A Couple Questions About Rebuilding My Dana 44

89SAFARIXJ · 01-30-2009, 10:46 PM

ill just post a new thread cuz nobody ever seems to look at my build haha.

ne ways it should be okay to use an angle grinder with a flap disc to clean the housing and the axle shafts? then prime and paint?

also, how do i pull the shafts?

any and all input is appreciated

-Sean

**xjfever** · 01-30-2009, 11:23 PM

I would use a wire wheel in the angle grinder myself. To remove the axles there should be 4 bolts in the backing plate, remove them then yank the axles, a slide hammer will work wonders for you.

ep191 · 01-31-2009, 12:10 AM

If you can afford it, do yourself a favor and rent a sandblaster. Idk if your 44 has as much surface rust as my 60 but trust me wire wheels SUCK.

89SAFARIXJ · 01-31-2009, 12:18 AM

well look at my build thread in my sig maybe at the amount of surface gunk it has. and then maybe you'll know... idk this is my first axle build so yeah.

thanks for the wire wheel idea though.

-Sean

ep191 · 01-31-2009, 12:25 AM

I looked at the build thread and i probably wouldnt bother with the sandblaster if i was you. I've seen 10x worse rust (including my own) That 44 actually looks like its in pretty damn good shape. The wire wheel/hand labor will suck but for the amount of crap thats on it, the sandblaster doesn't really seem worth the money to me.

Ratmeat · 01-31-2009, 12:28 AM

If the axle is in good shape(did not look in the build thread) and just covered in black and dirt, like mine was. I just used brake cleaner and wiped the whole thing down. the black stuff(wasn't paint)came right off.

89SAFARIXJ · 01-31-2009, 12:28 AM

thats what i was thinking... so you dont think the 60 grit flap disks ive got have the balls to take care of that gunk/rust?

also thanks to xjfever for tellin me how to get them shafts out.

-Sean

89SAFARIXJ · 02-02-2009, 01:01 AM

okay so i started breaking it down today... here's some pics. but i got a few questions...
so i drained the oil:

here's the gears, they look good to me:

then i took one of the drums apart, which i will never get back together.... what a mess. anybody know of a write up is on disassembling and reassembling drums?:

here's the axle shaft i pulled. what do you call what i pointed at with the blue arrows? and am i going to need new ones? and how do i get them off? they look like just bearings...:

and here's the splines, they look good too:

okay that's what i have so far. answers to my questions would be greatly appreciated.

-Sean

89SAFARIXJ · 02-02-2009, 09:37 AM

okay... can anybody help me? also, do you think i should, or should not primer the splines on the shafts. will the primer be bad for the gears?

-Sean

TheNerd · 02-02-2009, 09:38 AM

Before you put your brakes back together, make sure you get a master hardware kit from quadratec. That one will include the odd "square" (a.k.a. parking strut spring) spring, where as the local parts places do not.

As for the axle shaft, there are 4 things on there (going from the outside) which are:
1. Retainer plate
2. Axle seal
3. Outer bearing
4. Bearing retainer

The bearing retainer and bearing are pressed onto the shaft. If you decide you need to replace either the bearing or the seal, you should do both at the same time.

TheNerd · 02-02-2009, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 89SAFARIXJ

okay... can anybody help me? also, do you think i should, or should not primer the splines on the shafts. will the primer be bad for the gears?

-Sean

DON'T paint or primer or anything else the splines (or the shaft for that matter). The shafts get a nice coating of gear oil while they are in the housing, and paint is only going to serve to gum things up.

89SAFARIXJ · 02-02-2009, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheNerd

DON'T paint or primer or anything else the splines (or the shaft for that matter). The shafts get a nice coating of gear oil while they are in the housing, and paint is only going to serve to gum things up.

okay so how should i go about cleanings the shafts? or do i need to?

-Sean

TheNerd · 02-02-2009, 11:34 AM

Just knock of any large surface rust chunks with a wire brush (after you wipe all the existing oil off them), wipe any remaining dist off 'em, then just give it a once-over with an oil soaked rag to keep any moisture off them until they are back in the axle.

**RockRodHooligan** · 02-02-2009, 12:58 PM

If you look in my build(starting on page 6), I have a pretty good build on my 44. I used a 1" sanding disc on most of it, works really well on the main housing, followed by Por15, then a self etching primmer, and top coat. Sandblasting would be nice, but not recomended unless you plan on gutting it first, sand gets into EVERYTHING, you don't want sand in the dif! If you do plan on gutting it, sand blasting shops around here will do one for about $60, but there is a 2-3 week waiting list.

89SAFARIXJ · 02-02-2009, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hotrod_hooligan

If you look in my build(starting on page 6), I have a pretty good build on my 44. I used a 1" sanding disc on most of it, works really well on the main housing, followed by Por15, then a self etching primmer, and top coat. Sandblasting would be nice, but not recomended unless you plan on gutting it first, sand gets into EVERYTHING, you don't want sand in the dif! If you do plan on gutting it, sand blasting shops around here will do one for about $60, but there is a 2-3 week waiting list.

yeah i dont wanna wait an extra 2-3 weeks. and i dont plan on completely gutting it, i dont think. ill go ahead and check out your 44 build. thanks man.

-Sean