D44 Ujoint issues......any help ?

[jeff krause]

Last night a buddy and I attempted to remove and replace the Ujoints on my D44. We used a ball joint / u joint press made for the job ( no redneck engineering ) The u joints were so rusted / tight that the one that we got out actually BENT the ears on the shaft and the other side is doing the same thing……. Any idea on how to get um out….. (Using the 10 ton or whatever press would have done the same thing).

The cap getting pressed doesn't move !

Next question……………….. Can I gently bend the ear back and reinstall the u joint? Or is the shaft trashed…… I’d rather not spend the coin on alloys or even stock shafts at this time considering I still have to get rims/tires/carrier/gears/locker and mounting hardware for the D44.

Take a look at the picture and see what happened……………………….. friggin shaft !

5275

[desertfabmotors]

Last night a buddy and I attempted to remove and replace the Ujoints on my D44. We used a ball joint / u joint press made for the job ( no redneck engineering ) The u joints were so rusted / tight that the one that we got out actually BENT the ears on the shaft and the other side is doing the same thing……. Any idea on how to get um out….. (Using the 10 ton or whatever press would have done the same thing).

The cap getting pressed doesn't move !

Next question……………….. Can I gently bend the ear back and reinstall the u joint? Or is the shaft trashed…… I’d rather not spend the coin on alloys or even stock shafts at this time considering I still have to get rims/tires/carrier/gears/locker and mounting hardware for the D44.

Take a look at the picture and see what happened……………………….. friggin shaft !

5275

I dought you will be able to bend it back, It needs to about perfect to get new ujoint back in and have the retainer clips in.

[jeff krause]

I dought you will be able to bend it back, It needs to about perfect to get new ujoint back in and have the retainer clips in.


Hammer / vise and a tack weld on the cap ????

[4 Wheelers Supply]

New shaft time.:( Give me a center of cap to the tip measurment. The stock shafts are cheap if still avail.:)

[jeff krause]

New shaft time.:( Give me a center of cap to the tip measurment. The stock shafts are cheap if still avail.:)


That I don't know off hand.... the BOM for the axle is :

610139 JEEP 44 FRONT 1981-85 J10, J20, WIDETRACK CHEROKEE

If you can get the shafts let me know .....via PM.......

These are the times when you feel like ya shouldda just ordered a NEW axle

[SavageSun4x4]

Get a new shaft, no need of throwing good money after bad on this.

Yes you can get a bend and restraighten. BUT your putting torque into the shaft and it will fail...when you need for it not to fail the most.

[xFallen]

Last night a buddy and I attempted to remove and replace the Ujoints on my D44. We used a ball joint / u joint press made for the job ( no redneck engineering ) The u joints were so rusted / tight that the one that we got out actually BENT the ears on the shaft and the other side is doing the same thing……. Any idea on how to get um out….. (Using the 10 ton or whatever press would have done the same thing).

The cap getting pressed doesn't move !

Next question……………….. Can I gently bend the ear back and reinstall the u joint? Or is the shaft trashed…… I’d rather not spend the coin on alloys or even stock shafts at this time considering I still have to get rims/tires/carrier/gears/locker and mounting hardware for the D44.

Take a look at the picture and see what happened……………………….. friggin shaft !

5275

I a CrMo shaft where the ears were bent. We fixed it and I used for for several months. You have to decide for yourself how far to trust them. I got a few months out of the fixed shaft but it eventually got retired after spitting out the third cap from a u-joint and tearing the ears of the outers twice. They never seem to be quite the same after such a repair. Others have had better luck.

Trailside or temporary repair, go for it. For long term use, I think it should be replaced if possible. I go new shafts from Simon at 4 Wheelers and they have stayed in the rig since January, which for me is some kind of record. :D


Barry

[RufftyTuffty]

Hammer / vise and a tack weld on the cap ????

Yep...and use as a spare.

~Mike

[4 Wheelers Supply]

Long side or short side?:confused:

[xFallen]

Yep...and use as a spare.

~Mike

There ya go. That's what mine is too -- trail spare.

[Tom Jacobson]

What about any advice to Jeff in regards to removing the u-joint from the other inner/outer assy? (The joint remove/replace for the stub/outer that mated to the bent-ear shaft he pictured went very easy)

We started on the other assy, and it was behaving just like this long/inner that got the ears bent. The ears "just" started to move...so we quit before causing further damage. We tried to press back out in the opposite direction, but no such luck.

Should he toss this assy into the heep as another spare, or would heating the ears help? Other ideas??? Cut-machine the caps?

