bent axle
 

anyone have a good way to check for a bent axle. my d44 may have a slight smile in it but not noticeable to the naked eye. any ideas or tricks ??

Re: bent axle
 

Not sure a good way to do it in the truck. I have checked several in the lathe.
Jimmy

Re: bent axle
 

remove the carrier and shafts and use an alignment bar.

.... Looking for the procedure will post when i find it

general idea

The best way is to get a straight peice of round stock steel that is as close in diameter as possible to the splined end of your axle shafts. Remove the shafts and slide the steel rod through the housing so it protrudes from each exle flange (if you have a thrust block installed you'll have to take it out to be able to slide the rod through). Then take mesurements from the top and bottom of the rod to the bearing bore. If the measurements between top and bottom aren't equal on either tube then it's bent up or down relative to the centerline of the differential case.