dana 44 need help!!!!!!!!!!

[Grandrumble]

i am putting a dana44 out of an 87 jeep cherokee in my 98 grand cherokee i have spent $1600 on this axle and now it dose not seem right the patter is good the back lash is good but the out side wheels move in and out of the axle like an 1/2 inch and we cant figure out why both sides do it and i was wondering if it was normal or do i need shims behide the race or something to stop the play i need help and info helps thanks

 

[skippy]

a half inch is excessive but its normal to get a little due to the fact its a c-clip rear end.........is it really getting a half inch or are you exaggerating???

 

[Hickey]

a half inch is excessive but its normal to get a little due to the fact its a c-clip rear end.........is it really getting a half inch or are you exaggerating???

Are you sure it's a C-clip axle? My understanding is that it is a press on bearing with a retention plate behind. I may be wrong though, happens everyday.

 

[Hickey]

After a brief search, I would say the OP is missing parts that should have been installed between the bearing and the backing (retention) plate. Google Dana 44 axle retention and you should see some exploded views of the correctly installed parts. Compare those with your axle shafts and it should be obvious.

 

[plaidfro]

Dana 44 shouldn't be a C-clip in an 87. Jeep didn't use the C-Clip style axles until the '91 Dana 35, or at least I thought.

The Dana 44 axle shaft should be held in by 4 bolts behind the axle flange.

 

[DaveB]

I have rebuilt several of these Dana 44s and they are not C clip axles. As stated above the axle is held in by a retaining plate behind the wheel flange. In front of the plate is a seal, then the bearing with its race and finally the pressed on retaining ring. If the seal was missing it would account for about 1/4-3/8 inch of play. If the wrong bearing and race were used you could also get some play. If the bearing pocket in the axle is worn badly you could also get some shaft end play. If you put on disc brakes from a Grand there is a spacer that is put on to make up for the missing backing plate. When my son in law put on disk brake to his xj 44 he had to have the bearings pulled so that the spacer could be put on.

 

[skippy]

Yup that is correct......My bad