Dana 44 Bearing Caps - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

1991ZR1 · 01-19-2009

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.

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

Doesn't look healthy to me - get them magnafluxed before buying it.

Jagdpanzer · 01-19-2009

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

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

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jagdpanzer

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 ...

01-19-2009	#1
1991ZR1 Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 90	Dana 44 Bearing Caps 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. 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.

01-19-2009	#2
gbrtng Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Antonio area Posts: 1,179	Re: Dana 44 Bearing Caps Doesn't look healthy to me - get them magnafluxed before buying it. __________________ “Buy the best example of what you want, and pay whatever it takes. That way, you cry only once.” ~ Bruce Meyer

01-19-2009	#3
Jagdpanzer Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northern VA Posts: 2,661	Re: Dana 44 Bearing Caps 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. Last edited by Jagdpanzer; 01-19-2009 at 08:03 PM.

01-19-2009	#4
WVZR-1 Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 1,890	Re: Dana 44 Bearing Caps 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. Last edited by WVZR-1; 01-19-2009 at 08:59 PM.

01-19-2009	#5
1991ZR1 Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 90	Re: Dana 44 Bearing Caps Thanks for the response guys. What I get from all this is that you really can't tell by looking at it.