d44 rear axle bearing issues...need help

Custom Search

[SPYDER]

both my rear axle seals were leaking badly and i already had the worlds worste brakes so awhile back i bought a disc brake conversion and since you have to replace the bearings and seals to install the retainer plate, i figured new chromoly shafts were a good idea, so i bought them.  this weekend was the install, well the driverside went smoothly but the passenger side is fighting.

first the bearing race wouldn't come out of the axle tube, had to cut out a 1/4" section inorder to get it to come out.  so now im trying to put it all back together and i can't get the new axle and bearing assembly to go in.  it will engage into the carrier but the bearing won't go into the tube.  i tried the stock one again and the same thing except it doesn't engage the carrier cause the end of it is taper unlike the new shaft.  got any suggestions?  im all out.

[Axle]

clean it up with emery cloth? put the race in the freezer? thats about all I've got. sounds like the tube is slightly smaller than the other side.

[SPYDER]

the new race is kinda part of the whole axle assembly at the moment, so that would be hard and my freezer is not that big.

option 1:  pull the housing and bring it to elias and have them rebuild the carrier cause i need a new pinion bearing, and while they have it see what they can do about it.

option 2:  screw the d44 and swap for a 14bolt and deal with the mismatch bolt pattern and width.

thoughts??

[jps4jeep]

I had the same issue on my 44, I just cleaned the tube up best I could, then smashed the axle home with a dead blow

[Bluerocket]

Are you sure you have the right side axles in there?  the axles are a half inch different in length, and only fit one way once you put a locker in (but fit both ways before).  At least that's how the xj 44's have always been, I think the tj ones are as well.

[SPYDER]

i know they are different lengths, and im 99% sure i have them right.  i can't get the axle i know that came out of that side, back in far enough due to the bearing not fitting.  i thought about length's but i know im right on them.

ill take my dremel with a sanding disc and really clean the surface up....isn't that bearing surface supposed to be clean and shiny??? 

[Bluerocket]

Check the other side, I think the races should be in the same depth from the axle flange.  That would be a good comparison probably to see how much farther its got to go. 

[SPYDER]

the race isnt going in more than a mm or so.  so i know im not even close.  ill play with it againe tomorrow and hopefully get it all together.

[Ian]

the new race is kinda part of the whole axle assembly at the moment, so that would be hard and my freezer is not that big.

option 1:  pull the housing and bring it to elias and have them rebuild the carrier cause i need a new pinion bearing, and while they have it see what they can do about it.

option 2:  screw the d44 and swap for a 14bolt and deal with the mismatch bolt pattern and width.

thoughts??

60/ 14 bolt and keep calm and chive on

[SPYDER]

so i bought a mini flap disc for my dremel and a polishing wheel.  smoothed out the axle tube and the bearing slid right in.  now i just gotta hope i didn't open the axle up too much.  hoping to get all the new brakelines run and fluid back in today so i can take it for a test drive to make sure.

[SPYDER]

i forgot what its like to drive a jeep with brakes...amazing.  but im 99% sure the axle seal on the side i had all the issues is leaking again...o joy.  if its only a small leak im just gonna wait and deal with it when i have the carrier all rebuilt.  i just came back from a test drive so we will see if it was just residual or actually leaking.

[jps4jeep]

Gear oil is over rated. 

Is it a new seal you replaced or just bearings?
I wonder if you axle has a slight tweak to it that is stills allow of the shaft to completely engage the carrier, but just enough to not allow the seal to properly seal against the shaft?

[SPYDER]

i replaced bearing, seal, axle shafts and brakes.  so basically i replaced everything except the axle housing and the internals.


both tubes when i removed the drum backing plates had rtv all over them. at the time i figured it was just someones attempt at fixing the seals without actually replacing anything.

i don't think the housing is bent, could the side im having issues with be slight out of round/dented....im leaning towards yes.  this axle is not from my jeep.  it was in a previous jeep before it was installed in mine, sometime before i bought the jeep.  so who knows how badly this thing has been beaten on.

im thinking im just gonna pull that side back apart and cover the end of the axle with some rtv, slap the backing plate back on and hope the seal catchs some rtv and brings it inside the housing enough to stop the leak.

Gear oil is over rated. 

i would agree but im already cooking my pinion bearing so i need this axle to survive long enough for me to get the cash together to replace the diff cover and all the internal bearings.