I recently purchased a '77 Scout Traveler. About a week after I bought it (for $700, I was expecting a lot of work) the rear left wheel worked it's way out of the axle housing still attatched to the axle shaft. Needless to say, bearings on both ends are completely shot along with the axle shafts and the housing. It's a Dana 44, almost 60" wide from end to end (not including drums). I'm looking to replace the whole thing and the boys at the local 4X4 shop want charge me up the A$$ for one. I want to go to a wrecking yard and pull an axle to swap just to get me on the road and move it into my new place for now. Which trucks should I look for to pull the rear axle. Yes, I am a newbie and expect a lot of crap, so do your worst, but throw in a few hints while your'e at it. Thanks.

I think your lost, We don't swap rear 44s in here. It's D60/70 or 14 bolt on this page. :rolleyes: :laughing: :laughing:

You can't find another Scout up there? There seem to be a bunch of guys on this board from WA. Maybe they can help you.

Otherwise you can throw just about anything in the rear. Typically all you have to do is move the spring perches and match the brake line fittings. Can you weld, or do you have access to someone who can?

RubiCrawler had me thinking about a ford 9" for a while, but I got a 14 bolt for next to nothing. I have 38" tires so diff clearence wasn't an issue.

BTW... Welcome :flipoff2: Newbie :flipoff2:

I think I could sacrifice :) Any ideas on where to snag one rather than having one built.

The guy I bought it from said the axles were wider than stock. I don't want to put a skinny scout axle in the rear with the wide one up front. Or maybe the guy was full of shit. He doesn't know much about trucks anyway. How wide is a stock Scout axle housing?

Why do you think that the rear axle is distroyed? Have you looked at it to see if it can be repaired? I've seen a bunch of shafts come out, but seldom do I see it destroy an axle.

You might try to get ahold of John....He's got a ton of spares laying around

BACK COUNTRY BINDERS
John L. Fleck "Fleckster"
4824 Lebers Lane
Bremerton, WA 98312
(360) 377-4979 Phone
(360) 377-4995 FAX
John Fleck, (john@backcountrybinders.com)
Monday - Friday 8AM to 5PM Saturday by Appointment

Originally posted by Neps
Why do you think that the rear axle is distroyed? Have you looked at it to see if it can be repaired? I've seen a bunch of shafts come out, but seldom do I see it destroy an axle.


The bearing was mutilated and scraped up the inside of the housing where it sits. I don't know if the seals would do their job with it in that shape.

58ish in the rear and 60ish in the front.

5 on 5.5 lug pattern? Semi floater 30 splines? If so, I'll bet it is a Scout axle.

Originally posted by JoshC
Otherwise you can throw just about anything in the rear. Typically all you have to do is move the spring perches and match the brake line fittings. Can you weld, or do you have access to someone who can?


I don't know how to weld yet, but with all the work in store for this project of mine, I will be learning soon. But for now I'm going to have to take it somewhere to have that part done because my only friend who know's how to weld has no equipment. The rear axle has been turned up about 10 ? degrees or so to straighten out the driveline which I may do again. Plus there are special mounts for the shocks when the homemade ? susp. lift was put on.

Use the search button here, to find out the width, or go to The Binder Bulletin to post a question about stock axle widths. As OS said here we talk about 60s, 70s or 14bolts in the rear.:flipoff2: :flipoff2:
Just take your torn up 44 to your favorite shop, pay out the ass, and it will work. :flipoff2: :flipoff2:
Are you aware that if you do find a rear 44, you need to make sure ratios match?:confused: :confused: :confused:
Just go get a 14bolt and a GM 44 or 60 for the front, and then you get an easy SOA. Also most of the 14bolts you find are gonna be 4.09 which is much better than 3.54 or3.73.

HTH,
DAN

Originally posted by JoshC
58ish in the rear and 60ish in the front.

5 on 5.5 lug pattern? Semi floater 30 splines? If so, I'll bet it is a Scout axle.

That's exactly right. (I counted the splines today). And the rear measured just of 58". Thanks a lot. That makes it a lot easier. There is a parts yard only miles from my place where which has a few Scouts. Hopefully I will have this done by Friday. I've only driven it twice since I bought it a can't wait to be on the road again.

