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Front Hub Troubles...

StevoandaRedK5

StevoandaRedK5

1/2 ton status
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Ok, after getting my truck back on the road and driving it today, i had a grinding noise coming from the drivers side front hub on the Dana44. I replaced the hub a few weeks back since the old one was out of round and allowing the bearings to chatter. I have been having trouble with the brakes as well, so i wrote off the noise to a dragging caliper. Not so...I took the wheel and tire off this evening to discover this:

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So looks like either the hub was sitting too far back on the spindle, or had way too much play which let it wobble around, allowing the rim to cut this groove in the joint... Here's what the spindle looks like after cleaning it up:

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So I pulled it all apart, replaced the inner seal that was all torn up, and have been trying to get rid of the play to no avail, it's still there no matter how tight the locking nut is...Is the spindle the problem? The replacement hub i swapped on is off of a 10 bolt, i was under the impression they are identical. thanks in advance...

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I can't see the pics if you posted but that is a PC issue on my end. Not an expert by any means but is it possible you swapped a larger diameter bearing hub onto the smaller diameter spindle. If it is a true 73 d44 then I believe you have the smaller diameter hubs and spindles and the 10 bolts (your swapped part) and any d44 from (I think) mid-76 or so would have the larger hubs/bearings and spindles.

Edit: what year truck did the 10 bolt hub come off?
 
Hoby is probably right. 10 bolt hubs might work if you got the larger bearings for the 10 bolt instead of the d44. Measure the bearing surfaces of your old spindle and see how the bearings fit
 
what if I just swapped a new set of bearings and races for a '73 into the 10bolt hub? I will check the dimensions of the hub when i go home for lunch.
 
well i measured while at lunch, the inner bearing on the '73 is 1/8" or so smaller than the later model hub, so that explains it haha...picked up a set of timkens to install tonight. thanks for the help guys!
 
bringing this back up...

found out that the casting is different between hubs, as the bearing race size and placement are not the same. so i have to find another hub that's for the smaller diameter bearings and spindle, and i can't use the old, out-of-round one since 2 of the holes that hold the studs are completely stripped out. pretty much out of luck atm...

if anybody has a hub that fits the smaller spindle and will part with it, send me a pm, thanks guys
 
If the d44 hubs are different than the 10 bolt, then you just need to find a d44 hub. The d44 hubs are the same.
 
there's 6 lug and 8 lug but all gm d44 hubs should be the same. The bearings and spindles are different. The smaller inner bearing can be tough to find though.
 
so would i be better off swapping on the larger spindle instead of hunting the smaller inner bearing hub?
 
If you screwed up your hub, you need one anyway don't you? Just check if you can find the bearings before you spend money ok a spindle
 
StevoandaRedK5 said:
so would i be better off swapping on the larger spindle instead of hunting the smaller inner bearing hub?
Click to expand...

You could probably find a 6-lug Dana44 or 10-bolt front complete out of a truck somebody swapped 1-tons under for $100-150. Possibly much less from someone who just wants it out of the way

But, yea, it sounds like you're probably going to need a new spindle anyway. A new spindle and new hub probably costs more than what you would pay for a complete front axle that is in good condition
 
bp71k5 said:
If you screwed up your hub, you need one anyway don't you? Just check if you can find the bearings before you spend money ok a spindle
Click to expand...

actually the spindle is in pretty good shape, and autozone carries the timken bearings and races

G-Force8 said:
You could probably find a 6-lug Dana44 or 10-bolt front complete out of a truck somebody swapped 1-tons under for $100-150. Possibly much less from someone who just wants it out of the way

But, yea, it sounds like you're probably going to need a new spindle anyway. A new spindle and new hub probably costs more than what you would pay for a complete front axle that is in good condition
Click to expand...

i know a new hub is nearly $200 (ntwonline.com, plus that's what a local shop quoted me), no clue on the spindle, probably about the same.

as for finding a complete axle locally...i tried for a couple of weeks to find either a hub or an axle for parts with no luck before getting this 10b hub from a fellow CK5er...

I know i can eventually find a complete axle, but i don't want to "reinvent the wheel" by hunting for an axle in good shape that's geared the same, that'll bolt in without shearing old bolts, swapping hubs/lockouts, etc, when all I really need is a drivers side hub.

i can't call around looking for one during the day because of school and work everyday except sunday, plus everything is hectic with graduation coming up. Not an ideal situation in general haha.

i know it'll work out, and getting all riled up won't fix it. I'll get ahold of some buddies who can be on the lookout for what i need, and in the meantime...i can work on all the other projects that have yet to be completed:doah: I just wanted to be driving it, cuz the furd taurus is not cutting it :rolleyes::haha:
 
There is actually a guy located in Sherman,TX (up near Oklahoma on I75) that just posted an add on www.texas4x4.org earlier tonight that went to 1-tons on his '87 1/2 ton suburban and is selling both front and rear 10-bolts for $100.

the front 10-bolt has a broken u-joint on the driver side,but is complete

I'm actually in Sherman right now for the weekend. I come up here every couple weekends to see family. If you want the axle I might be able to run and grab it with my stepdads pickup and store it by their barn until we could figure out a way to get it to you.

He'd probably take $30-50 for the front by itself and you could rob it for parts as time goes on,if you need to.

Thing is, I live near Dallas but The 'Burb is my only transportation (FSJ Cherokee is in storage) so getting it down in closer range for you might be an issue
 
Also, I have some slight whining noise coming from the passenger side of the front 10-bolt under my suburban. Don't know what it is,but I will probably be swapping '76 K20 axles under it in a month or so and if you still need the hub by then you can have the 10-bolt
 
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