Dana 44 knuckle - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

solidaxleford · 09-12-2008, 02:23 PM

hoping someone has an answer or at least an idea i have a 77? dana 44hp in my cherokee with chromemoly shafts and yukon super joint well question is i keep breaking my drivers side knuckle i have broken 2 this year already they break right at the upper balljoint ring i run a 36 in tire but dont think it should be breaking with the wheeling im doing any ideas

WHITE RHINO · 09-12-2008, 03:37 PM

go after market knuckles then

zainyD · 09-12-2008, 07:00 PM

When you press in the new ball joints is it being done correctly? The only thing I can think of is that the ball joints may be getting pressed in at an angle and stressing the knuckle. Only suggestion I can make is to carry spares and/or buy an aftermarket knuckle like WHITE RHINO suggested.

JGVABronco78 · 09-13-2008, 04:32 AM

If you are not wheeling hard, ditch the chromo shafts. Instead of flexing, they are putting more pressure on the ball joints. To experiment, put the stock axle back in the drivers side only. If you don't break any more knuckles, then put the chromo back in. If you break another knuckle, you know its the chromo's. Keep the chromo in the p-side no matter what. It will save your d-side stock axle. If you are still breaking stock axles and need the d-side chromo, you'll have to beef the knuckle somehow or go aftermarket.

If this problem happens to just be unique to this one housing, maybe the inner C is tweaked and putting the joint and knuckle in a bind when you turn, or push hard on the turned wheel.

Mr.N · 09-13-2008, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JGVABronco78

If this problem happens to just be unique to this one housing, maybe the inner C is tweaked and putting the joint and knuckle in a bind when you turn, or push hard on the turned wheel.

That was my thought...

Then again, not sure how hard you wheel...

53guy · 09-13-2008, 06:33 AM

Have you narrowed it or rotated the knuckles at all?

JGVABronco78 · 09-13-2008, 06:53 AM

Another thought also. Maybe the housing is worn causing an ill-fitting ball-joint body which puts more load and stress on the knuckle. What does that look like?

solidaxleford · 09-13-2008, 04:29 PM

ok so i put on a new knuckle today and took some peoples advise and really studdied the inner c's and the thread in bushing is pretty beat up so was the last one i took out and i just put it in with the last set of balljoints in june and i have put maybe 500 mi on it so either i f%$ked up and left it loose a little but i doubt it or something is going on in there i should have taken pics so i think maybe an inner c is tweked i noticed thet it does seem to bind a little when turning the knuckle by hand but nothing too too major just tight so i guess ill see how this goes for now ill just carry my spare knuckle with the welded in balljoint (thats how i got it out of the woods last time)

09-12-2008, 02:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
solidaxleford Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Member # 13472 Posts: 56	Dana 44 knuckle hoping someone has an answer or at least an idea i have a 77? dana 44hp in my cherokee with chromemoly shafts and yukon super joint well question is i keep breaking my drivers side knuckle i have broken 2 this year already they break right at the upper balljoint ring i run a 36 in tire but dont think it should be breaking with the wheeling im doing any ideas

09-12-2008, 03:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
WHITE RHINO Zeus of the Sluice Join Date: Apr 2006 Member # 71446 Location: MORGAN HILL, CA Posts: 3,107	go after market knuckles then __________________ (WHITE RHINO)88 Ranger, 2.9liter,1350/1354 doubler, HP 60 with Plated knuckles, chromos, PSC Hydro, 3 link, Rear Eaton 44" Pitbulls on H1's Section8Krawlers.com Extreme Dual Sport Tuff Lites Unbreakable Turn Signals for your Dual Sport/Adventure Bike

09-13-2008, 04:32 AM	#4 (permalink)
JGVABronco78 Rock God Join Date: Feb 2007 Member # 87058 Location: Virginia Beach VA Posts: 1,531	If you are not wheeling hard, ditch the chromo shafts. Instead of flexing, they are putting more pressure on the ball joints. To experiment, put the stock axle back in the drivers side only. If you don't break any more knuckles, then put the chromo back in. If you break another knuckle, you know its the chromo's. Keep the chromo in the p-side no matter what. It will save your d-side stock axle. If you are still breaking stock axles and need the d-side chromo, you'll have to beef the knuckle somehow or go aftermarket. If this problem happens to just be unique to this one housing, maybe the inner C is tweaked and putting the joint and knuckle in a bind when you turn, or push hard on the turned wheel. Last edited by JGVABronco78; 09-13-2008 at 05:39 AM.

09-13-2008, 06:53 AM	#7 (permalink)
JGVABronco78 Rock God Join Date: Feb 2007 Member # 87058 Location: Virginia Beach VA Posts: 1,531	Another thought also. Maybe the housing is worn causing an ill-fitting ball-joint body which puts more load and stress on the knuckle. What does that look like? Last edited by JGVABronco78; 09-13-2008 at 06:54 AM.

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09-12-2008, 07:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
zainyD Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Member # 37340 Posts: 1,190	When you press in the new ball joints is it being done correctly? The only thing I can think of is that the ball joints may be getting pressed in at an angle and stressing the knuckle. Only suggestion I can make is to carry spares and/or buy an aftermarket knuckle like WHITE RHINO suggested.

09-13-2008, 06:33 AM	#6 (permalink)
53guy Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Member # 77930 Location: Kaneohe, HI Posts: 885	Have you narrowed it or rotated the knuckles at all?

09-13-2008, 04:29 PM	#8 (permalink)
solidaxleford Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Member # 13472 Posts: 56	ok so i put on a new knuckle today and took some peoples advise and really studdied the inner c's and the thread in bushing is pretty beat up so was the last one i took out and i just put it in with the last set of balljoints in june and i have put maybe 500 mi on it so either i f%$ked up and left it loose a little but i doubt it or something is going on in there i should have taken pics so i think maybe an inner c is tweked i noticed thet it does seem to bind a little when turning the knuckle by hand but nothing too too major just tight so i guess ill see how this goes for now ill just carry my spare knuckle with the welded in balljoint (thats how i got it out of the woods last time)