuckle, the moog balljoints kick ass, note the grease zerk sticking out the side of the balljoint, this allows you access to it without pulling the axles or anything crazy like that!

Pic of the driver's side axle "C", haven't hit it with the hone yet, but that will get done before the shafts go in.

Pic of the passenger's side knuckle installed, everything torqued to spec. and ready to roll.

This is a shot of how I stopped the lower ball joint from turning, while I was torqueing it down, might not be the simplest way but damnit, it worked for me!

Here's the driver's side knuckle finished, being the bright young man I am, I got the lower ball joint nut tightened down only to realize I had left the top balljoint grease boot off... had to take it off again.

After I got the knuckles installed I decided to turn my attention to the tie rod ends.

Not absolutely sure, but I might have broke it... Wanted to get the TRE out of the other end, it's not threaded so I assumed it was pressed in... so I "pressed" it out,

What do you guys think? Was it not suppose to come out this way? It had to be replaced, it was very loose.

Doesn't look good... Any ideas?

Random carnage pic from earlier in the build... the balljoints were really stuck...

Everyone should have one of these in their shop and/or garage, big friggin furnace for those chilly nights!

Had to get this smaller hone for the axle tubes, the first one I had was a little to big. This one is used mostly on brake wheel cylinders.

Here are the axle shafts and hubs, cleaned up and painted, I did the axle yokes just like Manny suggested! I think they're pretty!

Beautiful new parts!

Mo' parts. Plus my OTC conical washer pliers! How cool am I for having these bad boys! even if I don't ever use them... Note my new carrier at the bottom, thanks 1-tonmudder!

Well that's it for now, I'm really ready to get this thing done, so I can move on the my 14bff, I'm excited about that thing!

As of right now this is my to-do list to finish the D44:

Purchase: Brake pads, a race I some how misplaced, TRE's, gears, and the install kit.

I have CCOR's phone number I just need to make the call, I also need to find someone to help me install the gears, I want to atleast watch and get some hands on experience with the gear install, I don't plan on paying someone to do them more then once or twice. This is something I can definately learn to do myself and save some money.

After that I'll assemble the rest of the axle and be done!

Thanks for reading guys! If yall know anything about the TRE's let me know! Or if you can suggest a better place to order gears, post up!

 

[gmc4cw]

couple of tips. you should have the passenger knuckle machined for crossover now. that way later down the road you can bolt the arm on with out having to tear the whole side of the axle down. Change the grease fitting in the lower balljoints to 90* ones. it a lot easier to get grease in them. The tierod end is not designed to be rebuilt, just replaced.

 

[mr.smartass]

I had thought about getting it machined now, but by the time I can afford crossover steering, steering braces, and everything, it'll either be time for a good inspection/replacement of balljoints, bearings, and seals, or I'll have a D60... Just kinda decided it wouldn't be worth it at this time... but I did put alot of thought into it.

Can you explain to me how to replace the driver side TRE? It's welded to the draglink... whole new draglink?

 

[gmc4cw]

Can you explain to me how to replace the driver side TRE? It's welded to the draglink... whole new draglink?

Yep. junkyard it. There have been a few different styles. the best ones IMO are the ones that have very short ends threaded into the tierod. then if they go bad you only need a small part. Or spend the big bucks and get the tierod ends ORD sells and a seriously thick tierod.

 

[mr.smartass]

Can one be cut so that it may later be used on a D60? I might then consider it an investment... I wonder if a local shop could do it cheaper...?

 

[mr.smartass]

Just got off the phone with Jason from CCOR, $793 for gears, install kits, and the locker for the 14bff, to my door. Sounds pretty good to me, what do you guys think? I think I might call ORD as well and ask them about a tie rod, unless someone has a better idea.

 

[mr.smartass]

Just got off the phone with Denise from ORD, ordered my Tie Rod. 1 1/2 OD tube, with 7/8's thread for one ton TRE's, beefy. I asked about using it on a D60 and she said that the D44 Tie Rod was actually longer and she wasn't sure if I could cut it down and have enough thread left, but I figured I could have it rethreaded if I really needed to, that's why I went ahead and went with the 1 1/2".

After lunch I'll be ordering my D44 gears and master install kit from Jason at CCOR, I'll get pics of the stuff when it arrives, I love new parts!

 

[mr.smartass]

Well I got my new Tie Rod from ORD, some new TRE's from the local parts place, my gears and install kit from CCOR, and the hubs from Nemesis Pyro! Still gotta figure out how I'm gonna get the gears installed... gonna try one of my dad's friends and see if he can help me first, if not I'm gonna have to make a trip down to the coast to see ReadyMix...

The box the gears came in, go CCOR!

New 5.13 Gears! Purdy!

New Install Kit!! That's Kablamo!

I'm so excited!!!

