64' K10 Project Long Bed

[aotte1]

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

[aotte1]

More Axle Cleaning and Findings.

The hub assemblies are a little worn on the bottom just in from the threads, thinking about rotating the top to the bottom to give good surface to bottom of bearing where max load is. Good idea???? First two photos are of this area on hubs. Other photos of parts cleaned.

[aotte1]

A Few More Axle Cleaning Photos - Sway Bar/Spring U-Bolt top Plate

The sway bar bushing are really dry and coming apart, need to check the inside part to see how bad that area is. Have not found a replacement rubber part, may have to go with other material. Any suggestions on what can be used? Sway bar has some of the original casting slag still on it.

[aotte1]

Front Axle Backing Plate/ Caliper Bracket

Photos of the back plate and caliper bracket, show small areas of gold cad. plating on the front and back. The photos do not show the color good of the old gold colored cadmium plating. It is also present inside the bolt holes.

Not sure about the black paint on top of cad. ??? part of axle black-out at Dana, part of truck black-out at GM, black spray paint by previous owner ( could be but does not look like it, more like a factory application). Did not look to see manufacture emblem stamping on bracket.

Note: for reference this is a '79 Dana 44, using on the '65
L

[aotte1]

More photos of axles parts later. One of axles housings back in garage.

Les

[aotte1]

Rear Spring Shackle

Working on restoring the rear springs and found one of the shackles is worn a lot. Looking to find one from the not very common rear leaf spring trucks. Researching which model trucks had them. Do know the front spring parts were used on several different models.

[aotte1]

Another photo using IPad only one photo at time

[_mg]

Originally Posted by aotte1

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

Hi Les, just catching up on your build. How was it to remove the front axle gear carrier?