D44 front axle seal replacement overview

JeepinLife

Caught the Bug
After doing some poking around before changing out the seals on my front axle it seemed like a few people had some similar questions as me. So I thought I'd try to cover the steps I took to replace the seals. Hope some find this helpful.. Or just funny to read since it's my first write up if you can call it that. I'll try to answer any questions people may have on doing this. It's not hard to do at all. Or maybe others can give better insight on certain steps.

Reason we're doing this:
ImageUploadedByWAYALIFE1457238749.867539.jpg


These are the two seals available for the front 44. I went with the seal on the right ending in AC.
ImageUploadedByWAYALIFE1457238773.398770.jpg

1) lift front of jeep and set on jack stands, secure jeep and remove front tires.
You will also need to remove the tie rod.

2) remove brake caliper mounts and secure calipers out of the way.
ImageUploadedByWAYALIFE1457238797.818157.jpg

3) remove the three bolts to the hub bearing.
ImageUploadedByWAYALIFE1457238820.183692.jpg

4) remove the speed sensor.
ImageUploadedByWAYALIFE1457238840.488461.jpg

5) remove axle shaft through the knuckle. You can put a punch through the u joint and catch it on the knuckle to zip off the axle nut. Or do it before brakes are off.
ImageUploadedByWAYALIFE1457238929.409774.jpg


6) pull the diff drain plug and drain fluid.
ImageUploadedByWAYALIFE1457238948.617033.jpg

7) remove diff cover.
ImageUploadedByWAYALIFE1457238968.716020.jpg

8) mark the 4 bearing cap bolts and the position of the caps. It's important that they go back in the same place. The caps may have some identifying marks stamped on them and stamped on the housing.
ImageUploadedByWAYALIFE1457238987.133794.jpg

9) remove the bearing cap bolts: mine were on so tight that they gouged into the retainer on the right side and bent it while the bolts came out so watch out for this. When you pull the bolts the carrier will be ready to come out so have a hand ready to hold it. Mine came out just by pulling on it with my hands, I've heard some people have to pry them out. Slowly remove the carrier from the housing to help keep track of the shims on either side, I only had one shim per side so it wasn't to hard. You will also have to disconnect the wires running from the locker coil to the plug that goes through the top of the diff. Once out I placed the carrier, bearings caps, bolts and shims on a piece of cardboard labeled pax and driver.
ImageUploadedByWAYALIFE1457239011.187241.jpg

10) using a tool of your choice, we used a piece of threaded rod with washers and nuts holding a socket on the end and punched out the old seals. You're going to slide the tool you create in the axle shaft and punch the seals out in toward the inside of the diff housing.
ImageUploadedByWAYALIFE1457239038.906806.jpg

11) clean the inside of the housing and where the seals sit well. I'd also take this time to clean out the axle tubes as well.

12) press in new seals. To do this we used a larger socket that fit the diameter of the flat on the seal and a wooden broom handle. We did the driver side first and ran the broom handle in from the pax side axle shaft. To do the pax side seal we switched to a 1/2" metal rod that we inserted through the driver side axle shaft and through the new seal. We wound up using the back of a 2 3/32 socket to press these in not the 1 5/8 pictured.
ImageUploadedByWAYALIFE1457239059.090055.jpg

13) once the new seals are pressed in you need to pull out and secure the locker plunger before re installing the carrier. We used a aerosol can straw cut to size and tied fishing line to it so we could yank it out once the carrier was back in. If you don't do this you will most likely bend the plunger when re installing the carrier.
View attachment 191501
View attachment 191502

14) now you can re install the carrier. Since we only had one shim per side I oiled up where they sat in the housing so they would stick there. Then carefully placed the carrier into position and plug in the plug as you set the carrier back in. You may be able to plug it in after if you have small fingers. Be sure to set the retainer on the right bearing cap and tighten down the 4 bolts. Check your shims and pull the string out that's connected to the straw.

