Got screwed on my dana 44 and need help

[carpeonnel]

Just got screwed on buying a mid 70s 3/4 ton Dana 44. Thought i was getting a hell of a deal but evidently not now. Checked it out, gears seemed fine, everything seemed tight until I got it home and realized that the drivers side axle splines and/or spider gear is f**ked. Called the guy back up and told him the problem (AFTER he promised me b4 I went up there the axle was in perfect working condition) and basically the panty stain won't help me out and I'm screwed . SO, can somebody tell me how to remove the axle, and the spider gear that's possibly stripped. Don't know that much about tearing down a front axle and I gotta get this thing back in good working condition

 

[imiceman44]

Just got screwed on buying a mid 70s 3/4 ton Dana 44. Thought i was getting a hell of a deal but evidently not now. Checked it out, gears seemed fine, everything seemed tight until I got it home and realized that the drivers side axle splines and/or spider gear is f**ked. Called the guy back up and told him the problem (AFTER he promised me b4 I went up there the axle was in perfect working condition) and basically the panty stain won't help me out and I'm screwed . SO, can somebody tell me how to remove the axle, and the spider gear that's possibly stripped. Don't know that much about tearing down a front axle and I gotta get this thing back in good working condition

If I were you I would invest in a Shop Manual that will have a blown out schematic as well as step by step instructions but I will do my best here:
You need to:
- take the brake calipers off (2 bolts hold it)
- take the locking hubs off (should be six bolts holding the cover, a circle clip holds the body of the lock in, then the C clip at the end of the axle shaft)
- Take the hub off ( 2 types but the most common is a 4 prong nut, you will need the tool that you can get from auto parts store)
- Take the spindle off ( there are 6 nuts holding that one, then you have to tap on it to break it lose)
At this point you can take the axle shaft out.
To take the spider gears out you need to:
- Take the diff cover off
- Spin the gears till you see the bolt that holds the cross pin in (cross pin is a solid shiny about 3/4" thick shaft that holds the spider gears and side gears in.)
- Take the bolt off, and then slide the cross pin out.
The spider gears should be easily axessible now as well as the side gear that the shaft went thru.
If you need parts for it let me know.

 

[thatK30guy]

How much did you pay for this?

You can't just automatically assume you got screwed just because it makes some noise. Now is the time to "learn" how a front axle comes apart, goes back together, along with how it works and why. This is the invaluable part of owning such said axle.

BTW, have you thought about checking the lockout hubs? They can be bad and could be the culprit.

 

[carpeonnel]

I checked the hubs, they're good. I've pretty much accepted now that I will be learning how a front end operates from here on out :-). I was trying to get the cross pin out, but first off there wasn't a bolt holding the cross pin, just a shiny place where one was and it looks like the cross pin won't push out because it'll hit the ring gear. But I tried to push it out and tap it out but it didn't budge. I'm just gonna have to wait til my buddy can show me what to do cuz i'm just a noob with this front axle

 

[imiceman44]

I checked the hubs, they're good. I've pretty much accepted now that I will be learning how a front end operates from here on out :-). I was trying to get the cross pin out, but first off there wasn't a bolt holding the cross pin, just a shiny place where one was and it looks like the cross pin won't push out because it'll hit the ring gear. But I tried to push it out and tap it out but it didn't budge. I'm just gonna have to wait til my buddy can show me what to do cuz i'm just a noob with this front axle

If the cross pin is hitting the ring gear try pushing it to the other side, if it hits the ring gear as well there are two ways around it:
If it's just a little bit you can grind the edge of the gear as long as what you grind is not shiny and has been obviously part of the contact area.
If it's too much then the only way is to take off the gear. Too much work but if the side gears or spider gears are bad it has to be done.

 

[sweetk30]

dana 44 carriers cross pin is held in with a roll pin. not a bolt.

 

[imiceman44]

dana 44 carriers cross pin is held in with a roll pin. not a bolt.

Mine was not a roll pin