Pulling Dana 44 axle shaft

Whats the best way to do this? I have the shop manual but I don't have any of the tools that is shows. Is there a garage-expedient way to do it?

 

No special tools necessary, just the basic socket set and a few wrenches.
Remove the retaining plate, using the hole in the axle flange for access.
Put the brake drum on backwards with a few lug nuts and use that as a slide hammer. The shaft will then come out.

 

This is what I'm looking at...



It looks different from the one one my parts jeep

 

Maybe I'm retarded but I'm stuck past removing the backing plate. I dont know exactly what is supposed to be happening when I am using the drum as a slide hammer and slamming it into the axle. Never mind. I answered my own question. haha

 

You don't remove the backing plate.
The hole in the flange allows you to access the bolts holding the bearing retaining plate in position.
Remove those bolts and the retainer will be loose.
As to using the drum, turn it around and pull on it with a back and forth motion, if you have enough slack with the lug nuts, the drum will act as a slide hammer and produce enough force to dislodge the shaft from the housing.
May have to use a little persuasion (Hammer) on the drum.

 

The backing plates will come off when you remove the retainer bolts. Just leave them connected to the hydraulics and wire them up to the frame/body above. No need to open the hydraulic system or remove the brake parts.

 

Yea I meant retaining plate. I felt like a re-re for a minute there slamming INTO the shaft...bunny with a pancake

 

reviving this thread to ask...where does one find new backing plate bolts/nuts? Apparently you are not supposed to re-use these...

 

They are torque prevailing nuts and you should find them in a hardware store like ACE or something local. Big box might have them. Just take one with you to match up the thread, I forget the size and pitch off hand.

As for the bolt, it's possible to just size the old one and go buy a regular grade 8 bolt for new...you might have to grind down one side of the hex so it fits against the flange. I"m not sure that they are made for resale or not.