D44 axle rear bearing question

ronmc1954

ronmc1954

Member
After spending the weekend installing a lsd in my 74 Scout I found that the rear axle bearings need to be replaced. The problem I am finding is the races are pretty loose in the axle housing, I was able to remove them rather "easily" with a slide hammer. Normally it would be a easy fix by using a center punch and peening the housing for a tight fit. But I am not sure I can get the center punch to bite for that, would you reccomend using loctite sleeve retainer or jb weld to put the race in? I usually peen and use loctite but if I can't get the center punch to bite I am a little nervous about using just a glue, so to speak.
Ron
 
Never mind:icon_redface:
there is plenty of room and angle to use a center punch and peen the axle housing to hold the race tighter. That and some loctite it should be fine:icon_up:

ron
 
Actually, regarding a "flanged"-type rear axle bearing setup for a d44, the bearing race does not fit tightly in the provided groove. The actual tension against the race itself is provided by the slight clamping provided by the seal carrier.

However, some mechanics use loctite "stud and bearing mount" material on the outer race circumference and the inside of the axle housing. Just a very thin film that you can barely see.

If the axle needs to come back out at a later point, you can use the slide hammer puller to do so, it won't be extremely tight but will have been nicely retained in the hole!

The earlier d44 axles that used the two piece axle/tapered hub must have a nice, hard fit of the outer race into the axle housing, those are totally different types of bearing and axle setups, not at all like the later versions. Many of those axles have been "repaired" by welding or brazing up the hub end and then re-machining the race with the axle housing in a lathe. I have two of those myself.
 
I’m wondering what your definition of loose is. The axle bearings are pressed onto the shaft and are a slip fit into the axle housing. If you had to use a slide hammer I don't think they're loose. I slid my race out with my fingers. Just my 2 cents worth. Good luck! Enjoy your new gears!
 
Thanks for the input michael and Scout-it-out. I am used to working on elect motors and gear boxes and normally the race is harder to get out than taking the bearing off the shaft. When I say it was loose, I put the slide hammer on it expecting the race removal to be a bear it practically moved with out any pressure and that is not what I expected. I jumped to conclusions (paniced might be a better word) thinking the race might have turned and my axle housing was shot.
Now I feel better:icon_up:
Scout-it-out no new gears just lsd as opposed to open diff. Driving this Scout to rmihr on the 22nd so I have something to worry about on the 10hr drive, I will be listening to the rear end all the way out there:icon_sweatdrop::icon_sweatdrop:

lol
thanks
ron
 
I got the auborn gear lsd from ihon, I also got one for the front axle also. But I have not put it in yet.

Ron
 
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