Dana Spicer Chrome Moly D44 Front Axle Shaft Project (Retaining The FAD)

[rkwfxd]

I followed carbon steel's lead and machined my Dana 4340 axles last week. My axle had some hard spots which caused me some heartache and I missed matching it to the RCV bushing size. So I made a matching bronze bushing for the RCV shaft. The bushing is press fit in a blind hole. So, I had to use grease to hydraulic it out. It all worked out.

Nice!!!

I am lacking only Ball Joints at this point and I have the money to purchase them. Just trying to decide between Ball Joint Deletes and Probably the new Metal Cloak BJs.

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[roaniecowpony]

Nice!!!

I am lacking only Ball Joints at this point and I have the money to purchase them. Just trying to decide between Ball Joint Deletes and Probably the new Metal Cloak BJs.

The MC ball joints look promising.

 

[roaniecowpony]

Custom fit bushing...it's non standard, but then it's not something you change often.

 

[CarbonSteel]

I followed carbon steel's lead and machined my Dana 4340 axles last week. My axle had some hard spots which caused me some heartache and I missed matching it to the RCV bushing size. So I made a matching bronze bushing for the RCV shaft. The bushing is press fit in a blind hole. So, I had to use grease to hydraulic it out. It all worked out.

Great stuff @roaniecowpony! I have been very happy with mine and they are a perfect option for RCVs.

 

[CarbonSteel]

Custom fit bushing...it's non standard, but then it's not something you change often.

No real load on it--else the plastic version would fail. Great work!

 

[roaniecowpony]

No real load on it--else the plastic version would fail. Great work!

It's only .010" under (.615). No worries.

 

[rkwfxd]

The MC ball joints look promising.

I have been happy with my other MC products.

 

[roaniecowpony]

I have been happy with my other MC products.

Me too.

 

[roaniecowpony]

I finally got around to getting started on installing the modified Dana chromoly axles. I'm doing the Teraflex Delta brake installation at the same time. Same setup carbon steel has. The FAD side is back together.

 

[LCW]

Forgive me if this is a dumb question, but are there locking hubs that could fit a Dana 44 to offset the need for the FAD? Obviously come convenience is lost, but maybe some robustness is gained?

Usually only see 1-ton axles with locking hubs, but why couldn't the dana 44 have them?

 

[OBJLU]

I like the ingenuity but I still don’t understand why go thru all the trouble to wind up with something weaker than an RCV setup. Yes there’s grease but you can power wash it every week if it bothers so much.

 

[CarbonSteel]

Forgive me if this is a dumb question, but are there locking hubs that could fit a Dana 44 to offset the need for the FAD? Obviously come convenience is lost, but maybe some robustness is gained?

The short answer is probably yes, but the long answer is they would not fit in the hubs of the wheels. I think that you would have to look at a D60 with 8 lug hubs for that which means that you would have to change the wheels to match.

The alternate answer is to do a FAD delete...

 

[CarbonSteel]

I like the ingenuity but I still don’t understand why go thru all the trouble to wind up with something weaker than an RCV setup. Yes there’s grease but you can power wash it every week if it bothers so much.

While I have no way to do the calculations, given the web size of the yokes, I would question "weaker" than RCV. Both are CrMo end to end and the weak point is likely elsewhere.

 

[rkwfxd]

I like the ingenuity but I still don’t understand why go thru all the trouble to wind up with something weaker than an RCV setup. Yes there’s grease but you can power wash it every week if it bothers so much.

No. I dont want to power wash my jeep every week. I don’t want grease all over my jeep or my driveway.

I can and have replaced u joints. I have no idea how to replace a CV joint or if it is even replaceable.

RCVs are a great product but not for me.

 

[OBJLU]

No. I dont want to power wash my jeep every week. I don’t want grease all over my jeep or my driveway.

I can and have replaced u joints. I have no idea how to replace a CV joint or if it is even replaceable.

RCVs are a great product but not for me.

To each his own

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