Need Dana 44 Rear End Tool

DocHornet
DocHornet Expert Adviser
edited November -1 in HUDSON
I need to change out my ring and pinion for a new ratio after changing over my Hornet from automatic to manual OD transmission.

The service manual (and several other Hudson experts) calls for a special tool to slightly spread the case to remove and re-install the gear cluster from the housing. It is J-5231 rear axle housing spreader.

I'm a bit reluctant to spring the $750 the transmission/differential "expert" down the street wants (plus parts) to accomplish this job (apparently WITHOUT this tool).

wonder if anyone has such a tool I could rent or borrow, or source where I could buy?

email: phil at auldridge.org

Comments

  • lostmind
    lostmind Expert Adviser
    You don't need the spreader.You can walk the assenbly out
    by putting a heavy rag behind the ring gear and turning
    the pinion nut with a socket. I'm not good at explaining this ,but
    there must be a video on Utube.When you reassemble ,you use a punch to
    seat the last shim.
    Roy
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Dave,
    I had a guy take my Dana rear end apart just to check out everything. He ended up changing both pinion bearings but the carrier bearings looked good so he didn't change them. He didnt use any special tool. If I remember correctly he just used a big screwdriver to pry the carrier assembly from the housing and then just tapped it back in with a rubber or brass hammer to reassemble it. I'm no expert but Im pretty sure this is all he did. I was there watching him but its been two or three years ago. The time consuming part was getting the shim pack right on the pinion shaft so that the preload was right. He would put shims in,put the companion flange on, tighten down the companion flange nut and then check how hard it was to turn the pinion shaft. If it was too hard he would take it all apart and add another shim, put it all back together and check it again. He did this a number of times before he got it right. He didn't use a spring scale to check how hard it was to turn, he just did it by feel. He also checked the pattern between the ring gear and pinion gear by putting a special grease on the teeth, turning the gears and looking at the pattern it left in the grease. I don't remember how he adjusted that part of it. I think maybe he thought it was good enough as is.
  • kamzack
    kamzack Senior Contributor
    After reading this thread, I went and to look for the mag I'd read about how to make a home made tool to spread a diff housing. It's in Sept. 2011 issue of Street Rodder Page 116. I don't know if it's possible to pull that info up. Simple version is cutting 2 1/4 inch x 2inch angle iron bout 8 to 10 inches long, drilling 2 holes in each to match holes on housing closest to axel housing, or the 2 holes outboard from center. Drill holes on the perpendicular sides near the bottom. Cut ends off a heavy duty turnbuckle. 4 nuts to match turnbuckle threads and you've got a spreader. It suggests not leaving tension on it and follow specs for removal.
    Hope this helps,
    Kim
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Last time I needed to replace a rear end gears I took the easy (lazy) way out.
    I took one of my parts cars and pulled the spring shackles off,pulled the front pins out of the springs. And droped the whole thing out and put the whole works in the other car.
    Problem solved,
    Roger
  • DocHornet
    DocHornet Expert Adviser
    That's the conclusion I came to Roger.

    Still had the donor car with Hudson's idea of best ratio for the OD tranny (4.09), so I just pulled the drums and backing plates off and swapped the diff units.

    In any case, in the process, with the help of Ken Cates, I scored on eBay the exact spreader tool specified by Hudson.

    If anyone ever needs to borrow the thing, let me know. It's a heavy bugger.. I'd say at least 20 lbs
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