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1974 Cj 5 Dana 44 Axle Bearing Replacement

Discussion in 'Intermediate CJ-5/6/7/8' started by Allan, Feb 14, 2019.

  1. Feb 14, 2019
    Allan

    Allan 74 Renegade

    Olympia
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    Question? Looks like there’s an inner seal that is replaceable on the Dana 44? Now is that a carrier bearing seal for the axles and if I’m just replacing. axle bearings do I need the inner seals, and what are the inner seals function? I can’t imagine these seals prevent the gear oil from reaching the Axle bearings so these must be for some reason other than what I am typically familiar with!
     
  2. Feb 15, 2019
    TIm E

    TIm E Aggressively average

    NW Arkansas
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    The seal just to the inboard side of the wheel bearings does two things, keeps the wheel bearing grease in the wheel bearing and keeps the diff lube in the diff/axle tubes. Never the two should meet.

    If you are replacing wheel/axle bearings, smart to replace the seals while in there. Spring side of the seal goes toward the diff btw.
     
  3. Feb 15, 2019
    sterlclan

    sterlclan Member 2022 Sponsor

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    Yup put em in the bearing will fail if you leave them out btdt it was epic tire wheel and axle slid out at speed lucky it was winter the road was slippery and the snow bank stopped my careening slide. The axle passed me and stopped sticking out of the snow down the road about two hundred yards.
     
  4. Feb 15, 2019
    Allan

    Allan 74 Renegade

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    Thank you
     
  5. Feb 15, 2019
    TIm E

    TIm E Aggressively average

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    FWIW, generally speaking with these older Jeeps, the rear axles have the diff seals on the wheel end of the axle tubes. You replace them from the outside by pulling the wheel and axle. The front axles have the diff seals on the diff end of the axle tubes, you replace them from inside the diff by pulling the diff cover and carrier.
     
  6. Feb 17, 2019
    Allan

    Allan 74 Renegade

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    Would you happen to know how the paper Axle tube/brake backing plate is installed? Does it go between the axle tube and retainer or does it go on the outboard side of the retainer therefore between the axle flange and brake backing plate?
     
  7. Feb 17, 2019
    Allan

    Allan 74 Renegade

    Olympia
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  8. Feb 17, 2019
    OzFin

    OzFin Vintage Jeep Guy

    Michigan
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    I didn't find the paper gaskets when I disassembled my 74 D-44, I didn't put them in when I reassembled it.
    I don't see them them in the exploded views from the technical service manual.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    (Edited to add additional picture)
     
    Last edited: Feb 17, 2019
  9. Feb 17, 2019
    TIm E

    TIm E Aggressively average

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    I am not as well versed on the AMC era CJ's (post '71), so someone may chime in here, but I think you have your brake backing plate and retainer out of order. On a flanged Dana 44, the brake backing plate mounts to the axle tube, the retainer ring goes to the outboard side of the brake backing plate. In which case, a gasket only makes sense between brake backing plate and axle tube (but still doesn't buy you much as there is a bearing seal in there).

    Per OzFin's post/pic above, this detail is a bit lost in the FSM as it falls between the axle, brake and wheel sections. I think if you look in the wheel portion of the FSM, you are going to see the retainer on the outboard side of the brake backing plate. A bit deceptive since the brake components are omitted from the axle diagram above.

    A Factory Service Manual is a wise investment btw.
     
  10. Feb 17, 2019
    Allan

    Allan 74 Renegade

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    Thank you
     
  11. Feb 17, 2019
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    The 1974-80 factory parts book shows no paper gasket. If you have a paper gasket, it could be for a different Dana 44 application, and was included in error. Or it could have been deleted in later models and eliminated as a replacement part.
     
  12. Feb 17, 2019
    Allan

    Allan 74 Renegade

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    I have the FSM, but as the pictures above show, gasket is not shown
     
  13. Feb 17, 2019
    Allan

    Allan 74 Renegade

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    Sorry to keep dragging this out but, I do not own a press, had to take my axles to a local shop, they pulled them off so I could take the time to clean and paint the axles. So now when I take them back to have the new bearings and collars pressed on, how will the chosen shop know when to stop pressing bearings and collars? I have heard that sometimes the collars aren’t pressed far enough and or bearings!
     
  14. Feb 17, 2019
    sterlclan

    sterlclan Member 2022 Sponsor

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    the collar will bottom out on the axle when its pressed all the way on. the person doing the pressing should be able to tell when it bottoms out.
     
  15. Feb 19, 2019
    Allan

    Allan 74 Renegade

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    Ok got my new axle bearings, one side of the bearing is about 2 millimeters taller, is that the seal side or the retainer side
     

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  16. Feb 19, 2019
    OzFin

    OzFin Vintage Jeep Guy

    Michigan
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    The parting line of the bearing goes towards the flange end of the axle, here is a picture.
    I may have a better picture that I can post tomorrow.

    [​IMG]
     
  17. Feb 19, 2019
    Allan

    Allan 74 Renegade

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    This is perfect, thank you
     
  18. Feb 19, 2019
    Allan

    Allan 74 Renegade

    Olympia
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    5EDA2D45-5D52-496F-99DE-1F9A2190195D.jpeg CEF0AFA0-966C-4B37-97B1-E0155C3D5132.jpeg 1F501EF0-35BA-4D67-8D95-E8215891F2EC.jpeg 2FD79CF2-8D54-4D77-93C7-83B798B15815.jpeg
    So they don’t come pre greased, so I have this, is this suitable
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 20, 2019
  19. Feb 19, 2019
    Allan

    Allan 74 Renegade

    Olympia
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    also it appears that they give a new Axle flange that is not correct for my Jeep, has me wondering if the bearings are correct, 74 Dana 44, mine is the one on the left
     
  20. Feb 19, 2019
    Allan

    Allan 74 Renegade

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    Can anyone tell me why there are some dana44 with 6 bolt axle flange shafts and some with 4, are the bearings the same?
     
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