Outer Snap ring on Dana 44 axles

[kat]

I am replacing my front axles on my '76 with cromoly axles. For hours I struggled to get the outer snap ring that holds my hub assembly on but nothing. Then started looking at my old stock axles and noticed on the stock axles the snap ring groove was further toward the end which is what I need on my new axle.
I've read around about the Chevy conversion kit for the front and that the outer snap ring is not needed. But I own a '76....BUT I have no idea what the PO did to it (Not you Tyler).
Going to call the vendor when they open up this morning to see what might be a solution. Did they send me the wrong axles?? I also read about a bolt trick on the axle. What is this and will it work with my stock hubs? Just looking at my hubs it looks like I could get a narrower gear and the snap ring should work. Like I said I have read that some people dont even use the outer snap ring. What is going to hold my hub on??
Im just confused as hell this morning and need some direction. And not really wanting to buy new hubs. Thanks everyone.

 

[okie4570]

Went thru the same thing on my 71', and had the same question, they're not necessary. Been running them for a few years like that now and so have lots of other bronco owners here.

 

[kat]

Got off the phone with the vendor and he says the same thing. If I have aftermarket hubs I don't need the outer snap ring. I looked at my hubs and it has MM stamped on it. So I assume its Mile Marker hubs. But for the life of me I can't see how the hub assembly is going to stay on. Does anyone out there have pictures?? Thanks

 

[Yeller]

Back when I ran a 44 I didn’t put them on either. It was one less thing to remove for regular broken axle swaps was an every trip occurrence. But I can break a steel ball in a sandbox with a rubber hammer

 

[kat]

I just went to my local parts store to look at their Warn locking hubs they had in stock to see if there was a difference in what I have. The only thing maybe is that the large spring on mine is internal on the Warn. Does the outer LARGE ring that goes around the hub strong enough to hold everything together? Please help me and my buddy that's helping me get our head wrapped around this. My Bronco has been on blocks for the last 3 months and this is the only thing that is holding me up from driving it this weekend. Thanks

 

[thegreatjustino]

Got off the phone with the vendor and he says the same thing. If I have aftermarket hubs I don't need the outer snap ring. I looked at my hubs and it has MM stamped on it. So I assume its Mile Marker hubs. But for the life of me I can't see how the hub assembly is going to stay on. Does anyone out there have pictures?? Thanks

The outer snap ring that rides in the groove in the hub keeps them in.

 

[okie4570]

Throw those outer snap rings away and drive it.

 

[KyleQ]

I think the only thing that outer snap ring does it keep the axle shaft pulled against the inner seal. Isn't super imperative as it's not like the axle shaft is going to go anywhere....

 

[Rustytruck]

I machined the end of the drive slug and used the snap ring so the spindle works like it should. This made the stock red hub center push in a little but it stays in its oring seal and still works properly.

 

[mrdrnac]

I machined the end of the drive slug and used the snap ring so the spindle works like it should. This made the stock red hub center push in a little but it stays in its oring seal and still works properly.

I did the exact same thing Rustytruck did with the stock Dana Hubs and it is working great. It is also good for piece of mind knowing the drive hub parts are secured by the axle snap ring and the hub snap ring just has to hold the outer hub cap and locking knob on.

 

[kat]

Ok, well going to take every ones advice and not worry about it. And after some thought I can see how the outer hub snap ring (not the outer axle snap ring) can hold it all together. After some talk with the vendor they explained that I wouldn't need the pressure ring that goes behind it all. Is that a good idea? Do people not run the big soft pressure ring? It was working fine with it in it before?? Thoughts?
Thanks for every ones help.

 

[WILDHORSES]

I am replacing my front axles on my '76 with cromoly axles.

With 76 Ford disc brakes? While it's reasonable for you not to use the outer snap ring provided you have aftermarket locking hubs like Warn or Mile Marker with a 76 you should be able to put a small amount of pressure behind the axle to push it out enough to get the snap ring on. (you can forget all that if by some chance you have GM style disc on your 76). Pictures of your set up are worth a lot in this discussion.

Jim

 

[kat]

With 76 Ford disc brakes? While it's reasonable for you not to use the outer snap ring provided you have aftermarket locking hubs like Warn or Mile Marker with a 76 you should be able to put a small amount of pressure behind the axle to push it out enough to get the snap ring on. (you can forget all that if by some chance you have GM style disc on your 76). Pictures of your set up are worth a lot in this discussion.

Jim

I am pretty darn sure its got Ford disc brakes. Didn't disk brakes come standard in '76 and '77??
Wish I was able to take some pics. Not close to it at the moment

 

[Glass Pony]

With 76 Ford disc brakes? While it's reasonable for you not to use the outer snap ring provided you have aftermarket locking hubs like Warn or Mile Marker with a 76 you should be able to put a small amount of pressure behind the axle to push it out enough to get the snap ring on. (you can forget all that if by some chance you have GM style disc on your 76). Pictures of your set up are worth a lot in this discussion.

Jim

Jim is correct, I have a 76 front axle in mine and I was able to get the snap ring on with the cromos and the factory locking hubs.

 

[Justafordguy]

When I put Chromoly axles in my 77 I was able to get the outer axle snap ring on no problem and I have Mile Marker hub also but they are not necessary. My axles came from Tom's Bronco parts, which axles did you get?

 

[WILDHORSES]

I am pretty darn sure its got Ford disc brakes. Didn't disk brakes come standard in '76 and '77??
Wish I was able to take some pics. Not close to it at the moment

You are right but just because it's a 76-77 does not mean it has Ford disc. We see a lot of 76-77s that have been scavenged for the "good" parts (front end, P/S A/T etc.) and other parts installed in it's place. In this case it's kind of simple.
5 bolt spindle =Ford disc
6 bolt spindle =Ford drums or GM disc

Jim

 

[DirtDonk]

The same issue with the axle snap-ring not fitting with the GM disc conversions, exists with stock brakes when using aftermarket locking hubs.
So if your '76 Bronco has stock disc brakes, but Warn or other brand aftermarket lockouts, you're very likely not going to be able to re-use the small snap ring.

It's just how it's always been. Doesn't make it right, but it's been something we've had to deal with on Fords almost since Warn started making lockouts!
Maybe one user in twenty will be able to re-fit the snap-ring.

Paul

 

[kat]

The same issue with the axle snap-ring not fitting with the GM disc conversions, exists with stock brakes when using aftermarket locking hubs.
So if your '76 Bronco has stock disc brakes, but Warn or other brand aftermarket lockouts, you're very likely not going to be able to re-use the small snap ring.

It's just how it's always been. Doesn't make it right, but it's been something we've had to deal with on Fords almost since Warn started making lockouts!
Maybe one user in twenty will be able to re-fit the snap-ring.

Paul

Well, got everything together without the outer snap ring and everything seems fine. And just to clarify, I do have '76 stock disc brakes (since my new Ford disc brakes I bought fit) on my'76 with Mile Marker lockouts. I purchased the cromoly axles from WH (and they were excellent with answering my questions). The passenger side axle was had quite a bit of distance to go in order to get the snap ring on. But the funny thing is the drivers side axle outer groove was closer to the end than the one for the passenger side. And of coarse I started with the passenger side. Didn't even try to put it on since the other side was buckled up already. But thanks for every ones help.