View Full Version : Dana 44 Bearing Caps
1991ZR1
01-19-2009, 02:12 AM
I hope someone can give me advice on this. I am looking at a Dana 44 that's for sale. The bearing caps have lines that look like they may be stress cracks.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g311/corvettez/Corvette/DSCF0164.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g311/corvettez/Corvette/DSCF0159.jpg
Are these stress cracks or lines made during the casting process? I notice that the lines seem to stop at what appears to be a mold separation line. Do these lines look normal? Any help will be appreciated.
gbrtng
01-19-2009, 07:01 PM
Doesn't look healthy to me - get them magnafluxed before buying it.
Jagdpanzer
01-19-2009, 07:45 PM
Kind of tuff to maguflux a non-magnetic material like aluminum.
Dye penetrant testing would be a better choice.
From what I can see from the photo you could be looking at surface lines left over from the casting process.
Try some 220 grit emery clothe on them to see if they clean up.
WVZR-1
01-19-2009, 08:49 PM
Your "higher resolution" snapshots actually make them appear more "suspect" than they are. I have "NEW" housing and a couple used that all display similar characteristics and "ALL" will have the same appearance.
Since you've got the caps and case removed you could actually "deburr" the inside of the housing also. If you inspect the inside of the housing you'll likely see similar "characteristics". Deburring and removing "flashing" certainly enhances the durability of the housing.
The "dye check" isn't a requirement but if it gives you "piece of mind" it might be wise! The 220 emery cloth and a "grey" Scotchbrite pad will fix you right up! If the rear is disassembled you need to be more concerned with the fit of the pinion bearing cups in the housing. Check the fit of the side bearings in the housing and confirm the caps and case are a "match"! The caps and the case should have indexing marks and they don't swap "side to side" either.
You could have caps both indexed for example "H" but the legs of the "H" need to be a match on the housing and the cap! On one side the "H" would be vertical on both the cap and housing the other side they would be horizontal.
1991ZR1
01-19-2009, 10:26 PM
Thanks for the response guys. What I get from all this is that you really can't tell by looking at it.
gbrtng
01-20-2009, 12:30 AM
Kind of tuff to maguflux a non-magnetic material like aluminum.
Dye penetrant testing would be a better choice.
From what I can see from the photo you could be looking at surface lines left over from the casting process.
Try some 220 grit emery clothe on them to see if they clean up.
Holy die casting Batman ! Yup, appears to be aluminum on second look.
Or maybe manurium, an alloy of stoolite ...
:icon_scra
vBulletin® v3.8.11, Copyright ©2000-2025, vBulletin Solutions Inc.