Step By Step Guide? Tapered D44

Getting ready to put my rear end back together with new axles, seals, and bearings. It’s been a while since I tore it apart. I don’t have a ton of experience. Is there a step by step guide somewhere?

 

There is the factory service manual, FSM aka TSM. Do you have that?

 

Yes. Diagrams aren’t the most clear images!

I pulled everything apart the first time before I broke a part the rear, that’s when I learned about tapered axles! I could
Never get the axles and bearing separated, just getting new ones. Tried heat, big hammers, everything mentioned in all the posts here.

 

Good video by metalshaper on YouTube. Explaining the endplay part very well.

 

Judging by the number of ruined rear hubs I have encountered, the most common mistake is improperly installing them by putting the key in ahead of the hub. That video shows how it must be done, the hub goes on first, align the keyways, and then tap in the key.

If you do it wrong by putting the key in the slot and the hub over it the key will be pushed ahead of the hub when the nut is tightened, and will ramp up in the slot and split the hub.

The bearings have to be pressed on and off. I don't have a press so I take them to a shop to have the old ones pressed off and new ones pressed on. You said you just bought "new" axles.

Be aware that some reproduction axles recently on the market have the wrong taper on them and the hubs will not seat. If you bought a pair of those and find that problem do not try to force the hubs on or you will ruin them.

 

No experience with this topic - however, I would mention ... you can get the bearing off if you don't care about destroying the bearing. Do you mean the bearing and not the hub? Usually it's the hub removal that's the issue. If you don't have access to a press, you can buy one at Harbor Freight for a couple hundred at most. Or, you can cut the bearing off with an abrasive disk. Cut it most of the way through and split it with a chisel.

 

Thanks for all the replies