Straightening bent axles? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

blklblsk8tr13 · 09-23-2009, 08:55 PM

my back right tire sits crooked. its not the bearings so i think the axle tubing is bent. can it be straightened? its a dana 44. i would just replace it but i have lift blocks welded to the axle and i dont know if they can just be torched off. help?

70 beast · 09-23-2009, 09:32 PM

you can always convert to 3/4 ton or even 1 ton????

depends on how their welded to the axle. you way be axle to get a grinder and grind the welds till you can persuade it to come off with a big hammer

DirtyLarry · 09-23-2009, 09:58 PM

Have you spun the rear wheel to make sure the axle shaft itself isn’t bent? It takes a good whack to bend an actual housing axle tube to the point where it changes the toe setting. If that indeed happened, you will be better off swapping in a different rear axle assembly.

**special-K** · 09-23-2009, 10:03 PM

^^^^ x2 ^^^^

Blocks are cheap.

jrdv · 09-23-2009, 11:22 PM

I bent the housing on my blazer about 20 years ago.
I broke the axle and it came out while I was trying to get the blazer out of other peoples way. I replaced the axle and didn't think about the housing being bent. After replacing the axle seal twice--Duh! I had to put another rearend in.
A new rearend would be the easiest fix for you.
Otherwise, check this site out.
http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/w...ar_end_housing

blklblsk8tr13 · 09-23-2009, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by special-K

^^^^ x2 ^^^^

Blocks are cheap.

they are 8'' lift blocks. is there a possibility that i could cut them off and use them on the new axle?

**special-K** · 09-24-2009, 06:28 AM

yeah,I would think you could cut/grind them off.Maybe cut the saddles from the housing then cut/grind/clean them off the block.You`re trashing the housing anyway.

OLDCHEV4X4 · 09-24-2009, 08:28 AM

[QUOTE=blklblsk8tr13;3534952]they are 8'' lift blocks. [QUOTE]

8" lift blocks

That sounds scary.
Do you get a lot of wheel hop?

**special-K** · 09-24-2009, 05:47 PM

I had the same thought and meant to warn there`d be a reaction over that.

LONGHAIR · 09-24-2009, 08:26 PM

Personally I would throw the 8" blocks away with the bent housing.....they are both bad.

thirdstreettito · 09-28-2009, 11:23 PM

Oh boy, 8" blocks? And on the front axle! Hurry and get 8" springs.

**special-K** · 09-29-2009, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thirdstreettito

Oh boy, 8" blocks? And on the front axle! Hurry and get 8" springs.

Hmmm...I didn`t get that.I though we were talking about the rear end.

Eichorst69 · 09-29-2009, 07:12 PM

Is this dana 44 in the REAR of a full size truck??????
I'd look for a 14 bolt with new springs and down size or eleminate your blocks all together.

bigbadchev72 · 09-29-2009, 11:12 PM

He said his right REAR tire sits crooked

*2tons of fun* · 09-29-2009, 11:35 PM

chevy used the 44 rears in 4x4 from 60-66ish.

its a 44, its got 8" blocks, its wasted.

**special-K** · 09-30-2009, 07:13 AM

A Dana44 rear is every bit as good as a 12-bolt.That`s not the problem.It takes alot to bend any housing...alot!

blklblsk8tr13 · 10-04-2009, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LONGHAIR

Personally I would throw the 8" blocks away with the bent housing.....they are both bad.

theres a problem with all this "replacement" talk. im 18 and spent my life savings on this truck. i am broke. hahaha my theory is ill wait till it breaks to replace things. how many psi should i run in my swampers?

