Inexperienced question about my axle.

I recently took my wheels off to look for the source of a noise and discovered I have the 2 piece axles. There is a lot of play in the rear hubs so I figure I'm looking to replace the bearings. What else should I look at?

Also I was told it was a Dana 44. How do I confirm this? And is this setup fairly strong? I do some moderate offroading and don't want to break something in the middle of the woods.

P.S. The blue thing is a wheel spacer.

 

Someone will know just by looking but I need a photo of the rear cover plate to tell what type of axle you have. The round cap covered by your wheel spacer looks like the end cap on a AMC 20 axle.

 

what year is your JEEP? It looks like an off set dana 44 to me.

take off the dust cap there should be a large castle nut under the cap. they can sometimes be loose and act like bad bearings.

your axle should state what it is on the webbing on the side with the cover on the lower right hand side.
http://www.4x4help.com/axle/idaxle.htm

 

Took a quick picture of the axle:


The left drum came off the hub like any other but the right looks like a 2 piece and won't come off. Does the nut have to be removed first?

 

P.S. The Jeep is a 58 tub on a 71 frame and drivetrain.

 

Is it normal for the driver side to have a standard drum and the pass side to have a weird 2 piece drum?

 

I suspect this drum isn't stock. Since you have a pieced together vehicle, you can probably expect to find several oddities as you get into your project.

Keep posting pics and somebody here will have and answer.

 

Might be an optical illusion but your housing looks warped.

 

Just looks that way. I'm more worried about finding parts when I need them. I was hoping to be able to do a one piece axle conversion to it but I'm leery of ordering anything without knowing what will work.

 

well you have a adapter or spacer installed on the one in the picture. why, who knows. but no you dont have to remove the nut to get the drum off. if under the cp you have a large nut with a pin in it then you have the original two piece axle with the tapered hubs. you undo the nut then youll have to get a really big puller to pop it off. does the other side have a bolted on spacer like the passengers side. also, all the parts you want or need are available. i replaced both my rear hubs a few years ago with new ones. plus you already have the disc brake conversion done on the front, thats a good thing.

 

The spacers are just spacers. They came with the truck. I leave them on for stability off road.

That cleared up a good bit. Many thanks. My last question: Do the rear bearings get lubricated by the gear oil in the diff, or are they sealed from the diff and get grease? The rain has prevented me from any exploratory surgery.

 

Really feeling kind of stupid right now. Just too another few wacks at the pass side drum with my brass hammer and it came off just like the other side. But it is definitely a 2 piece drum. When I get it cleaned up I'll take a better picture. Never seen anything like it.

 

My 44 has grease fittings on it to lube the bearings. The tapered design the oil seal is on the inside of the bearings so the oil doesn't get to them. Check the back side of the axle near the drum.
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Many thanks.

 

not the 71 rear axle, as it should be the flanged, not tapered. the rear brake drums look like the 9" ones to me.

 

missed the part about the drive train being a 71.