Is my axle housing bent?

James C. · Dec 19, 2020

I was under the front of the Jeep and noticed that the axle shaft was not centered in the tube on the drivers side. Is this an indication of the housing being bent?

Picture is of the driver's side. Passenger side looks centered, or at least better than the drivers side.

CharlesHS · Dec 19, 2020

Do a thorough inspection of the U joint, unit bearing and remove the axle from the axle tube and do an inspection of the axle and axle tube IF you find nothing with the previous two suggestions.

Alex01 · Dec 19, 2020

When you spin the tire does it wobble or stay in the same area?

James C. · Dec 20, 2020

Everything else (u-joint, unit bearing, ball joints) looks good on that side. Shaft stays in the same place as the tire turns. It's bent...

Anyone have experience with the G2 Core replacement from axle assembly? Interesting option as it uses jk center but tj outers so stock brakes and steering geometry works still.

https://www.g2axle.com/pages/view/dana44_front_assemblies

Rescue6 · Dec 20, 2020

James C. said:
Everything else (u-joint, unit bearing, ball joints) looks good on that side. Shaft stays in the same place as the tire turns. It's bent...

Anyone have experience with the G2 Core replacement from axle assembly? Interesting option as it uses jk center but tj outers so stock brakes and steering geometry works still.

https://www.g2axle.com/pages/view/dana44_front_assemblies

I’m running one. So far it’s been fine. Other then me going through balljoints on 37”s. But recently put balljoint elimination kit in it. So we shall see. I like that it is high pinion it keeps me from killing driveshafts as often as I had been

James C. · Dec 21, 2020

Which locker did you go with? Anything you'd do different?

I'm also considering a high pinion dana 30 built up but I have a hang up going smaller.

mrblaine · Dec 21, 2020

James C. said:
I was under the front of the Jeep and noticed that the axle shaft was not centered in the tube on the drivers side. Is this an indication of the housing being bent?

Picture is of the driver's side. Passenger side looks centered, or at least better than the drivers side.

View attachment 211761

What front axle is that?

James C. · Dec 21, 2020

mrblaine said:
What front axle is that?

Rubicon Dana 44

mrblaine · Dec 21, 2020

James C. said:
Rubicon Dana 44

Pretty easy fix if I'm not mistaken. Looks like the side is just bent up slightly. Hydraulic jack, jack pad, piece of chain looped around both inner C's will generally put it back right. I've done several that way and a couple under the rig.

James C. · Dec 21, 2020

mrblaine said:
Pretty easy fix if I'm not mistaken. Looks like the side is just bent up slightly. Hydraulic jack, jack pad, piece of chain looped around both inner C's will generally put it back right. I've done several that way and a couple under the rig.

The long side is almost centered (By eye). The picture is the short side. How big of a jack do you recommend? I've got up to 150T but it's a bear.

mrblaine · Dec 21, 2020

James C. said:
The long side is almost centered (By eye). The picture is the short side. How big of a jack do you recommend? I've got up to 150T but it's a bear.

We do it with a short 20 ton and it is no where near being maxed out. For the short side, the chain will likely need to be around where the long side tube exits the casting. There is a risk of cracking the casting so keep an eye on it an be aware that it is currently junk so you can only make it better.

James C. · Dec 21, 2020

mrblaine said:
you can only make it better.

Famous last words...

Thanks for talking it through with me. I'm going to grab a c channel section from work for a base to attach the chains. I was thinking about wrapping the chain around the longside casting output like you said.

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Is my axle housing bent?

James C.

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