Tightening front axle bearings

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pineneedle

Member
Ok, I have a Dana 44 going under a '67 Scout. I have the manual for the old Scout, but of course, it only covers the Dana 30 and 27 axles. This manual gives very general instructions for preloading the wheel bearings. It says to tighten the nut until you feel a slight drag when spinning the hub. At that point, back off the nut a sixth of a turn. Is that good general information, or is the Dana 44 a different animal? What method should I use on the 44?

Pineneedle
 
Tighten it up until you cant get it any tighter while spinning the hub to seat the bearings, back the nut off loose, tighten hand tight back it off 1/6 of a turn install the lock washer and then tighten the jamb nut tight!, you should be able to feel some end play, .000" is desirable and .010" is maximum!!!!, if you're picky set it up with a dial indicator!
 
I like goldie's methodology too john.

But then I'm one to talk, since I'm now payin' the price for not payin' attention to hub/bearing service onna reglar basis!

I've always tightened the "adjustment" down until I get non-rotation, that helps dissipate the fresh grease as ya continuously rotate the hub/wheel assembly while doing so. I do that several times to seat the bearings before making the final adjustment/lockdown of the assembly.

And for the variations of the d44 open knuckle steering axle used on sii and fullsize stuff, there are three different types of adjusting/locking "nut" systems used. So the actual process will vary a bit depending upon if ya are using the plain old "double" nuts with the tab washers, the scruuball nuts used in the auto-locker hubs, or the dual nut system used in the internal spline hubs with the "holey" washer in between the two nuts.

The service references don't always show/describe the variations of the bearing adjustment/retention system.
 
Thanks goldie and michael,

mine are the old-fashion thrust washer, nut, washer, jamb nut.I will use the method you describe; sound good to me.

Pineneedle
 
I learned even more about this "bearing" deal today from gearmandave. Involves "wear pattern" on the inner thrust face of the spindle. Too late tonite to take pics and git 'em posted, I've got to disassemble all the reconditioned stuff I did today to make the shots for comparison.

Tomorrow I'll be gone all day from 7a on, so it'll be tomorrow nite before I can git the pics and description up.

But this "bearing tightening/pre-load" subject has to do with what I'm spittin' out here, more to come so leave the hubs off for now if ya can wait john, one more point to "inspect" on each side.
 
And for spinning the wheel assembly while tightening the adjustment nut to seat the bearings: spin the wheel in the direction the nut tightens. Clockwise for both sides, not ccw on the left wheel.
The natural instinct is to turn the left wheel in the direction of its normal rotation...
 
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