Dana 44 Mini Spool Q

[Good]

Hey guys I have a '75 CJ5 with a 30 spline rear 44 and I got a Richmond mini spool. The problem is I can't install it. If it was a 12-bolt it would be done already. What do I do? I can't get the spider gears out without removing the spider gear pin, I can't get the spider gear pin out without removing the ring gear, I can't get the ring gear out without removing the carrier, I can't get the carrier out without removing the axles, I can't get the axles out without removing the c-clips and I can't get the c-clips out without removing the spider gears. So now I'm back to square 1. This is the first axle I've ever worked on. There must be a way, but how? Thanx.

[Berd]

yes you must remove the carrier from the housing just remove the axles, unbolt the caps noting which side they are on as they need to be installed on the same side they came off of.
After you take the carrier out of the housing remove the ring gear and then drive out the roll pin retaining the cross shaft and remove the cross shaft.
Then remove the internals install the mini spool along with the cross shaft, re install the ring gear, don't forget to torque to specs, re install the carrier and torque the cap bolts, re install the axles, slap on a cover and then drink a beer cause your done!

on a side note that 44 in the rear of your cj shouldn't have any c-clips that's why the axles are bolted in place.

[redtruck]

dana 44's don't have C clips, remove the four bolts behind the axle flange and pull axles out. then you can go from there with getting the carrier out.

[Good]

OK, thanx for the quick replys guys but I am not sure where the bolts are for to remove the axles- behind the brake drum or on the back or pumpkin side facing out? Thanx again.

[YME]

Pull the drum off of the axle and you'll see a hole in the flange between two of the studs. Rotate the axle and look through that hole. You'll see the heads for the bolts and you'll see nuts on the back side of the axle flange.

Its pretty self explanatory once you start.

[Good]

Thanx again guys... OK, so I get it all apart and put back together with the spool in it and when I tighten the flanges the axles get tight and I can't turn them. Why is this and how do I fix it? I greased the bearings while I had it apart.

[Good]

I know now what is wrong. The blocks in the mini-spool are too wide and the axles are pressed into them not allowing me to tighten the end flanges. So, what do I do? Can I grind my axles shorter, or do I ditch the mini? Help please.

[markcj5]

I am having the same problem. So I pulled the whole mess back apart and was going to put the shims back in that where under the spider gears but the side pieces from the mini spool won't fit in the carrier with the shims. Can I just "clearance" the ends of the axle shafts? Obviously there is enough spline engagement. Thanks for the help.

[Good]

OK, here's what I came up with. I called the Richmond Gear tech line and told him what the problem is and he said that it is OK to take some meat off the axle ends. Either that or you can also grind the blocks. I decided to do the axles. I ground approx 1/8" from the end of each axle and, voilla, everything works now. The blocks are approx. 1/8" too wide and I ground a total of 1/4" just to be sure and it works fine.

Mark, those 'shims' are the thrust washers that are supposed to be removed and you shoiuld have two flat and two sperical ones. Don't reinstall either with your mini spool. Now I just need to drop the motor in, do a SOA and she's ready to roll. :D

[markcj5]

Thanks for the help. I figured that the washers didn't go back in when the blocks wouldn't fit back in. I guess I have some grinding to do tomorrow night. Thanks again.