Working on front axle Dana 44 84 Chevy Suburban
 

I am in the process of working on a Dana 44 on a 3/4 ton 1984 Chevy Suburban I pulled the trigger on a few months ago; work has been pulling me away from getting it worked on. I have both sides of teh axle apart; almost done with the driver side; quit last night before the rain started; no garage. The front axle has seen water; as the 4x4 hubs, the grease looks like "super chunk peanut butter". I am replacing both u joints in the front axle as well as the spindle bearing and the "rubber boot" and the plastic washer; aka spindle rebuild kit. Now would the differential lube be just as bad, or am I thinking ahead of myself here? This truck was originally purchased by a rancher in Texas and I have a copy of the original build sheet and the dealer's cast aluminum badge is still on the tailgate. I am also going to change out the steering column and the rag joint steering shaft to install a Borgeson universal shaft. I have a "laundry list" on what I need to get done in the long term; but teh shrt term, I want to get the front axle done as well as the column and steering shaft for the short term to make it my daily driver. Also what is everyone running for K&N airfilters on a 350 with a Q Jet carb. I just have the factory air cleaner.

Re: Working on front axle Dana 44 84 Chevy Suburban
 

If your pulling shafts to do bearings, the lube is getting replaced anyway as you’ll be pulling the diff cover.

I plan on doing this soon in my 88 as I am starting to get leaks at the shaft seals. Please post pics and progress; I’ll gladly follow along!

Re: Working on front axle Dana 44 84 Chevy Suburban
 

A 1984 will have the GM 10 bolt in the front. All of the outer parts will interchange, but the inner shafts and interior are different. that is of course if the front end has not been replaced in the last 38 years

Re: Working on front axle Dana 44 84 Chevy Suburban
 

Will do that. I will post photos from my phone when I get the time as I am currently working over 60 hours a week. And the only spot I have "cancer" (rust holes) is the lower outside rocker back door driver side.

Re: Working on front axle Dana 44 84 Chevy Suburban
 

A friend of mine who is more versed in the axle department than I suggested the front axle is a corporate 14 bolt and not a Dana 44 as I originally thought it was, the rear is a 14 bolt as well, not sure if it's a Full floater or not; the truck has it's 4 "dog dish" hubcaps.

Re: Working on front axle Dana 44 84 Chevy Suburban
 

I made a mistake on my burb; a friend of mine identified both front & rear axles as 14 bolt "corporate axles"; the rear is not a 14 bolt full floater. The front axle is a 14 bolt. This is my flickr link (photo sharing page) for my Suburban: https://www.flickr.com/photos/506213...77720300825096

Re: Working on front axle Dana 44 84 Chevy Suburban
 

14 bolt front axle?...dont think so.. should be Corp 10b...rear most likely 14b semi float

Look at your front diff cover ..see the 10 bolts?.. see the ears on the housings...
, you've got a Corp 10b..

Now look at the rear.. pop a hubcap off.. if theres no axle bolts showing , you have a semi float 14b rear

Re: Working on front axle Dana 44 84 Chevy Suburban
 

There is such a thing as a 14 bolt front axle. BUT they are custom built and most of them start at almost 10k to build for a complete. Not likely at all that you posses one of these. Being an 84 3/4 ton 4x, you'll have a 14b semi in the rear and a 10 bolt front. Pics will tell all.


It'll also have small block with a turbo 400 and a 208 t-case

Re: Working on front axle Dana 44 84 Chevy Suburban
 

KW..heres pics of his diff covers

Re: Working on front axle Dana 44 84 Chevy Suburban
 

14b semi rear and a 10b front. Nothing wrong with either axle, but I think the early front 10 bolts had the 28 spline inners, the only weak spot compared to the 44. I know the later model suburbans had the inner 30 splines and are actually stronger than the 44 by a small margin.

Re: Working on front axle Dana 44 84 Chevy Suburban
 

C.R.C. moment on my part (mis-identification) stating the front axle was a Dana 44 where in reality it's a corporate 10 bolt. I also have new bushings for the springs, front sway bar, and full body ki from the radiator all the way to the rear. I am I.S.O. a correct set of front bump stops for my 3/4 ton Burb. I bought a set from Parts Geek & they were half the size of what I require for my truck.

