another D44 axle install question

[saxman]

Quick question. I am upgrading my D44 axles with the chrome Moly 4340 ones. However, on my stock axles, on the inner ones, there is this washer that seems to be pressed on. You can see it in the pic on the left.

One my newer axles (on the right), they seem to not have this washer? Do I need this? There does not seem to be a place for it to be pressed on?

thanks for your help.

 

[Devin]

That is the outer axle slinger. Stock sizes of those slingers didn't even fit on my Yukon axles, so I just left them off. I have heard of several that run without them. They are on just to keep larger chunks of stuff from getting into your axle tubes. But, they also trap fine stuff in your tubes if you do a lot of water crossings, where if you didn't have them on, the fine stuff would just run out.

So, IMO, no you don't need them. The differential is truly sealed by the inner axle seals.

 

[vuke]

agree with the above, I don't run mine either.

 

[saxman]

ok, thanks for the info. not trying to disagree with you guys, but just trying to get a general consensus. anyone else running with the slingers and having problems?

 

[saxman]

That is the outer axle slinger. Stock sizes of those slingers didn't even fit on my Yukon axles, so I just left them off. I have heard of several that run without them. They are on just to keep larger chunks of stuff from getting into your axle tubes. But, they also trap fine stuff in your tubes if you do a lot of water crossings, where if you didn't have them on, the fine stuff would just run out.

So, IMO, no you don't need them. The differential is truly sealed by the inner axle seals.

I misread your post. My bad. I am referring to the INNER axle. My stock axles came out with inner and outer axle seals on them. We have put the outer axle seals on, but were wondering about the inner axles??

 

[Devin]

I misread your post. My bad. I am referring to the INNER axle. My stock axles came out with inner and outer axle seals on them. We have put the outer axle seals on, but were wondering about the inner axles??

I am sorry, I mispoke. The ones pictured are your INNER axle slingers. Yes, they do reside on your INNER axles up against the housing.

There is another set of slingers on your outer axles that go up against the knuckles - you DO need those.

But, I still stand by what I said. You don't need the ones that are pictured, IMO.