outer axle tube seals

[asmith140]

trying to retro-fit heep outer axle tube seals into our dana 44 tubes. Anyone have a housing that you can get me the inside od of the tube, so that i can make a sleeve to get these to work?
Art

 

[DirtDonk]

I should be able to get that for you shortly. Have a bagged 44 with no shafts in it that I can dig up.
Have you verified that the inner diameter of the seal will fit around the axle shafts too? Seems like it would be smaller, but that's just a guess.

Good project. Hope it works out for you.

Paul

 

[Justafordguy]

I was wondering why no one makes these for our D44s?

 

[DirtDonk]

Though a cool product, probably a lack of demand for such an expensive way to seal some dirt out of the tubes. Especially when said dirt hasn't been the huge problem that it could be.
Still, I'd probably run a pair. Don't know what they're going for these days, but I don't remember them being inexpensive.
Finding a standard type seal (like a rear axle seal) that fits would make that decision a lot easier for me.

I've looked in the books (half-heartedly though) before, but didn't find anything close enough.

Paul

 

[SK67]

If I remember right, it's about an 1 3/4"

 

[shamu]

Does this help? Oops let me turn the pic LOL

 

[asmith140]

seals

after market seals are 1.94 od. Paul your right about axle shaft od, and it will vary with shaft mfg. however there seems to be alot of flexability in the inner part of the seal and its designed to be greased. I will call Randys & Superior and get shaft od"s. This may not work but it's worth a try.It is always suprising to see how much crud is inside the tubes when you are working on the 3rd members
Art

 

[DirtDonk]

Might be worth finding one of the type with the inner spring for tension, then removing the spring. Might allow it to fit a larger variety of axle shafts. As well as not as likely to wear a groove that can become a stress riser.
Even a loose fit will still keep 80% of the crap out of the tube I would think.

Paul

 

[egan_gt]

im putting seals in my 44 right now!! they should work good.

 

[bmc69]

No D44 "outer axle seal" solution is worth spit unless it completely supports the axle shaft with a bearing too. No standard seal can do that. You install one that is unsupported, all it will do is make sure the crud stays more or less inside the tube.

Just sayin... Having run the 44 dana for over 30 years meself, I've yet to see why an outer seal is such a popular idea. The mud she goes in the tube..the mud she comes out the tube. ??

 

[egan_gt]

it helps keep the water out and keep the mud from packing into the inner seal and leaking. the seal gives enough for the slight play that is in the shaft so i dont think a bearing is necessary and if your spindle bearing is good it shouldnt move much.. this is my first time trying this outer seal cause i have got water in the diff... with new inner seals. outer seals may help with deep silty water..or not!! haha

 

[bmc69]

. this is my first time trying this outer seal cause i have got water in the diff... with new inner seals. outer seals may help with deep silty water..or not!! haha

The few folks I know that tried an outer seal mod found out that they did a better job of keeping in all the nasty water and mud that still found its way in, than they did in keeping anything out.

In all the years I've wheeled 44s under various rigs in some deep water and mud, I've never had a problem with water getting in to the center section as long as my vent line was well elevated and the stock axle seals were tight.

 

[bmc69]

the seal gives enough for the slight play that is in the shaft so i dont think a bearing is necessary and if your spindle bearing is good it shouldnt move much..

A standard spring-loaded lip seal cannot tolerate more than about 20 thousandths of an inch of eccentric runout amd still perform as intended. The outer portion of the inner 44 axle moves far more than that even when everything is new and at its tightest.