Dana 44 crush sleeve

cs_drums · Post by **cs_drums** » Tue Sep 25, 2012 6:29 am

Has anyone ever made a crush sleeve for there front hubs. I figure it wouldn't be that much work and it should make prep easier as well as maintain better bearing longer. Has anyone done this yet? Any thoughts?

D1cker1 · Post by **D1cker1** » Tue Sep 25, 2012 6:44 am

Sounds like a good idea..

I was thinking about this the other day, when considering adding spindles along with steering.
Possibly necessary if you are using the auto locking hubs.

Deleted Account · Post by **Deleted Account** » Tue Sep 25, 2012 7:35 am

how about a non crush sleeve.. a solid spacer wound be great

cs_drums · Post by **cs_drums** » Tue Sep 25, 2012 8:55 am

mkiefer wrote:how about a non crush sleeve.. a solid spacer wound be great

That what I was referring to. This arguement has raged on in other forums on what the proper term is.

A solid spacer between the bearing so you can tighten down the spindle nut and not effect bearing preload. Has anyone done it yet? Is anybody else interested. If some one has the spec it would need to be I will talk to a couple buddies about getting some made.

300 · Post by **300** » Tue Sep 25, 2012 4:21 pm

To do it correctly, each one has to be machined to the specific hub and bearing combination. Just about need to have a lathe sitting next to you when you make it. It may not work out to make a universal one-fits-all sleeve, but once you do, you just torque it down and go.

I have had good luck with the pricey Stage 8 locks on the D44, but it eliminates the use of the large diameter spring that some hubs require. The only time I have found one loose was when the spindle itself was about to let go.

kylesgorter · Post by **kylesgorter** » Tue Sep 25, 2012 6:10 pm

Maybe I'm missing something? Why is this needed. I have never had any issues with service on any of my broncos and I always have a spindle nut socket. Just wondering because I don't see much of a point to doing it

shockseals.com · Post by **shockseals.com** » Tue Sep 25, 2012 7:34 pm

kylesgorter wrote:Maybe I'm missing something? Why is this needed. I have never had any issues with service on any of my broncos and I always have a spindle nut socket. Just wondering because I don't see much of a point to doing it

Parts/assemblies have tolerances not everyone is the same. that spacer has to be nats ass on or it is useless. In my cone hubs the bearing spacer is serialized to the hub. If I change races/bearings...I have to machine a new spacer t whatever the new dimension is.

cs_drums · Post by **cs_drums** » Tue Sep 25, 2012 8:01 pm

I didn't realize they differed from bearing to bearing race to race

damon1272 · Post by **damon1272** » Tue Sep 25, 2012 9:30 pm

Rather than a crush sleeve or a soil spacer I would recommend torquing the bearing. By torquing the bearings they will be set up the same but any differences will be accounted for by going with equal torque rather than a set spacing.

BDKW1 · Post by **BDKW1** » Tue Sep 25, 2012 10:52 pm

A properly done spacer will increase the effective diameter of the spindle along with helping to keep the whole assembly tight. Yes I have made them before and yes, each one has to be fitted to each hub. With the 88-89 spindles it's very easy to do. With the other models with different size bearings, it takes a lot more lathe work and the material price is 4X as much.

cs_drums · Post by **cs_drums** » Wed Sep 26, 2012 6:02 am

BDKW1 wrote:A properly done spacer will increase the effective diameter of the spindle along with helping to keep the whole assembly tight. Yes I have made them before and yes, each one has to be fitted to each hub. With the 88-89 spindles it's very easy to do. With the other models with different size bearings, it takes a lot more lathe work and the material price is 4X as much.

The 88-89 Is what you used to make Daves hubs on the ranger right? Did you guy make them for his? Could you send me a PM on a ball park price to do this on the 81-86 spindle?

BDKW1 · Post by **BDKW1** » Wed Sep 26, 2012 5:10 pm

Yes, on Daves truck. Not sure if he has the spacers. Also on Jessies and Chads trucks. I liked the short spindles..........

cs_drums · Post by **cs_drums** » Wed Sep 26, 2012 7:06 pm

THey are using the 81-86 on the current t100 build right?

BDKW1 · Post by **BDKW1** » Wed Sep 26, 2012 8:56 pm

kylesgorter · Post by **kylesgorter** » Thu Sep 27, 2012 8:00 pm

So..... What's the point of the spacer?

300 · Post by **300** » Fri Sep 28, 2012 7:43 am

kylesgorter wrote:So..... What's the point of the spacer?

The spacer sets and maintains the preload on the wheel bearings. From the factory, this is done with the locking nuts and is adjustable. When you start wheeling pretty hard, those locking nuts can't take the extra load and come loose or chew up the locking groove on the spindle. It was suggested above that the spacer acts like an extension of the spindle, essentially increasing the diameter and strength however I am still trying to wrap my head around that one. A spacer or crush sleeve is used on the pinion shaft in each and every axle gear for the same reason as well as prevent the inner bearing races from spinning on the pinion shaft.

hobbyturnedobsession · Fri Sep 28, 2012 8:36 am

I have the rachet nut that works great.

kylesgorter · Post by **kylesgorter** » Fri Sep 28, 2012 5:45 pm

300 wrote:
kylesgorter wrote:So..... What's the point of the spacer?
The spacer sets and maintains the preload on the wheel bearings. From the factory, this is done with the locking nuts and is adjustable. When you start wheeling pretty hard, those locking nuts can't take the extra load and come loose or chew up the locking groove on the spindle. It was suggested above that the spacer acts like an extension of the spindle, essentially increasing the diameter and strength however I am still trying to wrap my head around that one. A spacer or crush sleeve is used on the pinion shaft in each and every axle gear for the same reason as well as prevent the inner bearing races from spinning on the pinion shaft.

That makes sense thanks for explaining that.

78 DESERT RAT · Post by **78 DESERT RAT** » Sun Jan 13, 2013 10:56 pm

As pointed out earlier use stage 8 set it and forget it.

300 · Post by **300** » Mon Jan 14, 2013 10:59 am

An update on the broken spindles we had at the 2012 Baja 1000, the broken spindles were traced to imported parts that were supplied new 2/2012 prior to the San Felipe race. I don't remember how this came about, I was under the impression they were new Spicer units. Until I have purchased new Spicer units and broken them, regardless of where they might be manufactured, I can't say anything bad about them. I will certainly not advise anyone to buy the no-name imported spindles!

Where this relates to this discussion, we were using Stage 8 locking nuts and they had chewed at least 3/8" of an inch into the groove that keeps them from spinning on the spindle. Obviously soft material, but also good nuts will not cure all the problems.

We are looking at aftermarket spindles and also 3/4 ton units that use a larger inner bearing that fit the D44 knuckles for the 78-79 vintage axle.