Alrighty then.

I'm going to shorten my front 44 this weekend, and I thought that I had it all figured out, then I started "over-thinking". Maybe.

Here's my dilemna.

75 Cherokee Dana 44. Currently 61.5" wms to wms.

Spring pad width, 31.5"

Stock CJ spring pad width, 27.5"

I need to take off 4".

Now, the "fuzzy part". Looking at the longside tube, right where the weld is, then you have the inner knuckle. I was thinking that you measure from the edge of the inner knuckle 4" down the tube, make your mark, and cut.

But, (and here is where the overthinking comes in), If I do that, won't it be too narrow? I am unsure how much you pound the knuckle on, (say, 3/4 of an inch as an example), but, wouldn't I want to cut it a 3.25" and then pound the inner knuckle on that extra 3/4 of an inch? That way, the inner "edge" of the knuckle is right on the 4" mark?

Have I over thought this?

TIA

Out

if the axle is 61" why would you shorten it?

my new axles are 71" WMS !!!

Originally posted by redruM
if the axle is 61" why would you shorten it?

my new axles are 71" WMS !!!

1. I didn't think that I asked "why" shorten it? :rolleyes:

2. I'll alert the media. :flipoff2:

:rolleyes:

Yes, you are measureing wrong. Measure from the end of the tube, not the inner knuckle.

I cut mine down 4" fromt he end of the tube, then ground off the welds, then press out the tube, and press it back on and re-weld. It is pretty easy.

Phil

Originally posted by 1TONTJ
Yes, you are measureing wrong. Measure from the end of the tube, not the inner knuckle.

I cut mine down 4" fromt he end of the tube, then ground off the welds, then press out the tube, and press it back on and re-weld. It is pretty easy.

Phil

Ok, stupid question here.

How can you measure from the end of the tube? One end is inside the inner knuckle, the other is inside the pumpkin?

Grind the weld, pound the knuckle off, measure, measure again, cut, pound knuckle back on, weld, reassemble.

Originally posted by Mo
Grind the weld, pound the knuckle off, measure, measure again, cut, pound knuckle back on, weld, reassemble.

Thanks Mo, that's what I was thinking.

Have a :beer: on me.

Why not grind and pound the knuckle off first, then you can measure from the end of the tube rather than guessing how much tube is pressed into the knuckle. Or cut it short (say 2") then once you get the tube out of the knuckel and determine how much is pressed in the knuckle, then you can trim the rest of the tube up to the right length, just don't forget the thickness of the cutting blade.

I just used a flat piece of scrap on the inside of the knuckle and measured from that (and suptracted the depth of the tube from the flat scrap. Then it was easier to work with the knuckle after it was already cut off. But either way will work.

Phil

Measure from the back of the knuckle up the axle tube and mark it 4".(if that is what you want to shorten it) Then grind the knuckle off and measure how far in the tube goes into the knuckle. Then measure back from your mark on the axle tube what ever that measurement was and cut the tube.

Your over thinking it:D

Originally posted by syko
Measure from the back of the knuckle up the axle tube and mark it 4".(if that is what you want to shorten it) Then grind the knuckle off and measure how far in the tube goes into the knuckle. Then measure back from your mark on the axle tube what ever that measurement was and cut the tube.

Your over thinking it:D

Thanks, dork. :flipoff2:

Hey, when we gonna get together and do some wheelin? Of course, after I have the turd done I'm all for it!

syko Measure from the back of the knuckle up the axle tube and mark it 4".(if that is what you want to shorten it) Then grind the knuckle off and measure how far in the tube goes into the knuckle. Then measure back from your mark on the axle tube what ever that measurement was and cut the tube.
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WTF! Measure this, then that, then here, then grind off knuckle measure 4" and cut? Ummmmm. If you are going to grind the knuckle off before cutting then just fawking measure 4" and cut the damn thing. :smokin:

Originally posted by pigpen62
syko Measure from the back of the knuckle up the axle tube and mark it 4".(if that is what you want to shorten it) Then grind the knuckle off and measure how far in the tube goes into the knuckle. Then measure back from your mark on the axle tube what ever that measurement was and cut the tube.
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WTF! Measure this, then that, then here, then grind off knuckle measure 4" and cut? Ummmmm. If you are going to grind the knuckle off before cutting then just fawking measure 4" and cut the damn thing. :smokin:

No $hit!:flipoff2:
Your really fast:rolleyes:

Originally posted by IndyCJ


Thanks, dork. :flipoff2:

Hey, when we gonna get together and do some wheelin? Of course, after I have the turd done I'm all for it!
Just let me know and I'm ready. Well as soon as I rering my 304. I sucked a little:rolleyes: mud/sand in the motor and it's burning alot of oil. It should be done in a weekend or two. Hell, if you were ready now I'd buy a case of oil and we would go. contact me when your ready.:flipoff2: :D

Congrats. I missed it that you were screwing around. I read so much shit on here that it can sometimes be hard to tell someone who knows what they are doing and is screwing around vs. some idiot that doesn't know what a metric crescent wrench is.

