D44 wheel joints

bradrhale · 10-12-2009, 08:11 AM

question to anyone who has done them. can the u joints be replaced without taking the hub assembly and knuckle down?? my truck romping through the mud this past weekend started making a ticking sound in 4hi only. upon further inspection, my pass side u joint has a bit of play in it from the needle bearings and not the cups. if i can do this without removing the entire assembly, that would be nice. if i have to break everything down, then i am going to bite the bullet and replace the ball joints while im in there already. they seem tight but i dont feel like taking all that junk down again in the future.

mudseeker · 10-12-2009, 10:18 AM

alldata says it's a 5 hour job for both sides.
sounds like you have to tear it down, want a hand?

mrjohnwayne · 10-12-2009, 07:06 PM

gotta pull hub off, but you do not need to remove the knuckle. axle should slide through the knuckle once the hub is removed.

bradrhale · 10-12-2009, 07:39 PM

what am i going to find in the hub?? spindle with a castle nut or lock nut?? i was hoping that i could fish the cross in there and slide the caps over the ends but i from what you suggest, i cant do that, can i??
thanks for the heads up.

Crmzendrgone · 10-12-2009, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrjohnwayne

gotta pull hub off, but you do not need to remove the knuckle. axle should slide through the knuckle once the hub is removed.

I second that there was no way I knew how to do it still installed. Thats how we did them at the dearler

Crmzendrgone · 10-12-2009, 10:09 PM

I believe they are castle nuts.

bradrhale · 10-13-2009, 01:40 PM

if i think about it, ill take a few pics for our readers out there. there may be an on-hold status on this though as there maybe a once in a lifetime deal swinging my way. if i am taking the hub assembly off, i might as well do some parts replacing while i have everything down. the truck is still running good and making no sounds but the drawback to that is i have to keep it out of 4wd and the pressure off that joint.
didnt 75 mention one time that the spindle nut had to be taken off with a special socket but could be made out of a piece of PVC pipe?? i have no hub cap to do a visual on and am required to remove the wheel for an inspection. must be a dodge thing.

mrjohnwayne · 10-13-2009, 04:50 PM

depends on the style of hub you have. If you have a serviceable hub than yes you will need a hub socket that looks like this

if it is a unit bearing (non serviceable) than you do not need a hub socket, there should be some sort of snap ring or nut inside the dust cover (you do have full auto hubs right?) and then the hub will unbolt from the backside of the knuckle.

bradrhale · 10-13-2009, 06:39 PM

sealed bearing so that answers my question. i do have auto hubs, not really my choice but came with the truck. thanks john.

bradrhale · 10-24-2009, 09:30 PM

finally got it in. the cups were dried up and looked like it had no grease for about a million years now. one cap was missing most of the rollers. the universal wouldnt even turn which explains why i could hear the popping while turning in 4wd and not going straight.
while there, changed the front brakes as they were crystalized. realized then that my E brake didnt work. brake down the rear wheels to discover that near all the shoes were wore off. trip to town to buy them do dads. tranny fluid level is low. pan bolts are a bit loose so tightened those up in hopes that it will seal. oil change and considered that chore done.
tearing down the u joints in the wheels on a d44 is quite easy. wish i would have taken pics but had a rack and pinion to replace on a dakota afterward and deemed i didnt have the time to stop and smell the flowers. sorry everyone.

10-12-2009, 08:11 AM	#1
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 8,014	D44 wheel joints question to anyone who has done them. can the u joints be replaced without taking the hub assembly and knuckle down?? my truck romping through the mud this past weekend started making a ticking sound in 4hi only. upon further inspection, my pass side u joint has a bit of play in it from the needle bearings and not the cups. if i can do this without removing the entire assembly, that would be nice. if i have to break everything down, then i am going to bite the bullet and replace the ball joints while im in there already. they seem tight but i dont feel like taking all that junk down again in the future.

10-12-2009, 10:18 AM	#2
mudseeker Senior Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: michigan Posts: 6,373	alldata says it's a 5 hour job for both sides. sounds like you have to tear it down, want a hand? __________________ i'd rather be hunting

10-12-2009, 07:06 PM	#3
mrjohnwayne Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 3,722	gotta pull hub off, but you do not need to remove the knuckle. axle should slide through the knuckle once the hub is removed. __________________ John Wayne 2000 F-350 7.3L Powerstroke 4x4

10-12-2009, 10:09 PM	#6
Crmzendrgone Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,420	I believe they are castle nuts. __________________ ENGINES PRODUCE POWER. MOTORS RECEIVE POWER. https://lastroundbestround.com/Home_Page.html

10-13-2009, 04:50 PM	#8
mrjohnwayne Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 3,722	depends on the style of hub you have. If you have a serviceable hub than yes you will need a hub socket that looks like this if it is a unit bearing (non serviceable) than you do not need a hub socket, there should be some sort of snap ring or nut inside the dust cover (you do have full auto hubs right?) and then the hub will unbolt from the backside of the knuckle. __________________ John Wayne 2000 F-350 7.3L Powerstroke 4x4

10-12-2009, 07:39 PM	#4
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 8,014	what am i going to find in the hub?? spindle with a castle nut or lock nut?? i was hoping that i could fish the cross in there and slide the caps over the ends but i from what you suggest, i cant do that, can i?? thanks for the heads up.

10-13-2009, 01:40 PM	#7
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 8,014	if i think about it, ill take a few pics for our readers out there. there may be an on-hold status on this though as there maybe a once in a lifetime deal swinging my way. if i am taking the hub assembly off, i might as well do some parts replacing while i have everything down. the truck is still running good and making no sounds but the drawback to that is i have to keep it out of 4wd and the pressure off that joint. didnt 75 mention one time that the spindle nut had to be taken off with a special socket but could be made out of a piece of PVC pipe?? i have no hub cap to do a visual on and am required to remove the wheel for an inspection. must be a dodge thing.

10-13-2009, 06:39 PM	#9
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 8,014	sealed bearing so that answers my question. i do have auto hubs, not really my choice but came with the truck. thanks john.

10-24-2009, 09:30 PM	#10
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 8,014	finally got it in. the cups were dried up and looked like it had no grease for about a million years now. one cap was missing most of the rollers. the universal wouldnt even turn which explains why i could hear the popping while turning in 4wd and not going straight. while there, changed the front brakes as they were crystalized. realized then that my E brake didnt work. brake down the rear wheels to discover that near all the shoes were wore off. trip to town to buy them do dads. tranny fluid level is low. pan bolts are a bit loose so tightened those up in hopes that it will seal. oil change and considered that chore done. tearing down the u joints in the wheels on a d44 is quite easy. wish i would have taken pics but had a rack and pinion to replace on a dakota afterward and deemed i didnt have the time to stop and smell the flowers. sorry everyone.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
ball joints	96-sierra	GMC Truck Forum	9	07-31-2009 07:58 PM
u joints	shorty27	GMC Truck Forum	5	06-15-2009 10:54 AM
Replacing front wheel joints	yathnk	4x4 trucks / off road	7	11-11-2008 01:50 PM
u-joints	sdbgsmith	Chevy Truck Forum	9	10-17-2008 12:01 PM
U-joints	lonestar1128	Chevy Truck Forum	12	08-28-2008 10:33 AM