broken front inner axle

[rlm18]

I made it to Conifer this afternoon, went out in the snow with my brother-in-law, and broke my left front inner and u joint. Anybody stock these in the Conifer/Denver area. Its supposed to be a D44?. Maybe stock? I am trying to get info from the po. I suppose if there is a place, I could pull it and take it in and figure it out. Any tips on pulling and re installing. This'll be my first attempt at axle work. Thank you. Russell

[Justin]

I may have spare. The swap is fairly easy and is well documented. I'm writing this while taking off on a plane to San Bernardino, but can look this weekend.

[Viperwolf1]

That is a D44. You can use the short side axle from several donors and get a larger u-joint.

eb_axles.gif

[Digger]

While you're at it, order the Spicer 760x joint.

I wasted two sets of axles when my parts store HD u-joint broke and took out the shafts.

No issuses since installing the Spicer joint.

[rlm18]

Alright. Great info! Thank yall! Ill do some more reseachin.

[colby45]

Swapping the axles is very straightforward. I am a total rookie and replacing the u-joints in the D30 on my rig was one of the first things I did. There are some great youtube videos out there along with documentation if you like to follow along to those. That's what I did.

I used this video when I did mine. Obviously things might differ slightly from truck to truck but the overall procedure is the same.

[Jesus_man]

Note that the axle seals on the D44 are just outside the pumpkin and can tear pretty easily. So just be careful when guiding the shaft back in. Replacing those seals requires you to pull the diff gears!

[rlm18]

Thank you Colby. Seems doable. Now I just gotta find the parts.

[rlm18]

Note that the axle seals on the D44 are just outside the pumpkin and can tear pretty easily. So just be careful when guiding the shaft back in. Replacing those seals requires you to pull the diff gears!

Roger that!

[colby45]

I lightly greased the diff side of the axle to try to get it to slide in without tearing the seal. Worked pretty well.

[rlm18]

Viperwolf, Digger.

Is there a local (Denver/Conifer) store that has the parts, that yall like to use? Donor vehicle axles and the 760 spicer joint? Or am I looking at having to pull the axles off a rig and online sources?

Justin thank you but I do not want to take your spare and I hope to have this fixed up before the weekend.

[rlm18]

Viperwolf, Digger.

Is there a local (Denver/Conifer) store that has the parts, that yall like to use? Donor vehicle axles and the 760 spicer joint? Or am I looking at having to pull the axles off a rig and online sources?

Justin thank you but I do not want to take your spare and I hope to have this fixed up before the weekend.

Well, after doing some more research and talking to a few more folks, I went ahead and ordered a whole front chromoly set with 760x spicers from the hut. Should be delivered to my sisters in a few days. Hopefully the weather warms up and it quits snowing so I am not too miserable working on it.

[rlm18]

Well the bendix brake caliper stumped me for a bit but I got it off and pulled everything apart. I came across several concerns though. The rubber gaskets where the axle butts up to the axle housing and to the wheel housing are shot. Hopefully i can pick them up easily at a local parts store. Inside the axle housing is a lot of junk. Clean it out somehow? Do I need to open and drain the differential too? New axle seals? Other concerns are noted with the photos. Any comments, suggestions, opinions would be greatly appreciated! This is the first time I have had anything like this apart. - Russell

P.S. Can I just clean, regrease, get new gaskets, put it back together and be fine? Time is a concern, I leave for SW CO on Thursday.

Thank you again!

[Justin]

New seals should be available at most parts stores, as they're a common part. Same with new spindle bearings, although they'd need to be pressed in. I would do new wheel bearings. They're cheap, and a failure is a really big deal. The inner that has a bunch of play is normal, and is under tension once correctly torqued to spec by the spindle nuts. Don't sweat the differently shaped axle, as it's not a big deal. As long as you've got it apart you might as well replace everything.

[Rox Crusher]

The junk in the axle tube isnt a big deal.

The ends of the housing are open (other than a dust shield) and so sometimes mud and water will get in there. If it looks greasy / oily then your axle seals (located in the diff housing where the axle enters the diff) may be worn to the point where it is leaking diff gear lube into the housing.

It might pay to make sure your diff vent tubes aren't blocked and that you still have sufficient gear lube in the diff.

[Gunnibronco]

Just don't push your axle through the junk in the bottom of the axle tube when installing it. It's kind of awkward, but you want to "float" your axle into the diff. You don't want to pick up a bunch of crap and push it into the diff.

[landshark]

I used a shop vac with a rubber hose duct taped on the end to get all the loose crap out of my axle tubes a few times.

[rlm18]

Well this is a sigh of relief! Cravenbronco helped me out at the parts store with all my seals and bearings. Digging out the shop vac and warming up my floating skills.

Will I be able to cold chisel the bearing out and press/hammer it in with a similar fitting socket?

Ill be topping off both differentials when I am done with all of this. My right rear was leaking and I replaced that axle seal earlier this week. I just used a socket and hammer for that one. Hopefully it works.

Thank you much for all the input and advice!!!

[rlm18]

Well I got it all in and rolling again. Thank you again for all the help!

[rlm18]

But it appears the axle seals are leaking. I was afraid of this. The differential was pretty low when I went to top it off. So, I get to do it all again plus, sometime later.

Does anyone want the passenger side axle?

[colby45]

I did the same thing. Tore the whole axle down to replace u-joints. Could've done the seals, but didn't and they are leaky. I regret nothing....but I feel your pain.

[Justin]

Don't sweat it. The oil level for the front end only really matters when it's in 4wd. Check it once in awhile and before you go 4 wheeling. Broncos don't leak, they mark their territory.

[rlm18]

I did the same thing. Tore the whole axle down to replace u-joints. Could've done the seals, but didn't and they are leaky. I regret nothing....but I feel your pain.

Well, when I am back in town in November and neither of us have fixed the seals yet, we should have a party and fix them.

[rlm18]

Don't sweat it. The oil level for the front end only really matters when it's in 4wd. Check it once in awhile and before you go 4 wheeling. Broncos don't leak, they mark their territory.

I like that. Just marking territory. My bronco has a whole lot of territory. I have engine, transfer case and transmission leaks to fix too.

[colby45]

Well, when I am back in town in November and neither of us have fixed the seals yet, we should have a party and fix them.

Yeah let's do it. I've got a leaky t-case and engine as well, so we could get it all done maybe.

[akaFrankCastle]

I like that. Just marking territory. My bronco has a whole lot of territory. I have engine, transfer case and transmission leaks to fix too.

Broncos are a lot like helicopters maintained by the Army; if you don't see fluids leaking out, don't get in because it's empty.

[rlm18]

I like that. Just marking territory. My bronco has a whole lot of territory. I have engine, transfer case and transmission leaks to fix too.

Broncos are a lot like helicopters maintained by the Army; if you don't see fluids leaking out, don't get in because it's empty.

Ah geez. That is an unsettling feeling.

[rlm18]

Well, when I am back in town in November and neither of us have fixed the seals yet, we should have a party and fix them.

Yeah let's do it. I've got a leaky t-case and engine as well, so we could get it all done maybe.

Sounds like a plan. Ill holler when I am back in town in November.

Holler if you are in the Durango area this summer. We can go out see what else we can break or cause to leak.

[Gunnibronco]

Holler if you are in the Durango area this summer. We can go out see what else we can break or cause to leak.

Lets try to organize something around Ouray/Silverton this summer. The club needs to get back down there!

[Dirtheadz]

Is this a leaky front seal Thread? Im not sure ive owned a bronco that did leak from one orifice or another & yes my front seals are currently leaking as well, but motivation is not present!