Dana 44 Locker Install - Remove Axle?

[tcjones76]

OK, I want to put the locker in the front before the run Memorial Day. The question is, should I take the time to remove the complete axle, to make the carrier change easier.

Recommendations?

tcj.

 

[Steve]

While it's easier to work on out of the vehicle IMO it's not worth the time and effort involved pulling and reinstalling the axle just to change gears or install a locker.

 

[av bronco]

just pull the tires and put it on jackstands, then start having fun, especially putting the carrier back in.;D

 

[ken75ranger]

Just jack it up high enough that it's comfortable to work on. I raised mine up to eye level when sitting. Easy to crawl under too.
What kind of locker are you putting in?

 

[tcjones76]

Just jack it up high enough that it's comfortable to work on. I raised mine up to eye level when sitting. Easy to crawl under too.
What kind of locker are you putting in?

I picked up a used Detroit Locker that will let me run my stock 3:50s until the 33's wear out and I step up to 35's.

I ground the bearings that I had pulled off the locker for setup bearings and I have a shop down the road that will press the new ones on. I have to pressure wash the faulk-out of the undercarriage before I get into it.

I figure I will go for it under the truck, and if I can't get it right, I'll move the jack stands to the frame, and yank the axle. Of course, then I could put in 3.5" coils, yeah and a track bar drop bracket, yeah and F-250 shock towers...

... stop it, fool, just change the carrier!!

 

[ken75ranger]

I picked up a used Detroit Locker that will let me run my stock 3:50s until the 33's wear out and I step up to 35's.

I ground the bearings that I had pulled off the locker for setup bearings and I have a shop down the road that will press the new ones on. I have to pressure wash the faulk-out of the undercarriage before I get into it.

Sounds like you have it well in hand. You can't clean it enough before you get under there. A good size pipe wrench is handy for holding the yoke while you tighten the pinion nut. Wedge it against the radius arm.

 

[70_Steve]

Sounds like you have it well in hand. You can't clean it enough before you get under there. A good size pipe wrench is handy for holding the yoke while you tighten the pinion nut. Wedge it against the radius arm.

I made a tool from a short piece of flat bar and 18" of 1" pipe. Drilled two holes in the flat bar the same spacing as the u-bolt at the yoke. Worked really great.

 

[tcjones76]

Sounds like you have it well in hand. You can't clean it enough before you get under there. A good size pipe wrench is handy for holding the yoke while you tighten the pinion nut. Wedge it against the radius arm.

Hey Ken, been a long time...

If I am just swapping the carrier, using the same ring and pinion, shouldn't the pinion depth stay the same?

 

[ken75ranger]

Hey Ken, been a long time...

If I am just swapping the carrier, using the same ring and pinion, shouldn't the pinion depth stay the same?

It might but, you can't count on it. Give it a shot and run a pattern.

 

[tcjones76]

Tear down went OK this afternoon, I got it all apart before the rain set in.

 

[old number 8]

The pinion depth is set based on the diff housing carrier bearing centerline. You can replace as many carriers as you want without changing the pinion depth. The only way the depth could change and mess with the pinion setting would be to change the centerline of the carrier bearings (swapping bearing caps side to side or garbage between the bearing and housing)

Swap your carrier, but check the pinion for bearing loosness or roughness.

 

[tcjones76]

I told the guys in my local club that the locker is in, and now they are all saying, "now you're going break the axles!"

OK, so will the stock 30-spline shafts hold up to the new locker running 33's, Stock 3:50s and my tired 302-2V? Or should I expect snap, crackle and pop this weekend?

 

[Viperwolf1]

It depends on how you use it. Don't put your tires in a bind where they can't turn and don't bounce the front over rocks with a heavy right foot and you'll be fine.

 

[tcjones76]

It depends on how you use it. Don't put your tires in a bind where they can't turn and don't bounce the front over rocks with a heavy right foot and you'll be fine.

Thanks for the tips. Too bad the club motto seems to be "When in Doubt, Throttle Out!!!"

;D ;D

 

[73stallion]

Tear down went OK this afternoon, I got it all apart before the rain set in.

that's what mine's gonna look like this sunday.

 

[ken75ranger]

I told the guys in my local club that the locker is in, and now they are all saying, "now you're going break the axles!"

OK, so will the stock 30-spline shafts hold up to the new locker running 33's, Stock 3:50s and my tired 302-2V? Or should I expect snap, crackle and pop this weekend?

You should be ok. The mud on the rocks up here can save you. The lack of traction keeps things from getting too bound up. I'd take a close look at the ujoints though before giving it a pounding. Start looking for some spare used axles with bigger ujoints. Swap them when you can.
You won't need to "throttle out" near as much anymore.

 

[tcjones76]

You should be ok. The mud on the rocks up here can save you. The lack of traction keeps things from getting too bound up. I'd take a close look at the ujoints though before giving it a pounding. Start looking for some spare used axles with bigger ujoints. Swap them when you can.
You won't need to "throttle out" near as much anymore.

Ken,

I just tested it on the rock pile in the back yard and it walked right up and over a 2-foot ledge, before there was always a lot of tire spinning, slipping, and cussing. This is going to be cool!! (I apologize for the over-the-top enthusiasm, but it's my first front locker;D ).

tcj

 

[Viperwolf1]

One more thing, if you drive on snowy/icey roads in 4wd they don't work so well at turning corners. It will want to keep going straight even with the wheel at full lock. Try it in a controlled environment before you try it in traffic.

I have a track lock in the rear which is a handful on icey roads. In 2wd I can go anywhere but straight ahead. If I just lock the front hubs in helps to keep the bronco straight. If I put it in 4wd then straight ahead is all I have. I think I might upgrade to a selectable locker in front someday.

 

[mr incredible]

drive it like a white man , and you should be ok . get stupid , and expect the rice crispy noises to appear !!!

 

[tcjones76]

I love the extra traction, but the left u-joint snapped on Saturday and crackled the ears on the inner shaft. Pulled the axle and popped in a piece of hemlock to hold in the oil and 4X3'd the rest of the weekend. Time to upgrade the axles!!!