Bent rear axle.

[Horus]

Can a bent axle tube be straightened? I have an XJ Dana 44 housing in my ZJ and the passenger side tube is bent between the coil bucket and housing end. The result is my rear tires are toed out 1.25 inches.

Either I can bend the housing back straight and extend the truss outwards to reinforce the whole deal or I have to get a new housing.

Reason for the bend was a hard winch pull with the passenger rear tire hooked on a stump. It bogged down my 9.5ti and bent the wheel. I had lost a bead and did not know it was hooked like that when I tried to winch off the stump at 4 in the mourning. :beer: :booo:

 

[Cascade_Crawler]

I would take it to some place that can put a new tube in it. No need for a whole new housing

 

[WHITE TRASH1]

For the cost of a re-tube you can grab another axle off of craigslist.. Start looking.

 

[Horus]

Re-tubing would allow me to install thicker tubes. The problem with finding one on craigslist is the XJ 44 was only available for the 87 model year. From what I am to understand they are getting kinda rare.

If I can't bend it back I will probably re-tube with thicker tubes even if it costs more anyway. This could be an opportunity to do the lower CA mounts and coil buckets the way I want to as well.

 

[NotMatt]

Buy this one: http://www.nw-wheelers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30450

 

[PORTER]

www.jantz4x4.com can straighten it up for you. Carl is located in poulsbo wa. 360-598-2773 if I remember right. If you are thinking about retubing it, I would start with a used axle.

 

[WHITE TRASH1]

If your going to go through that much trouble why not grab a 60 and put the 44 housing ends on it. that'd upgrade the tubes and ring & pinion, leave the width and bolt pattern the same. Later you could upgrade custom 35 spline shafts if you wanted to..

 

[WHITE TRASH1]

Buy this one: http://www.nw-wheelers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30450

That'd be worth buying if it was half of that... It's a 44 not a chunk of solid gold. :eeek:

 

[NotMatt]

That'd be worth buying if it was half of that... It's a 44 not a chunk of solid gold. :eeek:

Just trying to help a buddy out. He likes negotiating.

 

[Freeride]

Seems like the going rate for the XJ 44 is 350-400. I'd buy a new one before I screwed around with trying to straighten a bent tube.

 

[Cascade_Crawler]

get a quote on new tubes...

 

[CHOP SHOP]

get a quote on new tubes...

get a quote on a real rear end:cheer:

 

[CHOP SHOP]

60 with 44 outers, scout guys been doin it for years. might even get a real yoke out of the deal too:beer:

or just replace it and learn how to recover rigs! never seen a rear end bent with a winch!!!!!! wish I could of been there:haha: :haha: , only in a jeep cheroke are thing like this possible.:beer:

 

[Bunk1]

Go 60 and be done with it.

 

[jakes89f150]

wow, got to ask but are you sure you bent the tube and not the end of the axle shaft it self?

 

[Pook]

wow, got to ask but are you sure you been the tube and not the end of the axle shaft it self?

x2. I have a rear axle with a bent flange on my rig right now... wheel wobbles a good 1/2"

 

[bigiron]

x2. I have a rear axle with a bent flange on my rig right now... wheel wobbles a good 1/2"

I would be more inclined that you bent the axle.....not the housing unless you have a noticable kink or bend in the housing check your axle first housing is pretty tough......It usually takes some air time to bend them.

 

[Horus]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

I'm going to have the housing re-tubed with thicker tubes. Thick tubes and the current truss I have on there will give me plenty of rigidity.

The rear axle was built about three months ago so the gears and Detroit are that new. Due to a manufacturing defect the 33 spline Superior shafts were replaced the day before yesterday. I know it is the axle tube that is bent. Being a machinist I have access to many different tools for checking these things. I can show you exactly were the bend starts and stops on the tube. You can even see were the paint has cracked ( forward portion of tube ) or flaked off ( rearward side ) from the distortion of the metal.

My ZJ has 35s and that is where I have capped my tire size. If I'm ever running larger tires on the trail it will be on a buggy. The 44 will suit me just fine for a while to come. I don't need strength against horsepower near as much as I need overall housing rigidity. A Dana 60 center on 35s is overkill to me and costs me ground clearance.

Besides, a few phone calls later and I can get the thing re-tubed and out the door for less than the above posted housing is for sale.

Thanks again.

 

[jakes89f150]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

I'm going to have the housing re-tubed with thicker tubes. Thick tubes and the current truss I have on there will give me plenty of rigidity.

The rear axle was built about three months ago so the gears and Detroit are that new. Due to a manufacturing defect the 33 spline Superior shafts were replaced the day before yesterday. I know it is the axle tube that is bent. Being a machinist I have access to many different tools for checking these things. I can show you exactly were the bend starts and stops on the tube. You can even see were the paint has cracked ( forward portion of tube ) or flaked off ( rearward side ) from the distortion of the metal.

My ZJ has 35s and that is where I have capped my tire size. If I'm ever running larger tires on the trail it will be on a buggy. The 44 will suit me just fine for a while to come. I don't need strength against horsepower near as much as I need overall housing rigidity. A Dana 60 center on 35s is overkill to me and costs me ground clearance.

Besides, a few phone calls later and I can get the thing re-tubed and out the door for less than the above posted housing is for sale.

Thanks again.

Dont mean to be a **** but those "special tools" wouldnt happen to include a straight edge or a scale would they :fawkdancesmiley:
Anyway sounds like you got it figured out, take some pics when your tearing it out
Just currious but does anyone know the wall thickness of a D44 tube?

 

[Ba-Riedo]

Damn Mike only you, so this means youll be up and running for the weekend of the 11th and 12th? Supsa and I were talking about our plans earlier and were hoping you could still make it.

-Alex