15) put the diff cover back on, check you put the drain plug back in and re install everything in the reverse order.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for your write up! The driver side bottom bearing cap bolt was really tough to get the socket seated on it.

I am about to remove the carrier assembly and trying to deal with the E-Locker wiring. Do you recall how you disconnected the wire connector for the locker in your Step 9? Did you have to remove the bolt and then the connector on the top of the housing or was there a tab that needs to be depressed at the connection through the carrier chamber ceiling?

Thanks in advance.
Tim
 
Thanks for your write up! The driver side bottom bearing cap bolt was really tough to get the socket seated on it.

I am about to remove the carrier assembly and trying to deal with the E-Locker wiring. Do you recall how you disconnected the wire connector for the locker in your Step 9? Did you have to remove the bolt and then the connector on the top of the housing or was there a tab that needs to be depressed at the connection through the carrier chamber ceiling?

Thanks in advance.
Tim

Sorry just saw this! And it's my pleasure hope it helps a bit!!

I did remove the bolt from the top and took the plug out of the axle housing. It's just pressed in and has a oring on it to seal it. (I only did this to buy me a little space if needed but you don't have to) Be very careful if you choose to remove it so you don't break the little plastic tab the bolt goes through. I slowly worked mine up with a pocket screwdriver. The plug on mine just pulled apart. But If I were you I'd give it a look over again just to make sure I'm not having a brain lapse. I had someone hold the carrier while I pulled the plug apart. It came apart very easily which is why I don't think there was a tab.
 
Sorry just saw this! And it's my pleasure hope it helps a bit!!

I did remove the bolt from the top and took the plug out of the axle housing. It's just pressed in and has a oring on it to seal it. (I only did this to buy me a little space if needed but you don't have to) Be very careful if you choose to remove it so you don't break the little plastic tab the bolt goes through. I slowly worked mine up with a pocket screwdriver. The plug on mine just pulled apart. But If I were you I'd give it a look over again just to make sure I'm not having a brain lapse. I had someone hold the carrier while I pulled the plug apart. It came apart very easily which is why I don't think there was a tab.

Jeepin -- thanks for the write-up.
 
After doing some poking around before changing out the seals on my front axle it seemed like a few people had some similar questions as me. So I thought I'd try to cover the steps I took to replace the seals. Hope some find this helpful.. Or just funny to read since it's my first write up if you can call it that. I'll try to answer any questions people may have on doing this. It's not hard to do at all. Or maybe others can give better insight on certain steps.

Reason we're doing this:
View attachment 191516


These are the two seals available for the front 44. I went with the seal on the right ending in AC.
View attachment 191518

1) lift front of jeep and set on jack stands, secure jeep and remove front tires.
You will also need to remove the tie rod.

2) remove brake caliper mounts and secure calipers out of the way.
View attachment 191520

3) remove the three bolts to the hub bearing.
View attachment 191522

4) remove the speed sensor.
View attachment 191524

5) remove axle shaft through the knuckle. You can put a punch through the u joint and catch it on the knuckle to zip off the axle nut. Or do it before brakes are off.
View attachment 191531


6) pull the diff drain plug and drain fluid.
View attachment 191533

7) remove diff cover.
View attachment 191535

8) mark the 4 bearing cap bolts and the position of the caps. It's important that they go back in the same place. The caps may have some identifying marks stamped on them and stamped on the housing.
View attachment 191536

9) remove the bearing cap bolts: mine were on so tight that they gouged into the retainer on the right side and bent it while the bolts came out so watch out for this. When you pull the bolts the carrier will be ready to come out so have a hand ready to hold it. Mine came out just by pulling on it with my hands, I've heard some people have to pry them out. Slowly remove the carrier from the housing to help keep track of the shims on either side, I only had one shim per side so it wasn't to hard. You will also have to disconnect the wires running from the locker coil to the plug that goes through the top of the diff. Once out I placed the carrier, bearings caps, bolts and shims on a piece of cardboard labeled pax and driver.
View attachment 191538

10) using a tool of your choice, we used a piece of threaded rod with washers and nuts holding a socket on the end and punched out the old seals. You're going to slide the tool you create in the axle shaft and punch the seals out in toward the inside of the diff housing.
View attachment 191540

11) clean the inside of the housing and where the seals sit well. I'd also take this time to clean out the axle tubes as well.

