Cleaning the Dana 44 Front and 12 Bolt Rear Axle
Today got around to steam cleaning the front and rear axle housings and certain parts. Mostly good news and a little worn-out news. The Dana 44 front which I thought was a '78 and looks like it is a '79 per housing code. Cleaned for a little more then an hour at about 180 degrees, lots of steam. Did a really nice job on getting the inside clean!
The 12 bolt rear axles are toast, getting new ones. The Dana 44 front axle is getting all new ball joints ( upper were good and lowers worn/loose) and axle u-joints (ok in one direction and gritty in other).
Took the ball joints out first this morning, like others have reported here, removed the nuts, and broke the knuckle loose with ball joints still installed from axle tube, by hammering on axle tube with snap-on dead blow hammer. Some came loose very easy with additional blow to ball joint end. One needed more force, allowing for F_ _ _, frustration to be released
Then used ball joint press to remove them from knuckle. Pretty easy with tools needed, 15 to 20 mins.
First photos parts loaded going to area for steam cleaning, last two bad axles where bearing has damaged it.
L