[Easy Gibson]

I'm changing the axle bearings in my Dana 35 this weekend and I need a couple specific questions answered before I head into battle.

THE QUESTIONS!

1. Where did you get your gear puller, what kind is it, and did you like it? As long as it does the job well once I don't care how cheap it is. Gimme your recommendations.

2. Is there anything you'd recommend dealing with "while I'm in there" other than the bearings themselves, the seals, and those little C clips?

3. Are there any specific issues that you have run into when performing a bearing swap that you didn't think would be an issue, but turned out to be really annoying and cost you time?


Thanks so much for your input, you are all a constant joy to work with!

[XJH-007]

Do you really have to change the bearings??

You really should setup the Ring and Pinion after doing this. Not all bearing manufac. and even the bearings themselves differ, which may throw your backlash out of whack. Unless they are toast....I would leave them.

Once I swapped a junk yard carrier with ring gear out to my truck so it was running 2 diff R & P's (not matched) It ran fine A bit noisey but never blew up.

Are you doing the Pinion bearings too? Pinion seal? You can get a master rebuild kit that has EVERYTHING for about $100. Just make sure you keep all the shimms in their respective order and use location.

[93gc40]

You don't need a puller for the axle bearings. Just a screw driver and a hammer will do.
If you are doing carrier bearings that is a whole nother story and if you don't already have all the tools you might need. You shouldn't be messing with the job. Resetting the ring and pinion is not for the first timer.

[justanotherjpr]

You should use a slide hammer for the axle bearings (at the end of the axle tubes). Your local auto parts store should rent these to you free or cheap. You should always change the axle seals when doing the axle bearings. Be sure all three jaws are properly fastened to the puller - if a jaw slips off or out, you can easily bang your knee with the slide hammer - and it hurts.

The AXLE bearings are at the very outsides of the housing, near the brakes. OP, are you talking about the carrier bearings, located inside the differential?

[Easy Gibson]

Sorry about the confusion, I guess I should clarify this a little better.

I have a bad axle bearing. If you've had one go bad before, you know what it sounds like. I'm currently closing in on 200k with the factory bearings, so since I'm already making a day of it I'm going to do both sides.

I also wanted to open up the differential cover, make sure every looked ok in there, then slide out the axles themselves and inspect them too while I'm at it. Unless they're completely FUBAR, they're going right back where they came from, since they're about 300-400 a pop. Funk dat.

So yeah, that's my story.

What kind of bearings would you all recommend as decent replacement?

[Diamond-x]

Timken, I'm also doing my Chrysler 8.25 this weekend. Horrible howling sound from the rear. I'll be taking mine to the local NAPA to have them press 'em off/on. I'll also be refilling with redline synthetic fluid.

Good luck!

[93gc40]

Originally Posted by Easy Gibson

Sorry about the confusion, I guess I should clarify this a little better.

I have a bad axle bearing. If you've had one go bad before, you know what it sounds like. I'm currently closing in on 200k with the factory bearings, so since I'm already making a day of it I'm going to do both sides.

I also wanted to open up the differential cover, make sure every looked ok in there, then slide out the axles themselves and inspect them too while I'm at it. Unless they're completely FUBAR, they're going right back where they came from, since they're about 300-400 a pop. Funk dat.

So yeah, that's my story.

What kind of bearings would you all recommend as decent replacement?

Gotch, cover and axles have to be removed to change the bearings. DO NOT mess with the carrier bearings. Inspect everything visually. If you are not sure about the ring and pinion condition, take pics and post them. You will need to remove the cross shaft that the spider gears are on to get at the c-clips. Then you can slide the axles out. Inspect everything visually. If you are not sure about the ring and pinion condition, take pics and post them.

[Easy Gibson]

Good lookin out guys.

I've got time to kill coming up either this weekend or next weekend so I'll try to take some good shots and post em if only for the sake of archiving.