I need to the driver's side axle shaft out of a junk ttb I have to go into my truck. Is there any way to remove this with out opening the differential? Can I take the axle shaft apart at the U-joint? Thanks in advance.

 

You have to take the cover off and take out the "C" clip to pull the axle out.

 

So basically I'm gonna have to pull the differential case away from the TTB arm (cover)? Bummer.

 

On my 88, there is nothing in the way of taking off the cover.

 

Well on mine the cover is the driver's side ttb arm. The differential case bolts onto it like on a 9 inch.

 

If yours don't have a cover, and has a removable "pumkin" it has to be a 9" differential. The axle shaft don't have the "C" clip on a 9" and the axle should come out with a slide hammer after you remove the four bolts and seal cover from the brake backing plate.

 

I'm talking about a front axle here man, the Dana 44 TTB.

 

The driver's side should pull right out once you take off the spindle. The passenger's side outer stub and the piece connected to it will come out the same way. the only part that should have a clip is the inner piece on the pass side, which is the part between the pumpkin and where the slip yoke is.

 

The drivers side simply pulls out, you'll need to tear the axle down to the knuckle to get it though. the passenger side has a four piece shaft and the stub on that side is retained by a C-clip (you can convert to an earlier 'two bolt' housing from a pre 83/84 truck to eliminate the c-clip - these stubs were retianed by a plate on the outside of the housing).

 

Agree with Rockfrog and Redneck 83.

I just put a lock right in the front of my truck last weekend. Mine is an 85 model and had the clip. I did not know the pre 83/84 models had a plate that held in the shaft. The C clip was most definitely a cost reduction project for the drivetrain group that year.

DK

 

Don't quote me on the 83/84 ... It may have only been 80-82 that used the bearing plate. 83/84 were transition years for Ford (yeah, what else is new, which years weren't) engine groups changed/ diappeared, ignition systems changed, I do know for a fact that the bearing retainers were used in 1980-82 models and my info after that becomes hit or miss, much like finding a 9" axle after 1983 (they were used up until 86, and there are rumors they may have lasted longer) the retianer housing will swap right in place of the C-clip housing (I have an 81 and 84 for reference)

 

on the passenger side you can put a valve spring from a small block chevy into the slip joint between the inner-shaft and mid-shaft. then you can leave the c-clip out. the spring tension will hold the axle into the diff.

rob

 

I just did that today. The lock right for the dana 44 IFS does not have a provision for the C clip, and the directions tell you to use a spring. The annoying part is that the spring is not included with the locker. I think a valve spring would be too long and go into coil bind before the axles reach there static positioning. I found a spring about 1 1/8 OD, with .110" wire dia. and cut it to about .800" long. It would push the spindle off the knuckle about 3/16", and then with the spindle up tight would still allow some compression in case the axle needs to slide in farther during articulation so I figured this was a good compromise. If I have problems, I will post the results in this thread.

DK