Dana 44 Flanged Outer Bearing Issue

Ok. I am rebuilding a 1971 CJ5 Dauntless frame up. I had sent my Dana 44 to a transmission shop to have it completely disassembled, inspected, worn parts replaced and reassembled. When I went to pick it up the shop said that they were unable to get it reassembled so that the bearing was fully flush and the retaining plate went on flat. They pulled apart and verified correct bearing. It came back looking like pic. Does anyone have any ideas on what could be causing this? The plan was to put disc brakes on the rear, reason for dust plate missing.

 

Let me understand.. They were unable to correctly reassemble it and just gave it back to you without figuring out why? You paid them?

 

It reminds me when I let my car at a Speedy shop just near by my house to change my shock absorbers. When I came back I checked the dicference pushing on the rear bumper. Not one millimeter move.
So...I look downside. Shck absorbers were fixed on the wrong side, pressing on the body....
Good that I had hecked before. An other time, the last one, I brought my car for brakes. Somes.days after alternator out of use. Full of oil. I don't know what they did but it was the last one. Price wasz high.
But the top is lo v ago, I gave my Citroen "2horses" to change brakes in an official Citroen.shop.
I get it back in the evening. The shop was at the top of a street. I go out....no brakes
I had just time to use the hand brake ...then return back

 

Doesn't the brake backing plate go in there? Did they give you the old parts back? Did they compare the old parts with the new parts?

 

Robert barrix, where in Wisconsin are you located?

 

As noted by others, the brake backing plate is part of the assembly.

 

They didn't do you any favors by tightening that retainer plate up like it is.

 

Over by LaValle/Reedsburg area. I put my boat in at Sheboygan Harbor though!!

 

Hoping I can flatten the old retainers out. Either way axle is getting pulled.... Maybe sources different retainers though.
The backing plate makes sense. I can make a spaces to fill the gap difference.

 

As I recall, the retainer is trapped in there by the bearing. To install a new retainer plate, you must press the retainer ring and unit bearing off the shaft. Won't be that easy to flatten the retainer plates. You may be able to put a dolly under the retainer plate and bend it back with a little hammer work. The bearing will go through the hole in the backing plate NP.

 

you can try and flatten them out but if it were me I would buy new retaining plates (or make them ,the shop) buy you new ones. I have had issues with using my old ones and it caused excessive play with the axle shaft. Bought new plates as mine were dished like yours and it lets your axle walk in and out and over time will dish out the plates even more.
I wonder why the shop didn't put it back together the same way it came apart? I assume the backing plates were on there when you brought it in to them? If so I would source a different shop to do the work for you or bring it in to a driveline shop instead of a transmission shop. And what Tim says is correct. it gets sandwiched in there. problem is usually you end up cutting the ring off to get the bearing off. It is a press fit and wonder if it can be reused after installing then un installing.

 

IIRC you can get the retainer ring separately. Somewhere I recall advice to drill the retainer ring and split it with a chisel to get it off. In a perfect world, you would not try and reuse it. Should be no problem to reuse the bearing if you press on the hub and not the outer ring.

None of these replacement parts are free - https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/jeep,1973,cj5,5.0l+304cid+v8,1309441,drivetrain,axle+shaft+bearing+retainer,1656

 

I used these when I rebuilt my 74 rear 44, I was pleasantly surprised at the quality considering that they are mfg by omix.
OMIX 16560.58 Axle Bearing Retainer for Jeep Vehicles

The bearing retainer lock ring will have to be destroyed to be removed and the bearing can be challenging to remove without damaging it, but it can be done. Picture attached for reference.



If you delivered the complete axle to the shop and they did the disassembly, and they reassembled it without the brake backing plate,subsequently bending the retainer plates, then they should cover the cost for parts & labor.

 

I’m guessing the backing plate wasn’t delivered with the axle.

 

Correct the backing plates were not with the axle when I dropped it off.

 

Someone is between a rock and hard place.
Either you...or the shop.
If they didn't see it all as an assembly, how were they to know ?

 

Take the 4 bolts out holding the retaining ring. Pull the axle out and look at the bearings and see what is going on.
I believe the backing plate goes between the flange on the axle and the retaining ring. Look at the backing plates and see if you can tell how they where bolted up, may answer a few questions. If doing disc brakes you may have to cut up backing plates and install them to get spacing.
Who’s disc brakes conversion are you using?

 

I rebuilt mine without ever taking the brake backing plate off ?

 

Nominally, once you take the bolts and axle out, it's only held up there by the brake tube and the parking brake cable. At the dealership they would wire them to the frame.