Stinkin front hub troubles - Fixed, I believe.

[chalet2506]

I'm stuck until I get this worked out. I've got this 10 bolt with older 8 lug, Dana 44 external hub outers I'm trying to get back together. Put all new bearings and seals in driver side spindle and hub and its fine.

The passenger side is killing me though. I've had it apart and back together a few times and there is always some kind of metal on metal binding going on. Checked to make sure the races were all seated good, picked up another set of bearings because I thought maybe I got something in the first set of new ones. Double checked the part #'s to make sure I got the right ones.

Looking at it today I notice some small metal shavings in the bottom of the backing plate. Then look closer with a light at the inner hub seal and there's impressions from what has to be the 6 studs/nuts that hold the backing plate and spindle on.

How the heck is that happening? The only thing I can think to do is use some small washers as spacers between the backing plate and spindle, but that doesn't seem like a good idea.

 

[Big Blzn]

Do you maybe have the smaller diameter spindle on that side and are using (ordered) the larger diameter bearings in the hub which I think would make the whole hub slide that much further onto the spindle and rub the backing plate. Check to see if the bearings you took out(used ones) are the same size as the new ones you are installing.

Edit: How about a pic of said problem.

 

[chalet2506]

At first I thought it was the spindle, so I tried one of the ones of my 76' 6 lug dana 44 which didn't work. It definitely has the smaller diameter bearing, and the one on this axle has the larger diameter inner bearing. I checked the bearing fit on the spindle without the hub and it seems fine - I can slide it on by hand with just a little resistance.

Old bearing were rusted up and crusty - I tossed them about a month ago.

I'll have to bring my camera up tomorrow and get some pics. The only thing else I can think of is maybe its the wrong seal.

 

[Big Blzn]

Shouldn't the seal's outside surface be flush with the outside edge of the hub surface?

 

[chalet2506]

I think the smaller bearing hubs have the one that fits inside, this one's got an outer little flange. I believe napa part# 25077

 

[bp71k5]

That seal doesn't look like the one I installed on either of my large and small bearing hub axles. Both had the flush style seal.

 

[chalet2506]

I dug around on the intraweb last night and it seems Napa is the only store that carries the flange type seal. So I stopped by O'reily's this morning and should have a couple of the flush type ones this afternoon. Like this.

Edit. I may also take a little grinder and knock the top of couple of studs down a hair as well.

2 pics of the issue. The back side of the seal that's there was green like the one up in the previous post.

 

[bp71k5]

You shouldn't need to grind the studs. Something isn't right if there's grinding.

 

[chalet2506]

I put the new seal in, hub is still catching on the studs. What the heck?

 

[chalet2506]

Some pics of the problem side if its any help. I really don't know what to do short of either putting new studs in the knuckle or finding another big bearing eight lug hub. Neither of which sounds very appealing right now - especially since I have no idea what the problem is.

 

[bp71k5]

Aren't the external hubs only for the early axles? Maybe they don't fit on 10 bolt axles?

For some reason the hub is sitting too far down on the spindle for the studs to be hitting it. It's tough to tell from the pictures what going on without seeing which parts are there.

 

[azblazer]

Dumb question....did you and are you certain that your splash guards behind said spindle are actually 3/4 ton issue and not 1/2 stuff?

DW

 

[azblazer]

Thanx for the 3/4 ton bug before i move back to phx.....

 

[chalet2506]

nice. Every once in awhile I think it I should have left mine original 2 tone chevy colors. Probably would have if it wouldn't already had some body damage.

The backing plates came with it, and are definitely much beefier than the one's on my 1/2 ton Dana 44.

Dumber question - The spindle goes on the knuckle, then backing plate over the spindle, right? If not, then I'm doing it wrong and that would explain this mess.

 

[StevoandaRedK5]

my dana 44 is 1/2 ton so i don't know if it's the same, it goes spindle -> backing plate -> hub

 

[azblazer]

Spindle...backing plate...hub is correct.
There is a difference between 1/2 ton backing plates and 3/4 ton backing plates.

DW

 

[Blue85]

If the other side works OK, why not take that one apart to see how it is assembled. Maybe you did something wrong on just this side?

 

[chalet2506]

Took the hub off the side that works today and measured both spindles - they're the same. Installed the hub/rotor off the good side onto the side that won't work and same kind of binding going on.

Then took a look at both sets of studs. I don't know what caused it, but a couple of the studs on the side that don't work are longer. They look original, will they stretch over time? I took some pics. Also, are the heads supposed to be half moon shaped like that, or is it indicative of something else I need to fix? I'm hoping I can run over to Napa and match the stud size, then punch them in with a brass drift and hammer.

 

[StevoandaRedK5]

uh...yeah don't think those should look like that.

i don't know the year of the 3/4 ton axles you have, but here's a link to what i assume the studs should look like: http://www.autozone.com/autozone/ca...e=11200223&itemId=prod61735&parentId=cat30054

 

[chalet2506]

thanks for the link. Local Napa can't get them, but there's 6 available down the street at Vatozone I'm going to pickup on the way home. Guess I'll have to borrow a balljoint press while I'm down there. Looks like 3/4 ton 10 bolts and D44 are the same part# - which is good because I don't know year the knuckles are. Hopefully can get this rectified tomorrow.