Dana 44 inner hub seal? What the heck?

[jimmydean]

So I was rebuilding the driver side hub after replacing the drive axle on my Dana 44. But when I went to NAPA to get the inner seal, they can't find it by number and nothing matches up!

It's the large seal pressed into the hub that sits against the rubber seal on the drive axle. Does anyone know the seal I'm talking about?

I got a kit from NAPA that included a new metal ring and seal that presses on to the outer drive axle, and it also included the roller bearing that is pressed into the hub itself. But I need to replace the large seal that goes outside the bearing on the back side of the hub.

Anyone have a part number? The number on the seal doesn't come up on NAPA's system. Autozone gave me a deer in the headlights look when I showed them the old one, so I just walked out.

A part number would be sweet. Thanks, guys.

[wibilly]

sorry no part # but i got mine at o'rylies, it may of still been bumper to bumper then. the quality of in stock parts has realy gone down hill since they changed hands. i found every thing but the tin deflecters for the outside of the inner axels them i had to make myself

[Random Guy]

I got the seal for my 68 with no problem from Autozone. It could have something to do with the fact that the manger was also 68 c10 owner, but he did say it was an in stock part.

[woodridge]

Is any of this what you need? Part # PBK1 at NAPA.

[jimmydean]

Originally Posted by woodridge

Is any of this what you need? Part # PBK1 at NAPA.

That's the kit I got. The seal I need is the large metal seal that presses into the hub and sits against the large rubber seal. It sits just outside of the needle bearing in that kit.

I am taking the seal back in today to see if we can match it up. If not, I will take a picture.

[earl87gta]

This is who I get my parts from for my axles he is a 4x4 guy so he knows what your talking about when you need somthing. mike@partsmike.com.

[jimmydean]

The one on the box is the original, the other one was what NAPA had with the same ID/OD measurements.

I have a feeling I will need to rebuild the whole axle within the year based on how bad this side was. So for now I just want it back together so I might drive it. I will see about a complete rebuild kit and make that a Spring project when I redo the spring lift as well.

[msgross]

That's the seal that holds the inside hub bearing on. It doesn't to the axle at all, did you mean spindle?

Looks at my build thread and I might have some ideas for you... I did my u-joints at the same time, they were $15 ea.

[vectorit]

I have an original GM parts counter book that I have used as my bible for my Suburban, and found that if I know the GM part number I can get it straight from GM. You just need the part # to give to the parts guy at a Chevy dealer, otherwise he or she won't be able to help you since they no longer have these old books. But, they do have the ability to look up part numbers on the "main system".
I have been able to order some really obsure chassis stuff from this book, that no one knew what the heck I was talking about till I gave them a part number.

If you are still having a hard time, let me know and I will scan the page you need. It shows an exploded view of the axle, with every part involved along with GM part numbers to each one.

[jimmydean]

Originally Posted by vectorit

I have an original GM parts counter book that I have used as my bible for my Suburban, and found that if I know the GM part number I can get it straight from GM. You just need the part # to give to the parts guy at a Chevy dealer, otherwise he or she won't be able to help you since they no longer have these old books. But, they do have the ability to look up part numbers on the "main system".
I have been able to order some really obsure chassis stuff from this book, that no one knew what the heck I was talking about till I gave them a part number.

If you are still having a hard time, let me know and I will scan the page you need. It shows an exploded view of the axle, with every part involved along with GM part numbers to each one.

That would be awesome! The seal I got "works", but I don't like it. email me at d_r_mcdermott@yahoo.com if you'd like to send it, or just PM.

That's great!

[special-K]

That kit you got from Napa is a spindle kit.That`s why the inner bearing seal wasn`t included.Pep Boys or anywhere will have it.I can get numbers from the 46-72 10-20 book,too.Some parts are deadend,though.What you`ll get will not be n.o.s.Just repackaged parts.The last bearings I got were Japanese and that was 15 years ago.

[msgross]

I bought the same kit but didn't have to use the metal flange part... My axle shafts had that part alreay installed too.... It should come with a new inner wheel bearing I would think...

[jimmydean]

OK, next question:

I got everything bolted up and now the drive axle is tight. Is it because the seals are all new, or is something wrong?

I can spin it when I just have the axle in the tube, but when I mount the hub, it's so tight, I can't spin it by hand. I have taken everything apart and put it back together and it's the way I took it out. So is it supposed to be that tight? Or am I screwed?

[msgross]

are both axles like this? Is it an open carrier? are the lockouts locked? wheels jacked up? diveshaft hooked up? need a little more info...