shilo · 10-04-2009, 11:00 PM

what size are your swamps? I run 10 psi in mine. And i should be running lower, maybe 8. i have bead locks though. However on my old K30 with 44's and no bead lock 16.5" rim i ran 10 to 12 psi with those and had no problems. Swamps like to be low

skchevota · 10-04-2009, 11:18 PM

8" blocks, welded to the housing, does not sound good!!!! But on the plus side, yes you can straighten housings to a point. If they are bent in one spot, it can be done, if it is a s bend then no. many years ago my uncle built a 70 nova drag car witha 9" rear, inorder to have the slicks under the car he narowed the axle housing. Unfortunatly he did not use a jig, and the axle housing was a little off when done. He pulled it apart and took it to a shop that narrows axles. They put it in a hydraulic bender,press kind if thing and straightend it right out.
In your case, you need to see if the labor of tearing down the axle, finding a shop with the said machine , paying them, and then a reasembley is worth the $$$ compaired to just replacing the whole thing. I would say replace and upgrade, you can find a used axle in the wrecking yard for a couple hundered. Once metle is bent, and then bent back, that will be a week spot that will bend easier than the first time.

some frame shops can do a half arss
sraighten if you can see where it is bent. They will put a stand under the axle where it is bent and chain the rest down, them push or pull on the end or the axle to bring it close to where it needs to be. If you fin a shop with an alighment rack as well they can do this with the alighment heads on the wheels so they can tell when the camber and toe are where they need to be. This also would mean that you would not have to take it all apart. The success of this methed would depend on the shop used , there experiance doing this, and how badly it is bent. If you take it to a frame shop and ask them, they should beable to take a free look and see if they can do anything.
I would try this first if you are on a tight budget.

Husker · 10-05-2009, 12:43 AM

I had a slightly bent axle in My Jeep. I used a chunk of chain and a Bottle jack and something to keep the chain from slipping off of the jack end. I used a piece of square tubing and slid over the end of the jack. Wrap the chain around the side that is bent out from the pumpkin and the other end close to the center unless both tubes are bent then wrap both ends away from the center(pumpkin) stick the jack between the center and the chain and jack till it straightens. You probaly should wear some gloves and some saftey glasses. It will slowly pull it back straight or close to it.
You may want to reinforce with a truss or something so it does not bend again. I used a Piece of round pipe over the top of the Pumpkin bent down to each tube.
Hope this makes sense
Ron

msgross · 10-06-2009, 07:42 PM

you can probably find another axle for very cheap... then i'd spend money on new springs if you want that much lift... or this might be a perfect time to downsize because it sounds like it's built to big for 1/2 ton axles anyway...

someone will trade you tires, rims and springs I bet.. Then you would have a better driving, safer truck as well.

heck, I sold a 12 bolt for $50 and my next option was 5 cents per pound at the scrap yard.

09-23-2009, 08:55 PM	#1
blklblsk8tr13 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Hampton, Ga Posts: 40	Straightening bent axles? my back right tire sits crooked. its not the bearings so i think the axle tubing is bent. can it be straightened? its a dana 44. i would just replace it but i have lift blocks welded to the axle and i dont know if they can just be torched off. help?

09-23-2009, 09:32 PM	#2
70 beast Certified Hobbiest Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sacramento, Ca Posts: 384	Re: Straightening bent axles? you can always convert to 3/4 ton or even 1 ton???? depends on how their welded to the axle. you way be axle to get a grinder and grind the welds till you can persuade it to come off with a big hammer __________________ my jimmy build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=352536

09-23-2009, 09:58 PM	#3
DirtyLarry Windy Corner of a Dirty Street Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Pueblo West, Colorado Posts: 2,926	Re: Straightening bent axles? Have you spun the rear wheel to make sure the axle shaft itself isn’t bent? It takes a good whack to bend an actual housing axle tube to the point where it changes the toe setting. If that indeed happened, you will be better off swapping in a different rear axle assembly. __________________ Current vehicle collection: 1978 Chevrolet K10, 8.1L, NV4500, NP205 1989 Chevrolet Suburban, 8.1L, NV4500, NP241 1993 Chevrolet C1500 Sportside, TBI 7.4L, 4L60E 2001 Chevrolet K2500HD, Ext Cab, SWB, 8.1L, ZF 6 speed 2014 Chevrolet Impala LTZ 3.6L Vortec 8.1L because life is too short to tolerate underpowered vehicles Instagram