You're not supposed to run seals on the ends of the housing anyhow, so no worries there.

You'll install a new race with the new bearings, so as long as you didn't pull the race out of the housing when it went and chewed up the housing area, you're fine.

If the axle isn't smoked, go spend $35 or so on a new Timken Set10 and have them pressed on. You'll probably spend $50 per side for NEW bearings on your used shafts.

Pull the housing ends seals, clean out the metal shavings, top off the diff lube, reinstall the axle shafts - AFTER packing the bearings - torque the flange to spec and off you go.

Then start looking at a Dana 60 if you want to run those 36s.

I sure hope the guy you bought this SOA/body-lifted project rig from knew what he/she was going.. buying someone else's SOA can be a huge nightmare.

There are a zillion Scout rear D44's in junk yards in the Portland area. Or just go to the Binder Bulletin and hit up the Oregon Scout Club and you'll have a D44 in a day and I'd beat you could get somebody to help you swap it in. Just shop around and find the ratio you need and be done.

Or just get new bearing pressed onto your axles and know you have good bearing for sure.

And while your working on it have someone that knows Scouts look it over and tell you if your SOA job was done SAFE!!! If you die because of someone elses shortcuts - you'll feel pretty stupid now wouldn't you!

Well, I did some research. My rear end is stock. I think I can keep the housing. I will however be replacing the bearings and axle shafts on both sides (the old ones are scraped all to hell and blue and purple from heat). My gears aren't in great shape, but will work until I get that D60;). I'm headed up to Seattle this weekend and will probably stop by Back Country Binders to pick up some used shafts to replace mine....I'm going to call him in the morning.

Originally posted by tsm1mt
I sure hope the guy you bought this SOA/body-lifted project rig from knew what he/she was going.. buying someone else's SOA can be a huge nightmare.

I bought my scout from a friend (who knows much less than I do about trucks and I don't know much) who bought it from the guy who did the build-up on it. It was built mainly for a tough-truck comp. here at the Clark County Fair. He broke the front axle housing in the comp and then sold it to my friend who took it to a shop and had the front repaired. I bought it from him and got about 40 miles total before my rearend fell apart. I knew this was going to be a project, but as far as I can tell, everything on the SOA looks safe. Thanks a lot for all your help, it's greatly appreciated.

Double check your axle shafts before you buy new ones. Every shaft I have ever seen has that blue/purple swirl pattern (or the rust swirl) on it. I don't neccesarly think that is a sign of over heating.

Bring your old shafts up with ya and i will tell ya if they are still good. I do have some spares here as well as new bearings and seals for the axles. I can press them on and you will be ready to go again.


Call and let me know if you are coming up this weekend. My address has changed to 3/4 a mile from the old place as i am in a new shop.

John
360-377-4979

Originally posted by MrBigC
Well, I did some research. My rear end is stock. I think I can keep the housing. I will however be replacing the bearings and axle shafts on both sides (the old ones are scraped all to hell and blue and purple from heat). My gears aren't in great shape, but will work until I get that D60;). I'm headed up to Seattle this weekend and will probably stop by Back Country Binders to pick up some used shafts to replace mine....I'm going to call him in the morning.



I bought my scout from a friend (who knows much less than I do about trucks and I don't know much) who bought it from the guy who did the build-up on it. It was built mainly for a tough-truck comp. here at the Clark County Fair. He broke the front axle housing in the comp and then sold it to my friend who took it to a shop and had the front repaired. I bought it from him and got about 40 miles total before my rearend fell apart. I knew this was going to be a project, but as far as I can tell, everything on the SOA looks safe. Thanks a lot for all your help, it's greatly appreciated.

You can contact the Oregon IH Club through :

www.internationalsoforegon.com

I think you will find that there are a large number of folks who can help you right across the river from you.

Why drive all the way to Seattle? Have Fleckster ship them to you...

The Oregon Club is huge too, lots of folks with parts, knowledge, and fabrication skills.

I would have your SOA inspected by a shop they use down there, I recollect it is in Newberg, Oregon. If you reach one of the Oregon guys, I think they can point you to them.

Best of luck :D