Front axle seems really stiff

[northernleitz]

Got a Dana 44 sitting under my Bronco project. I had it set up at Central Four Wheel Drive with 4.56 gears and an Air Locker. I added factory-style disc brakes and hardened axles. It is quite tough to turn over. I noticed this when I picked it up at the shop. The u-joint seemed much more difficult to turn by hand than the rear 9" assembly, but I didn't feel the clunkiness that is associated with over-tightened bearings. After I got everything put back together, it was extremely difficult to turn over. In fact I can only turn the u-joint about a quarter of a turn. With the hubs out the wheels spin easily so I know it isn't the wheel bearings. It is definitely more difficult to turn now that it is assembled than when it was just gears and a housing, but even then, it was really stiff. Is this normal? Anybody have any suggestions for loosening it up a little bit?

 

[S_bolt19]

You have to remember that you have a locker that things are going through now. Even though the locker isn't engaged, it is still turning it somewhat. That and the fact that the gears don't have any wear in them to give the free wheeling feel. A combination of new gears, locker, bearings, u-joints, etc. and things will seem tight. I wouldn't worry too much about it until you get it in and start running it.

 

[northernleitz]

You have to remember that you have a locker that things are going through now. Even though the locker isn't engaged, it is still turning it somewhat. That and the fact that the gears don't have any wear in them to give the free wheeling feel. A combination of new gears, locker, bearings, u-joints, etc. and things will seem tight. I wouldn't worry too much about it until you get it in and start running it.

Thanks for the tip. I will give it a try when I get the Bronco back together and running again (three years, maybe?).

 

[bigbluebronc]

Thanks for the tip. I will give it a try when I get the Bronco back together and running again (three years, maybe?).

three years try three days are we wheelin this weekend or what, tell the kids too go play computer games and the wife too read a book too them and go wrench, a bronco is a erector set bolt on bolt off gettin done and take the kids too a higher level of discovery in the woods

BBB