09-23-2009, 10:03 PM	#4
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: Straightening bent axles? ^^^^ x2 ^^^^ Blocks are cheap. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

09-23-2009, 11:22 PM	#5
jrdv Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: new mexico Posts: 948	Re: Straightening bent axles? I bent the housing on my blazer about 20 years ago. I broke the axle and it came out while I was trying to get the blazer out of other peoples way. I replaced the axle and didn't think about the housing being bent. After replacing the axle seal twice--Duh! I had to put another rearend in. A new rearend would be the easiest fix for you. Otherwise, check this site out. http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/w...ar_end_housing __________________ 1972 3/4T 4x4 Chevrolet (383) 1971 c-10 SWB (400 sb) 1972 4x4 Blazer 1969 SWB 4x4 GMC Projects: 1972 stepside 4x4 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=280132 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=285952 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=553672 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=522704 Last edited by jrdv; 09-23-2009 at 11:25 PM.

09-24-2009, 06:28 AM	#7
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: Straightening bent axles? yeah,I would think you could cut/grind them off.Maybe cut the saddles from the housing then cut/grind/clean them off the block.You`re trashing the housing anyway. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

09-24-2009, 08:28 AM	#8
OLDCHEV4X4 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Chester County PA, USA Posts: 1,228	Re: Straightening bent axles? [QUOTE=blklblsk8tr13;3534952]they are 8'' lift blocks. [QUOTE] 8" lift blocks That sounds scary. Do you get a lot of wheel hop? __________________ 72 k/10 short wideside 72 k/5 Blazer 72 K/5 Blazer - obstacle course racer 72 custom/10 8' bed 70 K/5 Blazer 67 C-30 GMC Flat bed 86 GMC K2500 Plow Truck 85 GMC K3500 84 M1008 85 M1008 77 G30 Motor Home 72 Sears 12hp Tractor Glenmoore, Pennsylvania

09-24-2009, 05:47 PM	#9
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: Straightening bent axles? I had the same thought and meant to warn there`d be a reaction over that. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

09-28-2009, 11:23 PM	#11
thirdstreettito Resident of Here Join Date: May 2008 Location: Wesley Chapel, FL, USA Posts: 7,716	Re: Straightening bent axles? Oh boy, 8" blocks? And on the front axle! Hurry and get 8" springs. __________________ ~Bradley~ 2004 Black GTO LS2/T56 too much to list Miss having a truck

09-29-2009, 07:12 PM	#13
Eichorst69 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: South Florida Posts: 158	Re: Straightening bent axles? Is this dana 44 in the REAR of a full size truck?????? I'd look for a 14 bolt with new springs and down size or eleminate your blocks all together.

09-29-2009, 11:12 PM	#14
bigbadchev72 People know me Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Hermiston, oregon Posts: 840	Re: Straightening bent axles? He said his right REAR tire sits crooked __________________ 1972 k/5 blazer CST 4X4 Crate 350, th350/205, dana44with trac-loc/14 bolt with detroit locker, 4 wheel discs 4.56s, 8" suspension lift using 73-87springs, 1" zerorate custom front crossmember, HAD CV drivelines and driveshaft e-brake, full cage, PRP seats, Full autometer gauges, 38x14.5x16 Toyo M/Ts, 16x10 Polished aluminum rockcrusher wheels 1967 longbox 4x4, Strong 400/400/208, 44/12bolt 4.10s, 6" lift, 35" Toyo M/Ts on corvette rally wheels

09-29-2009, 11:35 PM	#15
2tons of fun Account Suspended Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: galt ca, Posts: 749	Re: Straightening bent axles? chevy used the 44 rears in 4x4 from 60-66ish. its a 44, its got 8" blocks, its wasted.