New to me hubs! Kinda beat up but they work and they were cheap!

New Tie Rod. It's almost as big as the D44!

The new TRE's threaded in nicely! ES2010R and ES2010L, from a dodge of some sort I do believe...

Shot of the TRE.

And a couple of pics comparing the new and old Tie Rods! That's one big rod! In the background are the new 1/2" impact (got it because it has a much shorter shank then the one behind it.) and the new air drill! Props to my pops! He is the man! Never minds me using his shop and tools as long as I help him work on his stuff and clean up!

The only thing I'm a little worried about is there's no adjusting sleeve bolts to hold the TRE's in place... can they vibrate and mess up the adjustment this way? Can I use thread locker or what? Any ideas guys?

Chas recieved my steering knuckle today so he can machine it for crossover... one problem... shipping is completely paid for but I possibly overdrew my account this weekend and still need to send him the money for the machining... I'm such a tool some times. I'll know for sure tomorrow... I might have to whore myself out to 40 fat chicks for a $1 each...

Sorry it's taking so long to get this thing together, trying to finish up this semester of school, things get kind of hectic. Thanks for looking!

 

[MuddinManny]

And a couple of pics comparing the new and old Tie Rods! That's one big rod!

The only thing I'm a little worried about is there's no adjusting sleeve bolts to hold the TRE's in place... can they vibrate and mess up the adjustment this way? Can I use thread locker or what? Any ideas guys?

Mr. Smartass,

You're missing the jam nuts. They are a big hex nut which threads onto the tie rods ends and once you set the end in line, the hex nut tightens against the rod creating the "jam" and they will not move. The threads are opposite for the hex nut and the tie rod. You've got to get those nuts.

Manny

 

[mr.smartass]

Hmm, well that does make sense... . What's the best place to pick these up? Can I just use 7/8" fine thread nuts or are they a particular type?

 

[mr.smartass]

Well I'm 6 months into my rebuild...

All the D44 parts are here, and the axle is assembled as far as it can be with out the carrier installed.

All the parts for the 14bff are either here or they're in route.

The locker, gears and install kit arrived Friday from CCOR. The locker was a lot smaller then I had expected, it's the first one I've actually seen in person.

I'm still waiting on my orders from, DIY4X, ORD, VirgilH, and mxfireman to arrive. Then I'll take it all over to a buddy's shop so he can help me with the gears, locker, and carrier installs... I'm tired of waiting!

I'll probably get some more pics up tonight.

 

[original balzer]

Wait im still readimg something about procrastination over in the lounge, you cant revive a build thread. How long has manny been gone? uhhhhhh something about usless pics or pics arnt showing up not even red x's. Where were you all week end. Youll poke an eye out. I think Im still drunk, an I have nothing else to rag on you about.

Balzer

 

[mr.smartass]

Well I just don't feel like being at work... I wish 4 more boxes would show up today and I had the day off... I got sh!t hammered Friday and Saturday and had a family reunion on Sunday, the weekend went by way to fast...

Manny has been gone for several months... not long after posting in here.

I just want my damn parts! I'm tired of driving the blazer with 3.73's and 37's! The transmission got rebuilt a little while back and I'm pretty sure I'm slowly killing it.

 

[mr.smartass]

Well here is the D44, it is assembled as much as it can be until I get the guy over here to help me with my carrier and gears.

On to the 14bff and other parts.
The paint on the 14bff was still is pretty good condition so I didn't bother stripping it down, and repainting it.

Here's a pic of one of the hubs assembled and ready to go on the spindle as soon as the caliper bracket is bolted on.

The spring plates and caliper brackets from DIY4X all primed up.

And painted, this is where it sits now, just waiting on the paint to finish drying.

The plans are to make the 14bff a roller by the end of the night... we'll see how that goes.

 

[BulldogK5]

'bout time you got off your arse! I can't really say anything, I still need to replace the belt and several feet of vacume line. Maybe one day.

 

[Cricket]

Nice work.

 

[mr.smartass]

Got the caliper brackets, calipers, pads, hubs and rotors all mounted up... well kinda... had a little problem with a rotor...

The driver's side mounted up perfectly! Looking good!

The passenger's side wasn't quite as easy... I thought it was a bracket issue at first... but deep down I knew it was my wrenching and not Kert's craftsmanship that was the problem...

The pad wouldn't fit! Luckily before I beat the hell out of the bracket, I noticed that, that one rotor looked different then the other 3... there are no slots in the "hat" (thanks for the terminology Wes) of the rotor like there are on the other ones, and the hat was about a 1/2" taller, throwing a major wrench into the works, so obvious...

So besides feeling like a turd for bothering Wes and Kert with a problem I should have noticed on my own, I was happy that I didn't have to ship anything back.

I'm going to pick the right one up tomorrow.