d44 front axle bearings replacement?

[blklblsk8tr13]

how would i go about changing axle bearings at the ends of the shafts on my dana 44 front? it has disc brakes.

[ERASER5]

Remove the hub lock assembly, the brakes, drum or rotor, remove the hub nuts, put board on the hub and smack the board with big hammer. One there is a little separation, use a small pry bar and work around the hub until it is free.

To remove the bearing, try a bearing puller. I could not find one that would work for mine, so I noticed my small pry bar, the kind that is like a screw driver that is bent at the end. Reaching down the hub tube, I was able to contact the bearing in 2 spots. A little hammer tap, not hard at all, all the way around and pop goes the weasel. I had to buff out some scratches, but way better than the grinder marks the last idiot left. Used a socket to press the new bearing home.

That's how I did mine 2 weeks ago.

[blklblsk8tr13]

thanks. but are we talking bout the bearing in the axle housing? im talking about number 16 or 17 in this pic. the ends of my shafts are wobbling around in the tube and in the hub.

[ERASER5]

Originally Posted by blklblsk8tr13

how would i go about changing axle bearings at the ends of the shafts on my dana 44 front? it has disc brakes.

You said front, and ends. I presumed you were talking about the hubs at the end of the axle in the front. The picture you show is a rear diff and ends are different.

I only did my ball joins, hubs, and wheel bearings. The hub is the outer end, part 16 and 17 and inside the diff. For those the carrier has to come out I believe.

[LONGHAIR]

That is the outer bearing, it is pressed onto the end of the axle....but once again, that is a rear axle. They are different, from the front.

The inner axle bearing (in both front and rear) is actually the carrier bearing. You cannot simply replace them though. That requires serious internal work, which requires a professional. If not set-up properly, the ring and pinion will fail... quickly.

[Schralper]

front bearings use a brass drift
do you mean the needle bearings in the roller or the tapered wheel bearing races?
either or the brass punch is the way to get'em out w/o wreckin the rest

[swamp rat]

http://128.83.80.200/taco/axle.html

This help??

[LONGHAIR]

I love that guy's description of how to get the spindle off..."It might take some rubber-mallet persuasion"

Yeah, good luck with that.

[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by LONGHAIR

I love that guy's description of how to get the spindle off..."It might take some rubber-mallet persuasion"

Yeah, good luck with that.

Rubber mallett? Chisel and a 4 lb sledge maybe??

[1985-GMC]

Yeah my spindles were a B***H to bet off!

[LONGHAIR]

There is a nifty little tool to make this much easier. It screws onto a slide hammer and pulls it off.

[1985-GMC]

Yep I almost rented one of those but I finally got it.