How much play should there be in a Dana 44 rear axle? I can jack up a
wheel, grab it with my hands (top and bottom of tire), and move it in and
out a little (maybe 1/32 of an inch), and I can hear a light thud while
doing this. Both sides of the axle are exactly the same. This is a mid
80s CJ dana 44, with fairly low miles (less than 90k), and does not seem to
be making any noise while driving. The passenger side does seem kind of
tight to turn (by hand), and its not because the brakes are adjusted too
tightly (just rebuilt both drums and they are functioning properly).

If I do need to replace the bearings, I will just pull the shafts and take
them with the parts to have them pressed on and off. I have never pulled
the axles on a D 44, will I need a slide hammer, or will the axles simply
pull out (differential was rebuilt last year with new, lower, gears)?

Also, I can get Federal Mogul bearings locally, or should I just order
Timkens?

Thanks for any help/advice.

 

Mine is like that, has been since I got it 7 years ago.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Timmy 4x4 wrote:
>
> How much play should there be in a Dana 44 rear axle? I can jack up a
> wheel, grab it with my hands (top and bottom of tire), and move it in and
> out a little (maybe 1/32 of an inch), and I can hear a light thud while
> doing this. Both sides of the axle are exactly the same. This is a mid
> 80s CJ dana 44, with fairly low miles (less than 90k), and does not seem to
> be making any noise while driving. The passenger side does seem kind of
> tight to turn (by hand), and its not because the brakes are adjusted too
> tightly (just rebuilt both drums and they are functioning properly).
>
> If I do need to replace the bearings, I will just pull the shafts and take
> them with the parts to have them pressed on and off. I have never pulled
> the axles on a D 44, will I need a slide hammer, or will the axles simply
> pull out (differential was rebuilt last year with new, lower, gears)?
>
> Also, I can get Federal Mogul bearings locally, or should I just order
> Timkens?
>
> Thanks for any help/advice.

 

Mine is like that, has been since I got it 7 years ago.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Timmy 4x4 wrote:
>
> How much play should there be in a Dana 44 rear axle? I can jack up a
> wheel, grab it with my hands (top and bottom of tire), and move it in and
> out a little (maybe 1/32 of an inch), and I can hear a light thud while
> doing this. Both sides of the axle are exactly the same. This is a mid
> 80s CJ dana 44, with fairly low miles (less than 90k), and does not seem to
> be making any noise while driving. The passenger side does seem kind of
> tight to turn (by hand), and its not because the brakes are adjusted too
> tightly (just rebuilt both drums and they are functioning properly).
>
> If I do need to replace the bearings, I will just pull the shafts and take
> them with the parts to have them pressed on and off. I have never pulled
> the axles on a D 44, will I need a slide hammer, or will the axles simply
> pull out (differential was rebuilt last year with new, lower, gears)?
>
> Also, I can get Federal Mogul bearings locally, or should I just order
> Timkens?
>
> Thanks for any help/advice.

 

Mine is like that, has been since I got it 7 years ago.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Timmy 4x4 wrote:
>
> How much play should there be in a Dana 44 rear axle? I can jack up a
> wheel, grab it with my hands (top and bottom of tire), and move it in and
> out a little (maybe 1/32 of an inch), and I can hear a light thud while
> doing this. Both sides of the axle are exactly the same. This is a mid
> 80s CJ dana 44, with fairly low miles (less than 90k), and does not seem to
> be making any noise while driving. The passenger side does seem kind of
> tight to turn (by hand), and its not because the brakes are adjusted too
> tightly (just rebuilt both drums and they are functioning properly).
>
> If I do need to replace the bearings, I will just pull the shafts and take
> them with the parts to have them pressed on and off. I have never pulled
> the axles on a D 44, will I need a slide hammer, or will the axles simply
> pull out (differential was rebuilt last year with new, lower, gears)?
>
> Also, I can get Federal Mogul bearings locally, or should I just order
> Timkens?
>
> Thanks for any help/advice.

 

Mine is like that, has been since I got it 7 years ago.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Timmy 4x4 wrote:
>
> How much play should there be in a Dana 44 rear axle? I can jack up a
> wheel, grab it with my hands (top and bottom of tire), and move it in and
> out a little (maybe 1/32 of an inch), and I can hear a light thud while
> doing this. Both sides of the axle are exactly the same. This is a mid
> 80s CJ dana 44, with fairly low miles (less than 90k), and does not seem to
> be making any noise while driving. The passenger side does seem kind of
> tight to turn (by hand), and its not because the brakes are adjusted too
> tightly (just rebuilt both drums and they are functioning properly).
>
> If I do need to replace the bearings, I will just pull the shafts and take
> them with the parts to have them pressed on and off. I have never pulled
> the axles on a D 44, will I need a slide hammer, or will the axles simply
> pull out (differential was rebuilt last year with new, lower, gears)?
>
> Also, I can get Federal Mogul bearings locally, or should I just order
> Timkens?
>
> Thanks for any help/advice.

