Need bearings pressed off/on D44 axle shaft

[DAA]

Looks like I have a rear axle seal leaking on my LJ (TJ D44). Going to see about getting new seal and bearings later today. But I'm going to need the old bearings pressed off and the new ones pressed on.

Anyone have a Bountiful area shop to recommend? Or anyone with a press be willing to help?

Soonest I'll be able to get the axle shaft out is Sunday. And if I don't get it done by Tue. afternoon, I'm working out of town the rest of the week so it will have to wait another week.

Thanks!

- DAA

 

[skippy]

I am in Tooele and could do it for you but thats like 300 miles away....

 

[DAA]

Ha-ha! Ain't but a hop skip and a jump. Would Sunday work? If not, either Mon. or Tue. late afternoon are the only other times I can get it out there anytime soon. Assuming I can get the parts today, but I don't expect that to be a problem.

- DAA

 

[DAA]

Parts are located, picking them up this morning.

- DAA

 

[thefirstzukman]

If you are headed anywhere south you could drop them off at my house and Ill press them on, there are a bunch of dogs up Sheep Creek and I don't have any time to hunt right now so you could make some money and get them pressed on at the same time.

 

[mbryson]

glad to help if you want to stick around Davis county. I have a harbor freight press that may or may not decide to work in the cold ? Can help Sunday afternoon or so if that works?

 

[mesha]

I don't have a press, but I will buy one if it means I get to hang out with Dave.

Let me know.

 

[Kevin B.]

I have a new to me HF 20t press, and I want to hang out with Dave too.

 

[Gravy]

I've got a press too Dave, just across the freeway.

 

[DAA]

You guys are awesome.

I'll give out a shout on Sun. after I have the axle out and see who's around and willing.

Thanks a bunch!

- DAA

 

[I Lean]

I'm not available this weekend, but for what it's worth I've never used a press to remove the bearings. Just use a die grinder with cutoff wheel, and cut mostly through the bearing retainer and the inner race of the bearing. Crack the rest of the way through with a chisel, and they'll come off easily. Then press on the new bearing (don't forget to put the seal down the shaft first), and press on the new retainer.

Also, a chunk of tube and a hammer can also work just fine for pressing the new ones on--you just have to support the shaft by the center, so it doesn't mess with the studs or try to bend the flange...which you have to do in a press also.

 

[N-Smooth]

I also cut them off. Stupid 44s

 

[gertsch]

I'm available to help on Monday. I'm in woods cross

 

[DAA]

Cool beans. I'll have the old one off before I bring the shaft.

- DAA

 

[DAA]

Okay, axle is out, old bearing and retainer removed.

Marc, Stratton, either of you around and willing to press the new ones on?

BTW... I did as Carl said and used a die grinder to cut "most of the way" through the old bearing and retainer to get them off. I did NOT cut all the way through. But... I had new bearing and seal pressed on this axle once before a few years ago at Teraflex. They left some nice slots in my axle shaft where they cut clear through and then some!

- DAA

 

[thefirstzukman]

Okay, axle is out, old bearing and retainer removed.

Marc, Stratton, either of you around and willing to press the new ones on?

BTW... I did as Carl said and used a die grinder to cut "most of the way" through the old bearing and retainer to get them off. I did NOT cut all the way through. But... I had new bearing and seal pressed on this axle once before a few years ago at Teraflex. They left some nice slots in my axle shaft where they cut clear through and then some!

- DAA

Slot shouldn't be a bid deal because of the location, but that sucks for sure.. usually when you get close to through the retainer it breaks because it is in tension. Rookie move for sure, just goes to show that even a big name shop is only as good as the people it employees.

 

[DAA]

Yeah, didn't think it would hurt, but it sure can't help!

Got a press lined up too. So I'm taken care of.

Thanks everybody!

- DAA

 

[mbryson]

Ah, Yell if the other press falls through

 

[N8RB8R]

BTW... I did as Carl said and used a die grinder to cut "most of the way" through the old bearing and retainer to get them off. I did NOT cut all the way through. But... I had new bearing and seal pressed on this axle once before a few years ago at Teraflex. They left some nice slots in my axle shaft where they cut clear through and then some!

- DAA

I would strongly consider replacing that axle shaft. I had a TJ with a drum brake Dana 44 and was driving down the highway when all of the sudden it began shaking violently. Just as I caught an exit and was slowing down the rear wheel fell off. Some one had at some point prior to me replaced the axle shaft bearing/seal and had left a cut mark on the two sides where the bearing pressed on.

The shaft had broken at those marks and allowed the tire/wheel/drum to fall off all the way. You could tell that it had been cracked through for quite a long time as you could see some rusting and it was holding together by very little. A new set of hardened shafts with new bearings/seals/studs is fairly inexpensive, Alljeep is who I bought my last set through.

 

[thefirstzukman]

I would strongly consider replacing that axle shaft. I had a TJ with a drum brake Dana 44 and was driving down the highway when all of the sudden it began shaking violently. Just as I caught an exit and was slowing down the rear wheel fell off. Some one had at some point prior to me replaced the axle shaft bearing/seal and had left a cut mark on the two sides where the bearing pressed on.

The shaft had broken at those marks and allowed the tire/wheel/drum to fall off all the way. You could tell that it had been cracked through for quite a long time as you could see some rusting and it was holding together by very little. A new set of hardened shafts with new bearings/seals/studs is fairly inexpensive, Alljeep is who I bought my last set through.

I would never think a slight cut where the retainer is would be a problem and I have spent a lot of years dealing with metals and finite metal analysis. I guess if they went really deep with the cut it could be a problem, and if they cut into the area where the bearing was also, but most of them i have seen are pretty light. Most of the stress in an axle shaft is in the splines and the bearing and retainer area is a bit larger in diameter than the spline area, also the area under the retainer is held in compression and that will make it stronger. I guess anything is possible though, and I have never seen any testing data from this situation and I am not going to pay someone to model it and run it on ansys so I guess I would just have to go off of experience and my knowledge and in the future I will keep in mind your experience.

Thanks for sharing your experience with this, its good to know about.