rear dana 44 axle bearing

wonderwag · #1 02-08-2011, 02:24 AM

any one have a easy fix for a dana 44 that's a little sloppy in the bearing end? the bearing race spins in the housing freely and looks like its been that way for a while.

fulsizjeep · #2 02-08-2011, 12:40 PM

What year?
Your profile shows you have an 83 Wagoneer which would have an AMC 20 rear end.

Have you changed the bearings? The last bearings I installed in a rear D44 (last Nov) were Timken. The race and bearing was one assembly.

tgreese · #3 02-08-2011, 01:25 PM

As I understand the OP, the bearing fits loosely into the end of the axle housing. It's supposed to be a press fit (ie not loose), and need a slide hammer for removal.

I'd think the way you'd get to this problem is by severe overloading of the axle.

My vague recollection of this is to knurl the inside of the housing. Either that, or maybe a bunch of center punch dimples.

The best way to fix it is to get a new housing. These axles are not in great demand, so you should be able to find a complete axle for not much money.

J20 project · #4 02-08-2011, 06:14 PM

Short term fix for an around town Jeep....as stated, dimple the inside of the housing w/ a center punch and reinstall

Long term fix for a highway,,long term rig...new housing.

J20

jeepjseries · #5 02-08-2011, 06:44 PM

[quote=tgreese]As I understand the OP, the bearing fits loosely into the end of the axle housing. It's supposed to be a press fit (ie not loose), and need a slide hammer for removal.

Who needs a slide hammer? Just let the bearing fail while doing 70 + M.P.H down the highway.

LHopper · #6 02-08-2011, 06:58 PM

I just replaced my bearings and removed the race.

wonderwag · #7 02-08-2011, 10:52 PM

well I scored another housing today, but the bearing races rotate in it as well. I pulled the races and there is no sign of where in the housing, so I guess they are just a loose fit. the other housing has visible wear in the end. my bearings are a tapered roller bearing. they don't look at all like Lhopper's.

Crazy_Jeepman · #8 02-08-2011, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wonderwag

well I scored another housing today, but the bearing races rotate in it as well. I pulled the races and there is no sign of where in the housing, so I guess they are just a loose fit. the other housing has visible wear in the end. my bearings are a tapered roller bearing. they don't look at all like Lhopper's.

Yea they just fit in there loose, sometimes (most of the time) they can be difficult to remove do to varnish and other contaminent buildup. If you get new bearings, chances are you are going to get similar (brand dependant) replacements as Lhopper's............ supposed to be the new and improved version

**babywag** · #9 02-09-2011, 12:37 AM

In almost every rear D44 I've done the races spin in the housing.

Replace the bearings with the new style and you should be fine.

My '88 spun and it's been fine since I replaced the bearings in '05.

Timken Set10 (or equivalent)

We did my dad's '79 Cherokee last year, and one race was so loose it just fell out.
He flat towed it home 2000+ miles with the new bearings and no issues.

threepiece · #10 02-09-2011, 11:37 AM

I wonder if the bearing retainer plate is deformed. I have never noticed the bearings being very tight in the bore of the axle. I think the retainer plate provides an axial load on the bearing race to keep it in place. I have seen these plates deform with rust build-up.

LHopper · #11 02-09-2011, 11:27 PM

Or you could wait

jeepjseries · #12 02-10-2011, 12:06 AM

CJ the noisemaker · #13 02-10-2011, 02:25 PM

Yikes, I never seen those pics of the shaft coming out. As a driver who suffered from shaft removal, GET IT FIXED NOW!

If you can't find Timken Set10 bearings, National part #A-10 will work just fine.

tgreese · #14 02-10-2011, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LHopper

Or you could wait

The flames are a nice touch.

seventynine · #15 02-10-2011, 02:53 PM

As others have said....just stake the housing with a center punch and hammer. You usually only need about 3 or 4 dimples.

Billygoat · #16 02-10-2011, 03:13 PM

The outer race is a slip fit, not lose that you can feel slop, but light pressure to install, the inner race assembly has a lock ring on the outside that is an interference fit in the housing and locks the outrace in place, both from coming out and spinning.

letter "C" in the pic is the seal, the ring right between it and the roller cage.
That is why it take a good pop to pull the axle assembly out,
The bolts will press it in place when you tighten them down.

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