Rear D44 Rebuild

[SoCalMJ]

Noobie question here: Does anyone know a good shop in either the Long Beach or Burbank areas that can rebuild a rear D44 w/ Trac-lok? I think my pinion bearing may be going out, and I have a problem with finding water in the diff.

Also, if I'm going to have the axle apart is it a good time to put in a Detroit locker? When I drive it to work I do a lot of tight turns in the garage, so what will this do to my rearend wear? Does Superior make a worthwhile shaft?

Right now, I've got a modest lift, and 31" BFG KO's on the old girl, otherwise stock, if that matters.

 

[Kejtar]

Noobie question here: Does anyone know a good shop in either the Long Beach or Burbank areas that can rebuild a rear D44 w/ Trac-lok? I think my pinion bearing may be going out, and I have a problem with finding water in the diff.

Also, if I'm going to have the axle apart is it a good time to put in a Detroit locker? When I drive it to work I do a lot of tight turns in the garage, so what will this do to my rearend wear? Does Superior make a worthwhile shaft?

Right now, I've got a modest lift, and 31" BFG KO's on the old girl, otherwise stock, if that matters.

You're right: when you have it appart to replace the bearings, that's the perecct time to put in a locker. In regards to tire wear, I got detroit in my 44 and I don't see any extra wear on them.
Places to go: drive down to SD to Ryan Brown (look in the vendor forum for an ad from rawbrown, 4x4 doctor is another decent place, try currie in OC (but there you gotta bring just the axle and wait a week or so.

 

[Goatman]

No tire wear from a locker. Any reputable shop can replace the pinion bearings......I'm too far north so don't know of any.

 

[SoCalMJ]

Thanks for the suggestions. I am pretty close to the 4x4 doctor, and have heard about Raw Brown.

Is there a problem with internal wear in the differential with a locker? I'd like to upgrade the shafts, but the budget being what it is, the rebuild and locker are pushing it.

Also, I'm looking into a Detroit EZ locker if that makes a difference.

 

[Goatman]

There are no wear issues with lockers, tires or otherwise. There can be broken axle issues because of the increased traction.

 

[SoCalMJ]

Thanks again...it looks like locker time.

 

[mikeyl]

hey goat. i can't make comments about tire wear with the detriot or other real lockers but when i had the stupid "quickloc" in my d44 for 3 months it wore one tire down considerably. it chirped and scrubbed on every turn on-road,the safety guy at work would yell at me to "slow down" in the parking lot (even though he'd be walking along side me yelling!). also,frank hayes in oc used to do axel work , drop me a line back channel and i'll see if i can dig up his number. and, oh ya, stay away from the quickloc!

 

[mikeyl]

but if you think you might want a quickloc, the guy i sold it to might sell it cheap. he never used it and it is sitting in the carrier in his garage ...

 

[Kejtar]

hey goat. i can't make comments about tire wear with the detriot or other real lockers but when i had the stupid "quickloc" in my d44 for 3 months it wore one tire down considerably. it chirped and scrubbed on every turn on-road,the safety guy at work would yell at me to "slow down" in the parking lot (even though he'd be walking along side me yelling!). also,frank hayes in oc used to do axel work , drop me a line back channel and i'll see if i can dig up his number. and, oh ya, stay away from the quickloc!

here's Franks info

 

[cracker]

Noobie question here: Does anyone know a good shop in either the Long Beach or Burbank areas that can rebuild a rear D44 w/ Trac-lok? I think my pinion bearing may be going out, and I have a problem with finding water in the diff.

Also, if I'm going to have the axle apart is it a good time to put in a Detroit locker? When I drive it to work I do a lot of tight turns in the garage, so what will this do to my rearend wear? Does Superior make a worthwhile shaft?

Right now, I've got a modest lift, and 31" BFG KO's on the old girl, otherwise stock, if that matters.

If you can get out the Azusa area Performance Gearing is out there. It is a one man shop and the guy's name it Tom Cobb. All he does is axles all day long. In fact all the local shops farm out axle work to him. He does a great job and his prices are really reasonable too.

Performance Gearing
250 Motor Ave
Azusa, CA 91702
(626) 812-4355