 

Thanks Mike. I have plenty of other stuff to do right now than worry about
axle bearings :)



> Mine is like that, has been since I got it 7 years ago.
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>
> Timmy 4x4 wrote:
>>
>> How much play should there be in a Dana 44 rear axle? I can jack up a
>> wheel, grab it with my hands (top and bottom of tire), and move it in and
>> out a little (maybe 1/32 of an inch), and I can hear a light thud while
>> doing this. Both sides of the axle are exactly the same. This is a mid
>> 80s CJ dana 44, with fairly low miles (less than 90k), and does not seem
>> to
>> be making any noise while driving. The passenger side does seem kind of
>> tight to turn (by hand), and its not because the brakes are adjusted too
>> tightly (just rebuilt both drums and they are functioning properly).
>>
>> If I do need to replace the bearings, I will just pull the shafts and
>> take
>> them with the parts to have them pressed on and off. I have never pulled
>> the axles on a D 44, will I need a slide hammer, or will the axles simply
>> pull out (differential was rebuilt last year with new, lower, gears)?
>>
>> Also, I can get Federal Mogul bearings locally, or should I just order
>> Timkens?
>>
>> Thanks for any help/advice.

 

Thanks Mike. I have plenty of other stuff to do right now than worry about
axle bearings :)



> Mine is like that, has been since I got it 7 years ago.
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>
> Timmy 4x4 wrote:
>>
>> How much play should there be in a Dana 44 rear axle? I can jack up a
>> wheel, grab it with my hands (top and bottom of tire), and move it in and
>> out a little (maybe 1/32 of an inch), and I can hear a light thud while
>> doing this. Both sides of the axle are exactly the same. This is a mid
>> 80s CJ dana 44, with fairly low miles (less than 90k), and does not seem
>> to
>> be making any noise while driving. The passenger side does seem kind of
>> tight to turn (by hand), and its not because the brakes are adjusted too
>> tightly (just rebuilt both drums and they are functioning properly).
>>
>> If I do need to replace the bearings, I will just pull the shafts and
>> take
>> them with the parts to have them pressed on and off. I have never pulled
>> the axles on a D 44, will I need a slide hammer, or will the axles simply
>> pull out (differential was rebuilt last year with new, lower, gears)?
>>
>> Also, I can get Federal Mogul bearings locally, or should I just order
>> Timkens?
>>
>> Thanks for any help/advice.

 

Thanks Mike. I have plenty of other stuff to do right now than worry about
axle bearings :)



> Mine is like that, has been since I got it 7 years ago.
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>
> Timmy 4x4 wrote:
>>
>> How much play should there be in a Dana 44 rear axle? I can jack up a
>> wheel, grab it with my hands (top and bottom of tire), and move it in and
>> out a little (maybe 1/32 of an inch), and I can hear a light thud while
>> doing this. Both sides of the axle are exactly the same. This is a mid
>> 80s CJ dana 44, with fairly low miles (less than 90k), and does not seem
>> to
>> be making any noise while driving. The passenger side does seem kind of
>> tight to turn (by hand), and its not because the brakes are adjusted too
>> tightly (just rebuilt both drums and they are functioning properly).
>>
>> If I do need to replace the bearings, I will just pull the shafts and
>> take
>> them with the parts to have them pressed on and off. I have never pulled
>> the axles on a D 44, will I need a slide hammer, or will the axles simply
>> pull out (differential was rebuilt last year with new, lower, gears)?
>>
>> Also, I can get Federal Mogul bearings locally, or should I just order
>> Timkens?
>>
>> Thanks for any help/advice.

 

Thanks Mike. I have plenty of other stuff to do right now than worry about
axle bearings :)



> Mine is like that, has been since I got it 7 years ago.
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>
> Timmy 4x4 wrote:
>>
>> How much play should there be in a Dana 44 rear axle? I can jack up a
>> wheel, grab it with my hands (top and bottom of tire), and move it in and
>> out a little (maybe 1/32 of an inch), and I can hear a light thud while
>> doing this. Both sides of the axle are exactly the same. This is a mid
>> 80s CJ dana 44, with fairly low miles (less than 90k), and does not seem
>> to
>> be making any noise while driving. The passenger side does seem kind of
>> tight to turn (by hand), and its not because the brakes are adjusted too
>> tightly (just rebuilt both drums and they are functioning properly).
>>
>> If I do need to replace the bearings, I will just pull the shafts and
>> take
>> them with the parts to have them pressed on and off. I have never pulled
>> the axles on a D 44, will I need a slide hammer, or will the axles simply
>> pull out (differential was rebuilt last year with new, lower, gears)?
>>
>> Also, I can get Federal Mogul bearings locally, or should I just order
>> Timkens?
>>
>> Thanks for any help/advice.