D44 ARB install

[00gyrhed]

Been dreading this for weeks. Even though every DANA axle I have ever rebuilt or done a ring gear change on has basically fallen together. I was using a used 4:30 set I got off ebay, and also installing an ARB. I expected to have real problems, so I even went to the trouble of building a spreader.

Set the pinion shims according to the markings on the gear face. It took a while to dig up a combination of shims to move it .004 as I was given the wrong R&P install kit. adjusted the preload shim accordingly and put it together. Preload perfect mad e me smile.

Did all the funky measurements ARB describes to get the off side shims right. made the little over 5" measurement with a harbor freight cheapo digital caliper. Didn't feel real good about that, but figured it was coming out at least once anyway.

Measured the ring gear side and added .010 preload to that number spread the case .012 (about all my homemade spreader would do without some changes) and still had to get the brass hammer after it. released the spreader, torqued the caps, and measured the backlash. .011 I smiled pretty big but still figures it was coming out again but at least I had the total shims right and was dead middle of the acceptable range so maybe this would take long.

painted the gears and checked pattern. Perfect drive and coast. Looks just like the pictures which in my experience never happens with used gears.

put the cover on it and went to bed happy. One of the first things I've done to this bronco in a long time that didn't have issues.

My sons 60 R&P change went together just as easy. He now thinks that the Dana axles are superior to the Ford 9" because it so easy to get the Dana axles set up and the 9" takes forever.

 

[Timmy390]

I started my D44 rebuild with incorrectly setup gears so I was at zero/empty case for the most part. Took me all day to get everything right. Had the center section in and out like 20 times. Same for the pinion race, in and out adding shims.

The 9 took me only a couple of hours.

Both were stock rebuilds with just a gear change.

Tim

 

[SteveL]

Im staring at front and rearARBs and a front ox with new 4:56s waiting to be installed. Been putting it off forever

 

[gtnorga]

Pirate 4x4 has a good dana write up in their tech section with pictures. It's for a Dana 60 but much of it still applies.

 

[xcntrk]

^yes, that's an awesome thread:
http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/Gear_Setup/

I bought and dedicated a set of setup bearings. Hone out a few races and bearings and you can slide them in/out as needed to get to the proper amount of shim for both pinion and carrier. Really makes the job much faster and less damaging on your final bearing set...

 

[00gyrhed]

I always check the R&P contact pattern before I pull one apart. My experience has been if that pattern is good and I replace dana gears with dana gears and observe the markings on the pinion gear and adjust the shims accordingly it all falls together. My sons 60 we put in the F250 were both marked 0. pattern looked was crap when we tore it down due to bad worn pinion bearings. Other than adding shims to decrease preload a little it went together with the exact same shims but they were both dana gear sets. This set I just put in the bronco was a used dana set as well.

I haven't been nearly as lucky using some aftermarket gears. In fact I think I will buy only dana to replace dana from now on.

 

[Timmy390]

^yes, that's an awesome thread:
http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/Gear_Setup/

I bought and dedicated a set of setup bearings. Hone out a few races and bearings and you can slide them in/out as needed to get to the proper amount of shim for both pinion and carrier. Really makes the job much faster and less damaging on your final bearing set...

I used that artical too and borrowed a set up "setup bearings".

Tim