By the way you explain it you have something jammed. Did you bolt on the entire system, spindle, brake plate, hub, , lockouts, tire?

[jimmydean]

Originally Posted by msgross

are both axles like this? Is it an open carrier? are the lockouts locked? wheels jacked up? diveshaft hooked up? need a little more info...

By the way you explain it you have something jammed. Did you bolt on the entire system, spindle, brake plate, hub, , lockouts, tire?

I will try to explain.

The front axle is on stands. The drivers side wheel is off to replace the drive axle. I pulled apart the driver side and while I was in there, I replaced the bearing and seal in the hub along with the inner hub seal (see picture above).

When I have the hub bolted on with the brake plate, I can no longer turn the axle shaft. If I unbolt the hub, I can spin the drive axle freely. The transfer case is in neutral, so the drive shaft spins with the driver side axle shaft.

Everything is installed the way it cam off, only with new axle shaft bearings and seal.

[msgross]

Is that the axle that I sent you? Does it look like it's going in all the way?

You didn't use the big metal ring that came in the NAPA kit did you? I didn't need it on mine since that piece is built into the short axle shaft....

[special-K]

That deflector presses onto the shaft.It`s a seperate piece and sometimes gets damaged,so they provide it.When you say you bolt the hub to the brake plate,you mean the spindle to the knuckle which has the backing plate bolted to it with the one bolt,right?It won`t spin real freely with the good parts and packed with grease.When you turn it,what does it take to turn?Can you grab the yokes and move it by hand with resistance?

[jimmydean]

Originally Posted by special-K

When you say you bolt the hub to the brake plate,you mean the spindle to the knuckle which has the backing plate bolted to it with the one bolt,right?

There are 6 bolts that hold the spindle to the knuckle and the disc plate goes on there too. Right now I have two bolts (top and bottom) holding the spindle and brake plate to the knuckle and I can't spin that side drive axle by hand.

msgoss, that is the axle shaft you sent me. I pulled the metal ring off since the NAPA kit came with a new one.

[special-K]

In that kit,what did you get for the inner-most washer,I guess you`d call it?The original is bronze.It`s the first thing that goes on the stub axle.I think most new ones are nylon,I`ve heard.It could just be that snug.I had ended up with two bronze ones on and couldn`t get the snap ring on at the outer tip of the axle.That was on a quicky repair where I couldn`t clean everything up right.It had me baffled for awhile.The only thing that can make that kind of resistance would be that spindle bearing being too snug on the axle shaft.Could you disconnect the rear driveshaft and idle the truck in low range to test it if nothing else obvious is found?It may be just that tight on tolerance.If the spindle slid on the knuckle without forcing and it seated ok,I think you should be ok.It`s hard not being there,but I would do what I just suggested.Give it a try.

[msgross]

Might need to take the diff cover off and see whats happening inside there... Tim is talking about the "thrust washer" or spacer I think. I will look for the nice exploded pic that I used to repair my axles. The axle shaft should still have some in and out play when the spindle is on, not much but it should be that tight....

[jimmydean]

Originally Posted by special-K

In that kit,what did you get for the inner-most washer,I guess you`d call it?The original is bronze.It`s the first thing that goes on the axle stub.I think most new ones are nylon,

The nylon washer goes on the drive axle and sits inside the rubber ring that went on to the new metal ring pressed on the outer drive axle, right?

So on the axle I have:

After the u-joint, the metal ring pressed on
Rubber seal on the metal ring
Nylon washer

Then on the hub:
Outer most seal (3" metal seal)
Inner roller bearing that the axle sits on

I can slide the hub over the axle easy. It pressed up until the last 1/4" or so. I can thread the nuts on the bolts. The axle moves at that point. It's when I tighten it down that the axle gets too snug to move freely. I will take some pictures tonight.

Some exploded view shots would be great though.

[msgross]

somethings not right... The hub never actually touches the axle until you put on your lockouts. if the axle moves freely with the spindle and backing plate on then it should move freely with the hub slid on it too..... I assume that you have the rotor on the hub?

[jimmydean]

What is "46" in that picture? Other than that, it looks just like mine.

47, 48, 49a, and 50 came in the kit from NAPA. 49 is the big seal that nobody knew about, but I don't know what 46 is. Does that go on before 47 goes on? It wasn't on there on the axle you sent me.

[msgross]

46 is the axle shaft itself....

[jimmydean]

Originally Posted by msgross

46 is the axle shaft itself....

Well, then I don't know what the deal is. Guess I will just bolt it up and see what happens.

I have the front on stands, I will put the back on stands and see what happens when it's engaged.