Tom

[desertfabmotors]

What about any advice to Jeff in regards to removing the u-joint from the other inner/outer assy? (The joint remove/replace for the stub/outer that mated to the bent-ear shaft he pictured went very easy)

We started on the other assy, and it was behaving just like this long/inner that got the ears bent. The ears "just" started to move...so we quit before causing further damage. We tried to press back out in the opposite direction, but no such luck.

Should he toss this assy into the heep as another spare, or would heating the ears help? Other ideas??? Cut-machine the caps?

Tom


Bring it bye the shop I will show a trick to get them out.;) ;)

[jeff krause]

Long side or short side?:confused:



SHort side

[4 Wheelers Supply]

SHort side
Jeff Dana/Spicer has discontinued your axle. The part# was 27902-50x. It was 17.72" long. The best I can do is sell you a Warn shaft with long splines. The warn shaft is 18.31" long and has 2"s of spline. Plenty to cut off .59"
You cant shorten Dana shafts because they have short splines. The Warn shaft would be $159. Cole will post a pic. :) I hope this helps.

[Simon]

http://i2.tinypic.com/v8n2w5.jpg

[jeff krause]

Is this a viable way to get the remaining Ujoints outta the ears ??? On am I just going to be flailing away ????

http://www.4x4wire.com/tech/axle/ujoint/

jeff

And anyone have an idea as to the "trick" that Todds talking about ????? Save me the trip to AJ !!!!

[4 Wheelers Supply]

Is this a viable way to get the remaining Ujoints outta the ears ??? On am I just going to be flailing away ????

http://www.4x4wire.com/tech/axle/ujoint/

jeff

And anyone have an idea as to the "trick" that Todds talking about ????? Save me the trip to AJ !!!!

Dude if he is offering to help,take him up on it. You WILL learn the proper way to change it. You are going to have to do this job in a sand wash some day.
Besides AJ is great this time of year. Most of the snowbirds oops (winter visitors) are gone. :)

[xFallen]

Is this a viable way to get the remaining Ujoints outta the ears ??? On am I just going to be flailing away ????

http://www.4x4wire.com/tech/axle/ujoint/

jeff

And anyone have an idea as to the "trick" that Todds talking about ????? Save me the trip to AJ !!!!


That'll work. Lots of people that change these trailside do not use a balljoint press. They use a hammer and socket +/- heat. Whacking the ear like that looks brutal but lots of the old timers do it this way so I am told. I got and use the press because me + hammer = breakage of either my rig or some part of me.

If US60 weren't such a mess it would be a nice drive to AJ.


Barry

[desertfabmotors]

Is this a viable way to get the remaining Ujoints outta the ears ??? On am I just going to be flailing away ????

http://www.4x4wire.com/tech/axle/ujoint/

jeff

And anyone have an idea as to the "trick" that Todds talking about ????? Save me the trip to AJ !!!!


That is the trick!:p This method always seems to work, just make sure you have a good vise and good hammer. OH YEA good aim:p

[jeff krause]

That is the trick!:p This method always seems to work, just make sure you have a good vise and good hammer. OH YEA good aim:p


I'll try it this evening...... i have a 5" BFV ..(big F'n vise) and a few big ball peen hammers..

[jeff krause]

I'll try it this evening...... i have a 5" BFV ..(big F'n vise) and a few big ball peen hammers..


This works.. I will NEVER (repeat.. NEVER) use or attempt to use a press to remove or install a U joint in an axle shaft. I didn't have to beat on the shaft as hard as originally thought either.... I will be swinging down to 4 wheelers for another Ujoint today though,,,, dropped the cap and needle bearings from the bench. no way that I could find the needles in my garage..... Whoops.

[xFallen]

This works.. I will NEVER (repeat.. NEVER) use or attempt to use a press to remove or install a U joint in an axle shaft. I didn't have to beast on the shaft as hard as originally thought either.... I will be swinging down to 4 wheelers for another Ujoint today though,,,, dropped the cap and needle bearings from the bench. no way that I could find the needles in my garage..... Whoops.


Wow. The press works great for me. I wouldn't give up on it so quickly. The hammer method is certainly good to know since it can be used trailside too, but the press is slick.

In any case, glad you got it sorted out to your satisfaction.


Barry

[Linda]

Jeff Dana/Spicer has discontinued your axle. The part# was 27902-50x. It was 17.72" long. The best I can do is sell you a Warn shaft with long splines. The warn shaft is 18.31" long and has 2"s of spline. Plenty to cut off .59"

Is that really a good idea?

[xFallen]

Is that really a good idea?


Why would it not be? Are you concerned about damaging the hardening?

Custom axles are often delivered as blanks and you cut to measure. The splines are longer than required to accomodate this. Sometimes you have to machine them to accomodate bearing fitment for custom applications.


Barry