D44 rear axle seal

[Carl McFly]

So I'm digging around in my rear brakes, fixing my half-azzd brake job that left me with no e-brake Simple fix. But I noticed some crud where there shouldn't be any and a second opinion confirmed it was a leaking axle seal. Thought it would be no big whoop, just a seal. WRONG!

Found this great write-up on replacing the bearing / seal on a D44, more involved than I thought but looks like something I could maybe tackle http://www.stu-offroad.com/axle/d44/d44-1.htm

But there's always two sides to every story, and I'm looking for Side B. Since it's a 44, there's no C-clips and I just slide out the axle.... or am I missing something? And $160 for a bearing / seal kit at AZ..... But it's a Timkin and I see $50 POS kits and I really don't want to scroo with that garbage

So if anyone has any insight, gotcha's or it-worked-for-me stories, I'm listening. Thanks!

[Captian Carnage]

I know with a D 30 just replace the seals By 2 1 for each side 1 starts to leak the other not far behind I never had a 44 if you dont have to replace the bearing dont

[ZAEDOCK]

An 8.8 is a C-clip axle and a Dana 44 is a retained bearing axle. The seal on the 44 sits inside the retaining plate.

You'll need to remove the pressed on collar (with a wizza and then a tap from a cold chisel), pull the bearing, seal, and retaining plate off, reassemble in backards order and press on a new collar. There's no way to do it without a press (well, there is - but the chance for shaft damage is high).

Your typical shop could do it for cheap if you bring them the shafts.

[Captian Carnage]

An 8.8 is a C-clip axle and a Dana 44 is a retained bearing axle. The seal on the 44 sits behind the retaining plate.

You'll need to remove the pressed on collar (with a wizza and then a tap from a cold chisel), pull the bearing, seal, and retaining plate off, reassemble in backards order and press on a new collar. There's no way to do it without a press (well, there is - but the chance for shaft damage is high).

Your typical shop could do it for cheap if you bring them the shafts.

Hey Joe your right again Still replace both seals if you do 1
4wd has 2 bearings +2 sealsfor a little over $100 Timkin bearings Checkit out

[Carl McFly]

4wd has 2 bearings +2 sealsfor a little over $100 Timkin bearings Checkit out

I didn't see that but I did see a set of D44 axles, bearings and seals for $350 and a set of chromolloy for $410. Looks like both come with everything but the axle retaining plate. Seeing how the new bearings and seals will set me back $320 for both sides, this might be the way to go

[ZAEDOCK]

Carl, I recommend contacting Mitchell Differential in Shrewsbury. I'm running their Alloy shafts in my rear 44. They've held up to a beat'n with my 38's.
They're 1541H Alloys and come in about $340 a pair!

http://www.mitchelldiff.com/

http://www.mitchelldiff.com/customaxles.html

[Carl McFly]

They've held up to a beat'n with my 38's

wow Joe, I'm gonna look into that, thanks!

And Brian thanks again for the link to the bearings you found on 4WD