Blown Dana 44
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Blown Dana 44
Hey everyone, This is actually in regards to my f-150 but my brother swears by this forum for 4X4 stuff, so..... Anyways my front diff blew up this morning ( at least i am pretty sure it did). Story goes i was driving down the freeway when BANG!!!! clunk, clunk clunk, goes the truck. Now i have had a weird thud like noise for a while. I figured that it was the U-Joints, so i changed them out finally this past weekend, because i was getting scared that something might happen and leave me stranded. Well like i said the diff went Bang this morning, but i suspect that the diff's explosion is due to something else, what i don't know, but this is what i do know. The Diff doesn't leak, and until this morning hasn't shown any signs of going south. The hubs (manual) are iffy at best, again i am not sure of their condition, they came with the truck. I am wondering though if the hubs froze would it put enough stress on the diff the cause it to blow, or would the hubs go instead?
Thanks for any and all help!!!!
Thanks for any and all help!!!!
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Well aware of the front u-joints, i should of clarified that those were the ones that i replaced. To answer the second question, i was in 2WD with the hubs locked. As soon as i unlocked the hubs i was able to get the truck of the side of the road.
Wait my mistake!!!!! i changed the u-joints on the front driveshaft, where are the ones on the front axel?????? Now that i think about it, if those went wouldn't the front still make a clunking sound regardless of the hubs being locked or not?
Thanks!
Wait my mistake!!!!! i changed the u-joints on the front driveshaft, where are the ones on the front axel?????? Now that i think about it, if those went wouldn't the front still make a clunking sound regardless of the hubs being locked or not?
Thanks!
Last edited by Fanboy; Jan 7, 2008 at 10:06 AM. Reason: I'm an idiot
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Bend,OR
if a front joint located on the axle let go and the hubs are not locked they wont be moving at all. its possible a hub let loose as well, this makes a good time to upgrade to a set of Warn Premiums, they have a lifetime warranty.
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Update!!!!! I finally got my truck home last night, had it towed of course. When i got it home i noticed that the rear u-joint of the front drive shaft is broken, i overlooked this thinking for sure the front diff blew. Granted i need to check it during the day time, but it looks as if the u-joint lost more than just the caps, literally brokenot just came apart. So my new question is this, do you think something caused the u-joint to break, or do you think that the u-joint was just bad? Until i get everything apart i am going with the bad part theory.
Post Fiend
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From: Bonita Springs FL
I had a bad u-joint that was squeaking really bad on the Bronco. The thing was, I couldn't hear it until I put a new muffler on it. Once I did that, I could hear the squeak plain as day. Got it changed, and guess what - the center pin that the needle bearings ride on was about half gone. Needle bearings - non-existent. Grease - nowhere to be found.
So that's what may have happened. Either that or gross abuse. Brake stands, dropping it into gear at 2000 rpm, popping the clutch, etc.
So that's what may have happened. Either that or gross abuse. Brake stands, dropping it into gear at 2000 rpm, popping the clutch, etc.
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The truck was in 2WD BUT the front hubs were locked. As for the previous responses, no abuse, and the u-joint was brand new, and thoroughly greased. I installed them sunday night, it blew up monday morning.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Bonita Springs FL
Where did you get your u-joint from? Was it the cheapest ones that Napa had in stock?
They are weak to begin with, and if you got a defective one then anything can happen. I only buy spicer u-joints. They fit perfectly every time and I haven't had a failure yet. I get mine from jeff's bronco graveyard.
They are weak to begin with, and if you got a defective one then anything can happen. I only buy spicer u-joints. They fit perfectly every time and I haven't had a failure yet. I get mine from jeff's bronco graveyard.