Re: Working on front axle Dana 44 84 Chevy Suburban
 

Which bump stops? There are the ones in the center,(triangle shaped) there are 2 on each side back by the shackle (round) and there is a pinion snubber with a large bracket near the starter (round)

Re: Working on front axle Dana 44 84 Chevy Suburban
 

I popped one hubcap off the rear tonight, the rear axle is a semi float, not a full floaot; no axle bolts.

Re: Working on front axle Dana 44 84 Chevy Suburban
 

Rear axle is a Semi-Float

Re: Working on front axle Dana 44 84 Chevy Suburban
 

My mistake on the front axlee it is a 10 bolt corporate axle and the rear is a semi 14 floater

Re: Working on front axle Dana 44 84 Chevy Suburban
 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/506213...h/52304399387/ This is the link to my Flickr page for my 84 Chevy 3/4 ton 4x4 "running repairs rebuild". I still have to edit some photos before I let them go public in this album.

Re: Working on front axle Dana 44 84 Chevy Suburban
 

It's been a while since I posted; work has been crazy busy and I have been getting things done on the 84 Burb; Front Axle completely rebuilt (short of new differential); only rebuilt the stub shafts with new U joints, new rotors, calipers, wheel studs & lug nuts and new flexible brake lines. Had to replace the driver side manifold as I lack a proper torch to burn out the broken stud; not throwing it out however. I had the rear axle brakes rebuilt at a local shop; interesting thing on the 84 burbs is depending on which axle out of 3 they used; they had three different drums with different backspacing. It was the last set teh shop ordered that was the correct drum. I changed the spark plugs and think I accidentally moved the #7 wire to the #5 spot and vice versa. The truck idles fine in teh driveway, but when driving it & under load it backfires A LOT. Get to read my shop manuals finally to figure out the correct order for the plug wire locations on the cap. I have added more photos to the Flickr link I posted. I am also going to change out the switches for the power tail gate and rear heat & A/C as the OEM ones are no longer made. I sent a query to the K5 Nation page and they told me to simply cut the original copper clips off the factory wire and use a solderless terminal; just to remember to put them back onto the new switch like the old one was setup. I also found a lead for more Suburban parts; interior just north of Baldwin, Wisconsin; only about 50 miles from me.

Re: Working on front axle Dana 44 84 Chevy Suburban
 

I will be working on changing the differential fluids next spring and installing the gaskets at the same time.

Re: Working on front axle Dana 44 84 Chevy Suburban
 

Sounds like the project is moving along ok

Re: Working on front axle Dana 44 84 Chevy Suburban
 

It's moving along with me working 50+ hours a week and wrenching on the truck when time allows. Just have to get the wires on the distributor cap flip flopped, as I crossed a couple wires.

Re: Working on front axle Dana 44 84 Chevy Suburban
 

The two that are on the frame in the middle right behind the front tires. I put in new Energy Suspension units in. The oem ones were shot

Re: Working on front axle Dana 44 84 Chevy Suburban
 

I just have to get the plug wires straightened out. I have a couple that are crossed at the distributor cap. After the engine work is done it will be time to get a set of jump seats and a better set of front buckets from a guy north of Baldwin, WI.

Re: Working on front axle Dana 44 84 Chevy Suburban
 

Corts60; I have a link to my Flickr photo sharing page posted with the link to the work I have been doing to the 84.

Re: Working on front axle Dana 44 84 Chevy Suburban
 

Re: Working on front axle Dana 44 84 Chevy Suburban
 

I put new plug wires on the 350 last night & accidentally did the "5 & 7 flip" sice they are right next to one another. Double checked my manuals after I got home from work tonight & did some wire chasing (both sides of the engine) and a friend of mine said he would bet that I accidentally did the 5 7 mixup & after I figured it out I got that fixed & it purrs like a kitten. Going to drive it to work tomorrow morning. My insurance man wants to have a look see at it as he was very impressed at the year and it has very little cancer. (Only cancer is the driver side back door outer rocker); I have the replacement panel already. A high school classmate has her own body shop in the north woods of Wisconsin; she said I could bring it up & between the two of us we should be able to cut both the outer and the inner rockers out and replace them both.