09-30-2009, 07:13 AM	#16
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: Straightening bent axles? A Dana44 rear is every bit as good as a 12-bolt.That`s not the problem.It takes alot to bend any housing...alot! __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

10-04-2009, 11:00 PM	#18
shilo Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grand Junction , CO Posts: 602	Re: Straightening bent axles? what size are your swamps? I run 10 psi in mine. And i should be running lower, maybe 8. i have bead locks though. However on my old K30 with 44's and no bead lock 16.5" rim i ran 10 to 12 psi with those and had no problems. Swamps like to be low __________________ 71 swb 4x4, 37" Iroks, t400/205 496 77 CJ-7, Narrowed Dana 60 Lockrite, 14 Bolt Spool, 4.56 gears, 39.5" boggers. 360 t-18/d20

10-04-2009, 11:18 PM	#19
skchevota Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Evans, Colorado Posts: 530	Re: Straightening bent axles? 8" blocks, welded to the housing, does not sound good!!!! But on the plus side, yes you can straighten housings to a point. If they are bent in one spot, it can be done, if it is a s bend then no. many years ago my uncle built a 70 nova drag car witha 9" rear, inorder to have the slicks under the car he narowed the axle housing. Unfortunatly he did not use a jig, and the axle housing was a little off when done. He pulled it apart and took it to a shop that narrows axles. They put it in a hydraulic bender,press kind if thing and straightend it right out. In your case, you need to see if the labor of tearing down the axle, finding a shop with the said machine , paying them, and then a reasembley is worth the $$$ compaired to just replacing the whole thing. I would say replace and upgrade, you can find a used axle in the wrecking yard for a couple hundered. Once metle is bent, and then bent back, that will be a week spot that will bend easier than the first time. some frame shops can do a half arss sraighten if you can see where it is bent. They will put a stand under the axle where it is bent and chain the rest down, them push or pull on the end or the axle to bring it close to where it needs to be. If you fin a shop with an alighment rack as well they can do this with the alighment heads on the wheels so they can tell when the camber and toe are where they need to be. This also would mean that you would not have to take it all apart. The success of this methed would depend on the shop used , there experiance doing this, and how badly it is bent. If you take it to a frame shop and ask them, they should beable to take a free look and see if they can do anything. I would try this first if you are on a tight budget.



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10-05-2009, 12:43 AM	#20
Husker Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Mid NE USA Posts: 2,212	Re: Straightening bent axles? I had a slightly bent axle in My Jeep. I used a chunk of chain and a Bottle jack and something to keep the chain from slipping off of the jack end. I used a piece of square tubing and slid over the end of the jack. Wrap the chain around the side that is bent out from the pumpkin and the other end close to the center unless both tubes are bent then wrap both ends away from the center(pumpkin) stick the jack between the center and the chain and jack till it straightens. You probaly should wear some gloves and some saftey glasses. It will slowly pull it back straight or close to it. You may want to reinforce with a truss or something so it does not bend again. I used a Piece of round pipe over the top of the Pumpkin bent down to each tube. Hope this makes sense Ron __________________ Member #111 68 C-10 Daily Driver 70 4x4 Project 76 Jeep CJ-5 Help Support the Board: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/payments.php He who knows nothing is closer to the truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors. Thomas Jefferson

10-06-2009, 07:42 PM	#21
msgross Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Central PA Posts: 12,201	Re: Straightening bent axles? you can probably find another axle for very cheap... then i'd spend money on new springs if you want that much lift... or this might be a perfect time to downsize because it sounds like it's built to big for 1/2 ton axles anyway... someone will trade you tires, rims and springs I bet.. Then you would have a better driving, safer truck as well. heck, I sold a 12 bolt for $50 and my next option was 5 cents per pound at the scrap yard. __________________ The Garage: 1968 K-10 SWB - "Project Money Pit" 1996 Z-71 - "huntin rig" 1969 C-10 LWB (SOLD) "Project flip that truck or else" 1993 Passport, F@rd 1-ton (SOLD)"Project Cousin Eddie" My Garage Build "The 1,000 footer" Last edited by msgross; 10-06-2009 at 07:43 PM.

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