axle came out

[discodago]

i need some help, i have a 76 traveler 345/727 dana 44's with trac-loc, today when i was going to my parents house, while driving down a dirt road about 3 miles from thier house, i just happen to look in the side mirror to see that my left rear tire and axle was coming out, i slowed to a stop, jacked the dana 44 up. i could pull the axle right out, it looks as if the bearing was destroyed, my fault, that i havent checked or changed them in a good while, there was nothing on the axle no bearing or anything, the splines look sheared a bit, i pulled the diff cover(i had checked it today and it was full) it doesnt look like anything was hurt inside, my question is, what would be the best options i have to fix this, sould i buy replacement axle kits and replace both or?, and also how hard is it thanks i advance for the help, i have searched and got some links to axle replacements

[scoutman800]

did you search this forum? lots of info as it can be pretty common. the older setup had an inner and outer seal, newer style had just the outer and gear lube kept the bearing wet. i jack mine up at a wierd angle to get extra fluid in it. also you need to make sure to use the proper bearings. timken set 10 is what you need if memory serves. there is also a chicago rawhide, but personally, i'm more of a timken fan and don't recall the other number. is the axle scored? pics would help a lot as it's hard to say if the axles are still okay with a description. if you're not sure you might want to take em by a shop and get a techs opinion. no bearing at all?

[scoutman800]

a quick search found this
http://www.binderplanet.com/forums/s...r+axle+bearing
lots of good info on here

[joshua m]

Mine did the same awhile back. When searching different vendors i found one that makes a heavy duty retaining plate that they claim prevents the axle from coming out. when i do the traveler i am going to install a set for piece of mind. here is the link to the vendor. Good luck
http://www.ihonly.com/httpdocs/Parts/Axles/axles.htm

[Erik VanRenselaar]

The bearing retainer plate keeps the axleshaft in place when EVERYTHING else is in order. The bearing itself must be intact and not seized, and the clinch ring that keeps the inner race on the axleshaft must be securely on the shaft. When something fails, the axleshaft will migrate out of the housing.

I have a set of RPT heavy-duty bearing retainers (awaiting installation), but I have never seen any info that these will keep an axleshaft in place after a bearing falls apart or a clinch ring slips off. I'll need to look into that.

The Timken SET10 bearings are fail-resistant, from the info I've seen, where a common non-tapered roller bearing replacement will easily allow the axleshaft to slide out if the bearing disintegrates.

[discodago]

the splines on the old axle shaft are a little boogered up, so i'm going to get 2 new chromoly axle shaft kits with the timken set 10 bearings, and those hd retainer plates,and just do both sides of the rear end, i have read alot of good info on those axles. now i just got to clean all the crap out of the tube, just out of curiosity, the bearings that are on the sides of the trac lok, how do you check those, and should they be replaced, thanks

[Erik VanRenselaar]

Originally Posted by discodago

...just out of curiosity, the bearings that are on the sides of the trac lok, how do you check those, and should they be replaced, thanks

Those bearings are the differential carrier bearings. They have shims behind them and they are *set up* at the factory. If the carrier turns easily in the housing, and doesn't make a bad grinding noise, I say leave the bearings alone. To replace them requires the carrier/gearset to be set up again.