Dana 44 hub problem.

[BeastlyJimmy]

Hey whats up all.
So I just picked up a 1978 gmc Jimmy. I helped the previous owner swap out 3/4 ton axles, along with put on a 4 inch lift as well.


Now onto my problem, when it comes to 4x4 on the axles it does not lock on the drivers side. The sile turns but nothing happens, so I tore into it and it looks like it is missing a gear. The hub assembly is too large to fit the axle. The axle is 19 spline, and the hub is 20.

I tore into the passenger side and I found that this is missing on the driver side.





The hub slides over this piece and locks the wheel. Now the hub its self has 4 springs evenly spread to the 20 spline gear. I have never heard of these hubs.
Does anybody have any idea of what I am missing, and if I buy a new set of hubs will they fit?

I am running
400 ci
Th350
Np203 with a full time conversion
Dana 44 front 44-5cf 10 bolt
12 bolt full float rear
Thanks in advance!

[HAULIN IT]

Welcome to the site! Let's start with clarifying a few things. Some of this has NOTHING to do with this particular situation, however it may prevent a whole bunch of questions, guessing, ect. in the future as your working on other parts of the truck.
 In your description at the bottom of your post, you state:
(1)NP 203 with a FULL time conversion...203's were originally FULL time, I'm guessing you mean PART time conversion
(2)Dana 44 blah, blah 10 bolt...Dana 44's all have 10 bolt covers. The confusion will come from the fact that another common front is called a "10 bolt" known for its 10 bolt cover. So now it raises question of "Do you know which one you have?"... If you have a Dana 44, just call it a Dana 44, no need for the "10 bolt"
(3)12 bolt full float rear...The truck in the picture clearly shows (as you mentioned) an 8 lug, full floating axle. The "12 bolt" is a half ton, non floating axle with either 5 or 6 lugs. Again, I'm going to GUESS you have a 14 bolt rear axle?

What you will find is that the more "correct" you are, the less guessing the guys have to do (the less time someone has to spend typing to help you with questions back & forth) the more likely you will be successful in getting the help you need, Understand?

Now onto your hubs. I've seen them & had a set apart, however it's been MANY years & unfortunately I don't remember things like I used to.
When you say: "The hub is too large to fit over the axle. The axle is 19 spline, the hub is 20" "...so are you saying the truck has 2 different axle shaft sizes & splines? You took the Right hub apart & tried to slide that gear you took off onto the Left side, is this correct? This could explain why they didn't put this gear in before. It sounds to me the one shaft (Left) got damaged & replaced with something from another truck...Ford or Dodge maybe?  Much of the Dana parts interchange across different manufactures since Dana made them all, however some was manufacture specific which might be what you finding on this axle stub. Good Luck, Lorne
     

[bake74]

You took the Right hub apart & tried to slide that gear you took off onto the Left side, is this correct?

     This is very important to know first.  Second, you did not mention what brand of hubs you had.  Warn are the most common, but does not mean that they are Warn hubs.  If they are Warn then the 2 links I will post will answer your questions.

http://warn.iwebcat.com/imgVD/WAR/11715F0-pn38826.pdf

http://warn.iwebcat.com/imgVD/WAR/60538A0-pn38826.pdf

     Good luck and let us know what happens.  Also welcome to the site.

[Jason S]

The Dana 44 you have is the '77-down style.

From the factory the axle would've had Spicer Hub-Loc (external locking hubs) or a simple plate bolted on the front. The hub you have is an aftermarket replacement style that was/is offered by Warn, Spicer, Milemarker and others.

If you replace the hubs, you will need the '73-'77 style for GM, Ford & IHC. 

I did a write up of the Spicer hubs here:  http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=22710.0  There are some photos of the style of hub you have in comparison to an Spicer hub.

Just looking at the photos, the piece of metal between the gear and the bushing looks like it has broken edges. As if it is broken from the inside of the hub adapter (piece with the 8 big bolts).   

If you want, I can try to dig the set I have of those type hubs and post photos...

[BeastlyJimmy]

Hey
Yes the np203 does have the part time conversion, not a full time one.

The axle is a dana 44, out of a 1973 k20 subarban, in fact both are from the same suburban.
And finally it is a 14 bolt in the rear, sorry posted at midnight after a full day of trying to figure out whats up..

Essentially, the hub on the drivers side is missing the gear from the passenger side, thats why it is too big. I have moved the gear to the other side and it slid on perfectly. So all I need is the gear. But I can not find it anywhere. They are warn premium hubs, the part number on them is m197a.

Do the hubs come with that gear?

I did notice that the black part that the hub screws into, then bolts into the wheel its self, the drivers side has bolts, and the passenger side has nuts, that go onto the bolts. So I think something was replaced but I am not sure what.. this is my intro to axles.

Here are a few more pics




This is the axle from the drivers side, to show the bolt vs nuts.



Tomorrow I will head out early, and get better pics.

Thanks for the help so far!

[Jason S]

Nuts versus bolts...  One side has had studs threaded into the wheel hub.

A new set of Warn (or Milemarker, AVM, Cepek, etc) would have everything you need.  You would just unbolt the old hubs and install the new hubs.

Warn Premium hub assembly should be part number 9072. Milemarker's hub is part number 423.  The new Warn hubs come with new mounting bolts and washers (the studs would need to come out of the hub).

If you contact Warn, they may be able to just send you the parts you need.

[BeastlyJimmy]

Nuts versus bolts...  One side has had studs threaded into the wheel hub.

A new set of Warn (or Milemarker, AVM, Cepek, etc) would have everything you need.  You would just unbolt the old hubs and install the new hubs.

Warn Premium hub assembly should be part number 9072. Milemarker's hub is part number 423.  The new Warn hubs come with new mounting bolts and washers (the studs would need to come out of the hub).

If you contact Warn, they may be able to just send you the parts you need.

Oh ok, thats good to hear haha. I am glad that the nuts vs bolts are not a huge problem.

Sweet, thats more good news, just a matter of buying the right one. Witch would be the cheepest? ...currently on a very tight budget...

I was able to contact warn and they said they do not sell parts for their hubs, due to the changes they have made to them iver the years. I will also look at some junk yards, I might just get lucky.

Awesome write up on the hubs, very informative!

[Jason S]

I am glad that the nuts vs bolts are not a huge problem.

You can place a nut on the stud and run it up, then place a second nut on the stud and jamb it to the first nut and back the stud out; you may be able to just use vice-grips or channel-lock pliers- the first method would be preferable over using pliers.

Witch would be the cheepest? ...currently on a very tight budget...

Milemarker is probably the least expensive, I've seen them listed for around $90 for a pair; however, price will also depend on where you buy them and if shipping is involved. 

Check eBay, Amazon, O'Reilly's, and the various off-road stores/sites to compare prices.

I will also look at some junk yards, I might just get lucky.

  That's a good idea.  Also, if you know of any 4x4 off-road shops in your area, you might stop in and ask.  That's where I have found hub parts for some of those type Warns.

If you're at a wrecking yard looking, make sure you also check Ford (F-250), International Harvester (1/2 & 3/4 ton), Jeep trucks (J-20), Dodge (60's & early 70's 1/2 & 3/4 ton) trucks in addition to GMC/Chevrolet. 

Awesome write up on the hubs, very informative!

Thank you very much!  I hope I've helped someone along the way... By the way, if you find the big Spicer Hub-Loc's (like in the write up), those will also work on your front axle.