Which tools do I need to change a Dana 44 axle?

[vanguard_anon]

My buggy has a dana 44 from a 79 wagoneer up front. I have spare axles for both sides but I haven't broken one yet. I want to make sure I'm prepared so I've been searching around without much luck.

I carry a pretty well stocked tool bag with all the normal sockets, wrenches, BFH, etc. but I'm mostly concerned about the tools that you don't see everyday. My friend told me that I'd need 36 mm socket. That's easy to find but I'd like confirmation on that. I was surprised to hear that an american company used the metric system in 1979.

So, what special tools do I need to swap out broken axles in a 79 waggy dana 44?

Thanks in advance.

[guidolyons]

Spindle nut socket. About $15-20 at your favorite auto parts store. Since it sounds like you have never had the hubs/spindles/axles off now would be a good time to learn, in your driveway. It probably wouldn't hurt to do a little preventative maintanence anyway. If your ujoint breaks it can spread the ears on the axle shaft and make getting it through the knuckle a real pain.

Edit: I found a link that covers swapping out a busted axle shaft better than I could explain it:
http://www.4wheeloffroad.com/howto/18159/index.html

There are several different possibilities for your spindle lock nut, so I would get a haynes manual (or similar) that has the proper procedure for getting the spindle and hub back together.

[sand dune coon]

yup,, hub wrench and thats good advice,, dont wait until you are broke down on a trail to learn how to disassemble your front hubs for the first time..

[MUDDTRACKS]

Yeah if i was you i would tare down the hubs so you know what you are doing and what tools you will need.

and make sure when putting the spindle nuts on you torque them to spec.

[vanguard_anon]

Thanks guys. I just picked up the spindle nut socket. I wasn't sure of the size but it said it was for a dana 44 so I think I'll be ok.

I'll do a practice session this weekend.

[SteveZ59]

From experience, if you've got OBA a cutoff tool can come in handy. As was mentioned above when you wreck a joint you might not be able to get it out through the knuckle. On mine we had to use a cutoff tool to cut one of the wrecked ears off to get it out.

[YJTypeR]

It would probably be a good idea to get the socket used to torque down the upper ball joint pre-load sleeve as well. I had to get mine online.

[kf4zht]

+1 on the practice in the driveway first. First time I did the U-joints in my XJ (never been done before) it took many hours to get past all the rust, and several tools I dont carry offroad. Now it is much easier and I did add some tools to my collection just in case.

[1bgdog]

Originally Posted by vanguard_anon

.... My friend told me that I'd need 36 mm socket. That's easy to find but I'd like confirmation on that. I was surprised to hear that an american company used the metric system in 1979.

So, what special tools do I need to swap out broken axles in a 79 waggy dana 44?

Thanks in advance.

Most likley talking about a YJ/TJ setup. That is what my old 30 needed.

[vanguard_anon]

Originally Posted by kf4zht

+1 on the practice in the driveway first. First time I did the U-joints in my XJ (never been done before) it took many hours to get past all the rust, and several tools I dont carry offroad. Now it is much easier and I did add some tools to my collection just in case.

FWIW, I changed it in my driveway last weekend. You guys were right, it was a good idea to get a little experience under more ideal conditions. I forgot how to put the bearings back in and had to look it up on the interenet.

This is me holding my axle like I just caught a big fish. (I love this sweatshit. I don't care what it looks like. I'll own it until it's so torn up it won't stay on my body anymore. )