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Flanged Dana 44 Help

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by oddfirejeeper, Jul 18, 2019.

  1. Jul 18, 2019
    oddfirejeeper

    oddfirejeeper Active Member

    Hamilton, MI
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    Been a while since I've posted on here but always lurking the site. A few years ago I had my axles rebuilt with powr-lok's and all new bearings including the outer axle bearings. The original axle on the passenger side the outer bearing would i guess "come loose" to where I could pull the shaft outward a good bit. Now the same thing is happening on the rebuilt axle but now on the driver side. The passenger side is nice and tight but the drivers side I can pull it outward about an 1/8 - 1/4" almost the same as the passenger side on the other axle. I did not put new retaining plates on and wondering if that could be why it is walking outward? That is the only thing holding the axle in right?
    I'm running 33" tires and this rig might get driven 1000 miles in 5 years and that is a maybe. Looking at the tire it does look as if it is out of round. Thought at first it was the spacer I was using so removed it and still out of round. The rim does not look bent and cannot remember if this tire was on the passenger side when the other axle was in.
    Do these retaining plates need to be replaced over time?
     
  2. Jul 18, 2019
    oddfirejeeper

    oddfirejeeper Active Member

    Hamilton, MI
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    Forgot to say it's the '71 in my avatar and signature
     
  3. Jul 19, 2019
    oddfirejeeper

    oddfirejeeper Active Member

    Hamilton, MI
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    is it normal to be able to pull the shaft in and out?
     
  4. Jul 19, 2019
    jeepstar

    jeepstar Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sheboygan
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    pull the shaft in and out, like 1/4"? 1/2"?

    is it just old wear and tear that you never noticed before? out of round suggests something is loose, and causing unever wear, right? your axles shouldnt be sliding in and out when you have them bolted on.
     
  5. Jul 19, 2019
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    I'm assuming with the flanged axle there should be several thousands end play just like with the tapered axle. Not normal to be able to move it an easily noticeable/measurable distance.
     
    jpflat2a likes this.
  6. Jul 19, 2019
    oddfirejeeper

    oddfirejeeper Active Member

    Hamilton, MI
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    yes pull the shaft in and out (side to side). only on the drivers side
    the axle probably does not have 1000 miles on it over the last 5 years or so. so not old wear and tear. would an out of round tire cause this?

    i was reading fino's mini build thread and thinking of ordering new retaining plates with new bearings.
     
  7. Jul 19, 2019
    oddfirejeeper

    oddfirejeeper Active Member

    Hamilton, MI
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    yeah i was thinking the same thing glen but wanted to make sure.
     
  8. Jul 19, 2019
    oddfirejeeper

    oddfirejeeper Active Member

    Hamilton, MI
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    i didn't know the plates were available till i read through fino's thread.
     
  9. Jul 19, 2019
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    Hermosa, SD
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    Wear would be visible on the plates.
    And some slight end play movement in/out of the axles I would say is normal.
    Damage can occur if previously a bearing went bad on the shaft or the axle walked out of the housing.
     
  10. Jul 19, 2019
    Muzikp

    Muzikp Active Member

    Sacramento Ca.
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    Does this axle have tapered bearings or the self-contained bearings? My axle has the self contained type bearings with no seal between the bearing and plate.

    [​IMG]

    I'm not familiar with the tapered style bearing on a flanged axle but maybe one of the seals between the plates and housing is damaged or worn away allowing for the extra end play? :shrug:
     
  11. Jul 19, 2019
    oddfirejeeper

    oddfirejeeper Active Member

    Hamilton, MI
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    my axle has the bearings you have in the photo. those bearings will come apart when you disassemble but they are one piece when they get installed at least from what i remember.
     
    Last edited: Jul 19, 2019
  12. Jul 19, 2019
    Muzikp

    Muzikp Active Member

    Sacramento Ca.
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    Interesting. I have no idea where your excessive end play is coming from then. Sorry.
     
  13. Jul 19, 2019
    oddfirejeeper

    oddfirejeeper Active Member

    Hamilton, MI
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    going to take it apart when the heat wave has passed or just get up at 5 am and work on it. i want to inspect the races and the plates for wear. also going to bring my rim and tire to the tire shop to see if the rim is bent and how far out of round the tire is. i do have a full size spare i'm going to throw on there to see if i get the same runout.
     
  14. Jul 19, 2019
    Steve's 70-5

    Steve's 70-5 Active Member

    Louisville, Ky
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    dnb71R2 likes this.
  15. Jul 19, 2019
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
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    just throwing out ideas....could the unit bearings have been pressed on backwards...or did someone put tapered roller bearings by accident?
     
  16. Jul 20, 2019
    oddfirejeeper

    oddfirejeeper Active Member

    Hamilton, MI
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    thanks steve for the link. i have that downloaded from a long time ago.
     
  17. Jul 20, 2019
    oddfirejeeper

    oddfirejeeper Active Member

    Hamilton, MI
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    i'm wondering that too.
     
  18. Jul 20, 2019
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    Any way you look at it they're coming out. :rolleyes:
     
  19. Jul 20, 2019
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    Were new retainer rings used when the bearings were replaced?
     
  20. Jul 21, 2019
    oddfirejeeper

    oddfirejeeper Active Member

    Hamilton, MI
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    yes new retainers were used or at least i bought new parts and hopefully the rebuilder used them
     
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