front end...eww

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Oct 21, 2008 | 01:22 PM

plastikosmd

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front end...eww

well my left front disintegrated on the highway..costing me bearings, axle, the spindle, 4wd aftermarket warn locking hub etc..(pretty much everything from the axle out).this is on a dana 44 front end...if anyone has a line on parts in the new england area...my mechanic would sure appreciate it! or any advice. it seems the wheel bearing was the source of the issue...then everything went and welded itself together in a spectacular and very short fashion...I do have a nice picture of the melted locking hub dripping out onto the rim that i will post at some point.
on the plus side...it turns to the left much much better

Oct 21, 2008 | 01:32 PM

plastikosmd

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also...say i was to swap out the 44 for a 60 on the front...this has been discssed before...i have 4:10 rear...and i was told 4:11 in the front...is it ok to do 4:10 in the front on the dana 60. is there any reason to suspect any additional 'binding'

thanks

Oct 21, 2008 | 01:52 PM

Alvin in AZ

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From: Gadsden Purchase

Quote:

Originally Posted by plastikosmd

[COLOR=black]
it seems the wheel bearing was the source of the issue...then everything
went and welded itself together in a spectacular and very short fashion...

You mentioned having a mechanic. :/

So how often did -you- repack the wheel bearings?
How often did you have "your mechanic" repack the bearings?
Did you get them repacked at different places each time?

Several years ago I switched over to the "red" grease and man...
is it ever better stuff or what? :) (Marvel Mystery brand)

The trick is to do it yourself and use one type of grease so you don't have to
clean everything out each time. No washing the parts. With your fingers just
scoop out the "old looking" grease and add new grease. The red stuff makes
it easy to see the old dirty grease, besides just being better stuff.

With the hub spinning, I tighten the bearing lightly with a wrench then back it
off and then tighten it again, with my fingers lightly and call it good. :)

Alvin in AZ
ps- I just repacked the front wheel bearings on my inherited '91 F150
pps- ~70,000 miles and I believe it was the first time they'd been repacked
ppps- scrape your fingers on the edge and corners of an open cardboard box

Oct 21, 2008 | 02:08 PM

plastikosmd

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well, the truck is new to me, only owned it 2 months...so have not repacked until now

Oct 21, 2008 | 02:27 PM

Alvin in AZ

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From: Gadsden Purchase

Quote:

Originally Posted by plastikosmd

...truck is new to me, only owned it 2 months...

Oh heck. :/
There it is tho. :)
Who knows what the other guy did...
Might have driven it through water or for too many miles since the last re-packing job. :/

I've never owned a 4 wheel drive but have "helped" repack the bearings.
Need some special tools for those. No sweat, it's a one time purchase.
I'd look for used ones. :)

My two wheel drive only had to get itself and/or dirt bikes and/or
dune buggy and/or four wheelers from point A to point B. :)

...and since Feb of '75 it's done that -every time- without fail. :)

Alvin in AZ

Oct 21, 2008 | 03:26 PM

plastikosmd

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yep..sigh..well all will be done now...i got lucky and found a dana 60...so will just swap that in...that will save some time and believe it or not..cost..so upgrade for less....any advice on the 4:10 front/rear question. also...it is a dana 60 that is 'high pinion' not sure what that is..but i think it is what i need? finally..is the u-joint different when going from a 44 to a 60? thanks...need to find the parts

Oct 21, 2008 | 03:59 PM

Alvin in AZ

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From: Gadsden Purchase

Quote:

Originally Posted by plastikosmd

...got lucky and found a dana 60...so will just swap that in
...that will save some time and believe it or not..cost..so upgrade for less....

Cool :)

Quote:

...any advice on the 4:10 front/rear question.

Oh heck, forgot the "4.11 with 4.10" question. ...it's cool! :)
I've read it here that a setup like that had came stock even. :) (??)

Alvin in AZ
ps- funny a non-4WDer answering question about 4WD :)
pps- where's the 4WDer's? (I'm making it up as I go ;)