Dana 44 Rebuild

[Stomis]

Alright I'm starting a new post because my old one was a little to specific. I'm on the fence whether or not i should rebuild the new front dana44 I just got for my truck. Its a fulltime axle and i have the manual hubs to convert it so I'm past that part.

I know I'm at least going to regrease everything but I'm wondering whats worth replacing. I was told it came out of a daily driving truck with a tight front end. I got the axle home and realised that the rotor on one side floats in and out a little bit. I know at this point I need to open everything up and retorque it down to spec so everything is snug.


-What should I do to check bearing wear? How can i check balljoint wear?


-Should I replace the balljoints? Do I need to pull the knuckles to replace the balljoints?

The axle does appear to be in good shape and seems like it was rebuilt at one point because it does have machine shop grease pencil tags and marks all over it and a fresh coat of paint.

 

[Stomis]

Any info would be cool....

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

If the rotors are pressed onto the hub (like D60's) then any movement in/out would indicate loose/worn wheel bearings.

If the rotors aren't pressed onto the hub (like 1/2 ton axles) then the movement would be normal (the wheel and lug nuts hold the rotor against the hub)


See if there is any movement in the pinion (in/out or side to side). There should be none.

Take the cover off and look at the ring gear for damage.

If there is movement in the balljoints then they need replacement. You have to remove the knuckles to replace the balljoints.

The axle seals are another thing you could replace but that's pretty involved so unless they are leaking I would leave them alone.

 

[Stomis]

Alright thanks for the info. I know for sure the one wheel has shot bearings because it is loose as hell and the other side is nice a tight. Theres honestly a little play in the pinion when you spin the yoke. Im not sure if the pinion looseness is related to the ring and pinion itself or if its the fact that I am comparing the pinions spin to how long it takes the bad outter to spin.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Theres honestly a little play in the pinion when you spin the yoke. Im not sure if the pinion looseness is related to the ring and pinion itself or if its the fact that I am comparing the pinions spin to how long it takes the bad outter to spin.

There shouldn't be any in/out or side/side movement. There should be some rotational play (backlash in the gears).

 

[Stomis]

Ok good then. I have rotational play and thats it. Makes me happy to hear that. Me and my buddy managed to get that ****er up onto my work bench ourselves so tomorrow I start tearing down to the housing.

PS: Wtf does that bastard weigh? My buddy guess it at, at least 400 pounds. I thought that sounded heavy until he told me he could deadlift 325 easy and he couldnt budge the entire weight of it...

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Ok good then. I have rotational play and thats it. Makes me happy to hear that. Me and my buddy managed to get that ****er up onto my work bench ourselves so tomorrow I start tearing down to the housing.

PS: Wtf does that bastard weigh? My buddy guess it at, at least 400 pounds. I thought that sounded heavy until he told me he could deadlift 325 easy and he couldnt budge the entire weight of it...

It probably weighs a little under 400 lbs.

You could be dealing with a 520 lb D60 or an 800 lb Rockwell