ring & pinion blew...options?

[elskeptico]

I need a new R&P. How should I go about this? Is it something I can do myself? I've heard it needs to be 'set up' properly by a pro. I'm assuming that since the R&P blew and I broke off at least one tooth, the whole rear end needs to be rebuilt. Can I just swap the rear end with a junkyard unit? My Cherokee's a WT, but I was thinking I could use any Dana 44 rear end and swap the axles and housings. Is this possible? That way I don't have to have anything rebuilt. Short on green, so I'm looking for the quick fix here. Any help would be great. thanks

[Joe H.]

We could use some more info about your vehicle. We know it's a widetrack Chero, but what year? What transfer case? Assuming you can find an axle with the correct offset and *the same gear ratio as the front* you 'ought' to be okay with a junkyard replacement. If you're handy with tools, Randy's Ring and Pinion offers a video walkthrough (or so I believe).

[mandoneer]

well it is actually pretty easy to rebuild just make sure that the damage is only to the R&P and the housing and carrier are still in good shape and no bearings are spun but the setup that you here of is actualy pretty straight forward (as long as you make sure your clearances are all in order and what not) the R&P kit will come with the shims and usually berings for the pinion and as long as the crush sleeve is ok all you have to do is adjust the placement of the pinion by adding shims to the back side of the bering (I have found it is useful to do that process with an old bering , get the shims right and then put the new berings on that way you dont damage the new berings accidentaly by pulling them and pressing them over and over) now I dont know what axle you have but if it is a 19 spline 2 peice than you might as well just replace it cause you need a case spreader to pull the carrier but if it is the newer one with 31?(I think ) spline and one piece shafts than it shouldnt take more than an afternoon to do a R&P

[Kaiserjeeps]

Dana 44s don't use a crush sleeve. They use shims to set preload. Special tools needed to do this. If you have not done it before pay to have it done. Seriously! I have never in 21 years needed a case spreader for a dana 44. The dana 60 is another story. Just to give you an idea what you need...
1. 1/2 torque wrench with correct sockets.
2.Dial indicator with magnetic or clamp mount.
3.Contact paste diluted with oil, paint thinner or? Small hobby brush to paint teeth.
4.Inch pound torque wrench with adapter and pinion socket for preload disregarding break away torque.
5. Bearing press, with correct size bushings and fixtures to support carrier.
6. Bearing splitter and sleeve for pinion and carrier bearings.
7. Breaker bar for final assy of pinion nut.
8.Pinion yoke holding tool so your rig does not walk when you torque.
9.Brass drifts for driving in and out pinion bearing cups.
10. Hammer for above.
11. Shim kit, cause you will always need more.
12. Two equal length prybars for carrier removal including a soft landing if it gets away from you..
13. Dead blow soft face hammer for nudging the carrier back in.
14. Carb clean and Loctite for your ring gear bolts
15. Quality manual to tell you if your doing it right.
You have to have an acceptable pattern on both sides of the tooth, not just the drive side..

It's early and I might be missing something obvious.

Do it once, do it right...

What ratio do you have?????

[mandoneer]

one of my 44's dose have a crush sleeve is off a 68 wag and has 19 spline 2 piece shafts and that very same housing needs a case spreader to remove the carrier - now my 71 dont have a crush sleeve and just uses shims and dont need a spreader to remove the carrier so I have noticed othe small diffrences to the 2 axles also but those were the most obvous

[mandoneer]

oh and my 64 CJ 5 's 44 is 2 piece axle 19 spline , no crush sleeve and no spreader needed

[mandoneer]

and you forgot a feeler gauge to measure the spider gear to carrier clearance

[mandoneer]

I had assumed that FSJ 3rd members use crush sleeves cause the 2 that I have that dont have it are from a CJ and a Commando and the one that dose have it is off a wag.

[elskeptico]

I knew I was leaving something out. It's a '79 with QuadraTrac. The rebuild sounds pretty involved. I also don't have a press. So what would this cost me at a good shop? Thanks for the replys.

[River Beast]

I have a complete W/T rear axle from a 77 with 3.54 gears (offset for the QT like yours)... its yours for $100 + shipping.... or you can make the road trip

I'm in 29 Palms.... let me know....

[ December 04, 2003, 01:56 PM: Message edited by: River Beast ]

[elskeptico]

River Beast thanks for the offer. I'll have to think about it. It's quite a road trip and I don't want to think about shipping costs.

Getting back to one of my original questions, is it possible to remove the axles and axle housing tubes from the rear end assembly? It seems possible, but I need to know for sure before trying to pull it at a yard.

Thanks.

[River Beast]

even if you pull a boneyard unit... you will still have to get a master overhaul kit if your backlash and depth is not right... most likely it wont be... so you will have to disassemble and add/remove shims as necessary to the pinion and/or the carrier...

[elskeptico]

"you will still have to get a master overhaul kit if your backlash and depth is not right... most likely it wont be... so you will have to disassemble and add/remove shims as necessary to the pinion and/or the carrier..."

has this been done to the one you're offering? I was assuming it was simply pulled and in running condition.

[River Beast]

if you are talking pulling the entire axle from the donor.. sure... my bust

I mistunderstood and thought you were wanting to swap the guts.... sorry...

you must ensure a few things... not all rear axles are a 'drop in' replacement.. since you said " ANY D44"....

your FSJ has a QT offset rear D44 with 3.54's ( I'm 99% positive on your gear ratio, but check it)

and if you dont pull a D44 from another FSJ with the offset D44... you can run into some issues of shock mounts and driveshaft angles since the rear shaft is pass side drop on the QT and not center. Plus you have to get the right perch width to match your springs....

the above paragraph is null and void if you have fab skills and plenty of tools to do the swap... welder, angle grinders, cutoff wheel ect...

Just make sure you have the correct gear ratio to match your front.. if not.... you will be doing a gear swap anyway... so make sure

[ December 06, 2003, 08:08 AM: Message edited by: River Beast ]