front dana 44 mini spool

[muddawggin]

Ok, I consider myself to know quite a bit about building up chevy's. I am currently building up my 4th blazer. Today I installed a mini spool in my dana 44 front end. Everything went smooth until I put the drivers side axle in, and when I sinched the spindle down, it bound up the axle enough to where I couldn't turn the driveshaft by hand. I fought it for about an hour and finally deduced that the square blocks in the center of the spool MUST have been machined too thick, so I ground down the axle around 1/8 inch, then the axle fell right into place. Has anybody else experienced this, or is there something I did wrong?? I pulled the carrier back out in case some debris from the axle tube got caught on the end of the axle and caused the extra thickness, but everything was clear. Right now everything is a done deal...except the wheel bearing that fell apart as soon as I shot it with brake clean. But after grinding down the axle and re-assembling everything, it all seemed to move appropriately. any info is great...I can accept getting my ass chewed.

 

[bigblock72]

I ground down the axle around 1/8 inch, then the axle fell right into place

That's normal, the spools are designed for rear axle applications. I've had to do it when installing power locks in front Dana 44s.

As for having a spool in a front end especially a 44 I have to wonder a little, just make sure you have a lot of spare axles that are already cut to the right length ready to put in, you're going to need them.

 

[muddawggin]

it's a chevy truck...I can dig a hole in any yard in town and find a chevy part...I figures if I only lock it in on mud and snow maybe I can spare my axles. We'll see