Help! Did I Mess Something Up?
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Elder User
Joined: May 2015
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Help! Did I Mess Something Up?
I just replaced the ball joints in my '88 F250. It has a Dana 44 HD axle.
When I pulled the hub locknut, the whole rotor/hub assembly came right off. I left the wheel bearing, lock nut, all of it right inside the hub assembly while I replaced the ball joints. When I went to reinstall it, I slid the whole shebang over the spindle, made sure everything was seated all the way back, and tightened the locknut down again.
But now I'm reading that there's an inner locknut too?
There was only one I had to loosen to pull the assembly, if there was an inner nut then wouldn't I have had to loosen that as well before the hub assembly came loose?
I test drove it after I put everything back together and it all felt fine, but I definitely don't want to ruin something.
When I pulled the hub locknut, the whole rotor/hub assembly came right off. I left the wheel bearing, lock nut, all of it right inside the hub assembly while I replaced the ball joints. When I went to reinstall it, I slid the whole shebang over the spindle, made sure everything was seated all the way back, and tightened the locknut down again.
But now I'm reading that there's an inner locknut too?
There was only one I had to loosen to pull the assembly, if there was an inner nut then wouldn't I have had to loosen that as well before the hub assembly came loose?
I test drove it after I put everything back together and it all felt fine, but I definitely don't want to ruin something.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 3,072
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From: California
I got a van, so I'm not much help for you. This is more of a Diesel specific forum. Not that the guys here couldn't help you with your steering/suspension issue, but you might get more generic advice from the 1987-1996 Ford Truck forum: 1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 3,072
Likes: 48
From: California
Can't hurt to post in both sections. The IDI section has the friendliest and most helpful guys out there, so you'll probably get an answer from them as well.
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Elder User
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I sure hope so. It's my daily driver, so I can't afford for it to go down. But I also have a thing about doing the work myself!
Those guys do know their stuff though, I'm sure it'll get straightened out.
Those guys do know their stuff though, I'm sure it'll get straightened out.
Postmaster
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Elder User
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I didn't take any pictures, it's all back together now.
When I disassembled it, this is how it went: (forgive me for not using proper names)
Pulled 6 hex bolts from hub locker, remove hub locker
Remove snap ring on end of axle shaft
Remove retaining screw that holds the gear that slides over spindle
Remove the gear and the spring behind it
Remove wire retaining ring from ID of hub
Remove large gear assembly
Unthread hub locknut from spindle
Leaving locknut and all pieces in the hub, I pulled the rotor/hub assembly off the spindle
Assembly was exactly reverse.
My thinking is that, if there was a second locknut to unscrew, then I would've had to do that before the rotor/hub assembly could come off of the spindle, right?
When I disassembled it, this is how it went: (forgive me for not using proper names)
Pulled 6 hex bolts from hub locker, remove hub locker
Remove snap ring on end of axle shaft
Remove retaining screw that holds the gear that slides over spindle
Remove the gear and the spring behind it
Remove wire retaining ring from ID of hub
Remove large gear assembly
Unthread hub locknut from spindle
Leaving locknut and all pieces in the hub, I pulled the rotor/hub assembly off the spindle
Assembly was exactly reverse.
My thinking is that, if there was a second locknut to unscrew, then I would've had to do that before the rotor/hub assembly could come off of the spindle, right?
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,737
Likes: 179
From: Western Mass
There is definitely supposed to be two nuts you have to remove. Generally there is an outer locknut that is really tight, then a special washer of sorts that engages a tab or slot in the spindle and somehow holds the inner nut from coming loose. The inner nut is only torqued to some lower number that keeps the bearing tight, but lets it spin easily.
The 10.25 sterling rear axle has a special ratcheting locknut that works like one piece, but other than that you should have a second nut in there to keep things from loosening.
The 10.25 sterling rear axle has a special ratcheting locknut that works like one piece, but other than that you should have a second nut in there to keep things from loosening.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,507
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From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
as said above, there is supposed to be two nuts and an indexing washer.
can you drive it safely the way it is? yes, for a while. but i would get the parts to put it back together properly. the way it is now, the lock nut can loosen up and the bearings will commit suicide.
can you drive it safely the way it is? yes, for a while. but i would get the parts to put it back together properly. the way it is now, the lock nut can loosen up and the bearings will commit suicide.
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Elder User
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Well that's not exactly what I was hoping to hear. But thanks for your input. I'll track down a parts diagram to compare to and see what I need. Who is a recommended manufacturer/vendor if I do need to buy these locknuts?
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Elder User
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Hey Tom, I posted this issue in the IDI section as well, and somebody posted a picture of the Dana 44 HD parts diagram that only shows one locknut.
What gives? Is it possible that the same axle had slight design differences in different vehicles like F150, F250, Bronco, etc?
What gives? Is it possible that the same axle had slight design differences in different vehicles like F150, F250, Bronco, etc?
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,507
Likes: 5,563
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
it could be.
or i may be wrong and the 44 only had the one lock nut.
it is not like i have never been wrong before, and i am sure i will get something wrong again.
unlike what my ex wife told everyone she met, i AM NOT a perfect a-hole.
or i may be wrong and the 44 only had the one lock nut.
it is not like i have never been wrong before, and i am sure i will get something wrong again.
unlike what my ex wife told everyone she met, i AM NOT a perfect a-hole.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,737
Likes: 179
From: Western Mass
There needs to be something to keep the nut from loosening, unless its a weird design like the ford/sterling 10.25 rear end which has the ratcheting nut. Otherwise as the hub rotates it will loosen up from the motion.
Unless its setup like a trailer axle where there is a castle nut or fancy pronged washer over the nut that takes a cotter pin. But I don't think that would work right with a locking hub....
Unless its setup like a trailer axle where there is a castle nut or fancy pronged washer over the nut that takes a cotter pin. But I don't think that would work right with a locking hub....