My bad. Good post!:rasta:

Originally posted by pigpen62
Congrats. I missed it that you were screwing around. I read so much shit on here that it can sometimes be hard to tell someone who knows what they are doing and is screwing around vs. some idiot that doesn't know what a metric crescent wrench is.

My bad. Good post!:rasta:

lol....No problem.
:D

Why does this thread have 15 (now 16) replies and 97 views?
To funny. :D

Originally posted by syko

Just let me know and I'm ready. Well as soon as I rering my 304. I sucked a little:rolleyes: mud/sand in the motor and it's burning alot of oil. It should be done in a weekend or two. Hell, if you were ready now I'd buy a case of oil and we would go. contact me when your ready.:flipoff2: :D


Shit, if you were a little closer, I'd "volunteer" you to grab a few wrenches and help! :flipoff2: I'm rapidly falling behind, and I can't get any buddies to come over and lend a hand. :(

Originally posted by syko
Why does this thread have 15 (now 16) replies and 97 views?
To funny. :D

probably means that there are 80 people out there wondering what a metric crescent wrench is. :flipoff2:

FAWK all this grinding! :flipoff2: Hook th tape on the "C" and pull down the tube 4" and mark the tube with a center punch. I use a automatic center punch because it is easy and the mark will not move or be erased. Cut right done the weld and even remove about 1/16" of the knuckle example A) http://www.respite.org/images/cj66dean/44c3.jpg
Then you will have the "C" cut off example B)
http://www.respite.org/images/cj66dean/44c2.jpg
With the "C" cut move to the mark and cut once again. To remove the piece out of the "C" use a torch to cut some relief's example C)
http://www.respite.org/images/cj66dean/44c1.jpg

Before you beat the piece out with a BFH look at the end of the tube to see where it ends in the "C" (about 1/8" from the end) and when beating it back onto the tube beat it back on the same amount. (about 1/8" from the end) DONE. This will get you very close and even if you are off by say 1/4" so what one wheel is 1/4" further out than the other side.BFD This is just makeing a point because I am sure you will get it within 1/16" or so it just isn't that hard. FAWK ALL THAT GRINDING

Originally posted by IndyCJ

Shit, if you were a little closer, I'd "volunteer" you to grab a few wrenches and help! :flipoff2: I'm rapidly falling behind, and I can't get any buddies to come over and lend a hand. :(
Dude, your only about 1 1/2 hours up 65 from me. :flipoff2: Your just north of Indy, right?

Hell, if you need a hand some weekend let me know. You supply the beer, pizza and I'll bring a friend. (I'll even bring some beer) :D Between 3 of use we'll get you back on the trail.:D What do you have left to do?

If nothing else we need to run Attica soon. :D I tried to get my crew to go at the end of this month but everyone has their rigs down.:confused: :(

Originally posted by 66CJdean
FAWK all this grinding! :flipoff2: Hook th tape on the "C" and pull down the tube 4" and mark the tube with a center punch. I use a automatic center punch because it is easy and the mark will not move or be erased. Cut right done the weld and even remove about 1/16" of the knuckle example A) Then you will have the "C" cut off example B)
With the "C" cut move to the mark and cut once again. To remove the piece out of the "C" use a torch to cut some relief's example C)

Before you beat the piece out with a BFH look at the end of the tube to see where it ends in the "C" (about 1/8" from the end) and when beating it back onto the tube beat it back on the same amount. (about 1/8" from the end) DONE. This will get you very close and even if you are off by say 1/4" so what one wheel is 1/4" further out than the other side.BFD This is just makeing a point because I am sure you will get it within 1/16" or so it just isn't that hard. FAWK ALL THAT GRINDING

Dude, you are the man. Although, I was sitting there tonight looking at it, and I said "WTF am I doing all this grinding for?" :D

It's done. I chopped it off, chopped it again, and started beating it back on. (Got tired, and the wife was "complaining" that I was in the garage to long. :D)

Thanks dudes!

Glad I could help. I hate to see a good grinder get abused like that:p :D