[CyberRanger]

Originally Posted by 68lwb

I am looking for the drivers side backing plate for my truck. It is the original Dana 44 closed knuckle. Would be interested in complete axle if necessary. I am in northern Indiana. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Also looking for information about the oil or grease that goes in the knuckle part of this axle. My books say 140 weight gear oil, but I have grease zerks and when I take out the plug, it full of grease not oil. Can anyone tell me what this is supposed to have?

I used to work in a 4x4 shop & currently have a CJ-5 w/ closed knuckles & have rebuilt quite a few axles w/ closed knuckles. We found in the 4x4 shop that usin' the recommended lube in closed knuckles usually leads to a lot of leakage no matter how well you seal 'em up. I also learned that usin' emory cloth on the ball portion of the knuckle to smooth it & remove pits helps the ball seals last a lot longer & makes a better seal surface. For lube, we found a mix of about 50% 85W140 multi viscosity Valvoline gear lube & 50% high quality Valvoline axle grease works best. Put the 2 parts in a pail or bucket & mix using a paint stirrer & drill. You end up w/ a thin paste that is thicker than the gear lube & thinner than axle grease that adheres well to the parts. It won't turn solid in cold weather like axle grease & won't run like water in hot weather when the axle is warm from driving. If you live in a warmer (Arizona, Texas, SE, etc) climate area, use about 60/40 grease/lube to keep it thicker. If you live in a cooler climate (MN, Canada, AK, etc) use a 70/30 mix of lube/grease.

When you reassemble the knuckle make sure you put a very thin layer of Permatex Ultra Blue between the backing plate/knuckle, spindle/backing plate, & hub parts to keep your lube from leaking out.