12) press in new seals. To do this we used a larger socket that fit the diameter of the flat on the seal and a wooden broom handle. We did the driver side first and ran the broom handle in from the pax side axle shaft. To do the pax side seal we switched to a 1/2" metal rod that we inserted through the driver side axle shaft and through the new seal. We wound up using the back of a 2 3/32 socket to press these in not the 1 5/8 pictured.
View attachment 191542

13) once the new seals are pressed in you need to pull out and secure the locker plunger before re installing the carrier. We used a aerosol can straw cut to size and tied fishing line to it so we could yank it out once the carrier was back in. If you don't do this you will most likely bend the plunger when re installing the carrier.
View attachment 191501
View attachment 191502

14) now you can re install the carrier. Since we only had one shim per side I oiled up where they sat in the housing so they would stick there. Then carefully placed the carrier into position and plug in the plug as you set the carrier back in. You may be able to plug it in after if you have small fingers. Be sure to set the retainer on the right bearing cap and tighten down the 4 bolts. Check your shims and pull the string out that's connected to the straw.

15) put the diff cover back on, check you put the drain plug back in and re install everything in the reverse order.

Did you have any trouble pressing the new seals in? I’m using the same method as everyone else is to tap them in (36mm socket) and it has ruined 2 axle seals now. Don’t know what to do now I don’t want to ruin more axle seals. (I’m not made of money) haha. I’m using the synergy axle seals. (Was)


Sent from my iPhone using WAYALIFE mobile app
 
Did you have any trouble pressing the new seals in? I’m using the same method as everyone else is to tap them in (36mm socket) and it has ruined 2 axle seals now. Don’t know what to do now I don’t want to ruin more axle seals. (I’m not made of money) haha. I’m using the synergy axle seals. (Was)


Sent from my iPhone using WAYALIFE mobile app

It's a very awkward procedure. Helps if you have a friend holding the seal, and socket steady and centered in the housing while you drive it in from the outside. If it starts to go in sideways stop immediately and reposition it, don't try to straighten it out by hitting it more.


Sent from my iPhone using WAYALIFE mobile app
 
It's a very awkward procedure. Helps if you have a friend holding the seal, and socket steady and centered in the housing while you drive it in from the outside. If it starts to go in sideways stop immediately and reposition it, don't try to straighten it out by hitting it more.


Sent from my iPhone using WAYALIFE mobile app

I don’t have any experience with the synergy seals, do they look like the OE ones? If you use the method described above it should go nice and easy. Make sure you’re hitting on the flat of the seals and as mentioned above while you hold the seal and sockets together have someone lightly tap to get started straight.. put a little oil on mating surfaces


Sent from my iPhone using WAYALIFE mobile app
 
Took care of my front axles seals over the weekend. Had a few observations I'd share, which might be of use to others.

* Some folks have to work harder than others to get their diff carrier in/out. Going through a tech manual, I find there is actually a tool, a spreader, intended to be used for this operation. The diff can be spread up to 0.020". Of course, we all have one of these in our toolbox ;).
spreader.jpg
line sketches courtesy of www.alldatadiy.com

* I was concerned about the plunger, particularly give the comment about bending it. In the instructions, it is the last thing removed, first thing reinstalled. All I did, was make sure the e-locker coil was properly aligned when putting the diff carrier assy back in. No issues.
Plunger.jpg

* The e-locker coil plug disconnect cost me a lot of time. Seriously did not want to risk damaging that. No one 'really' had good guidance on it, anywhere I searched. In the end, once the bolt is removed from the outside, all I did was use a pair of channel-locks to push it up. The top of the jaw gripping on the housing's edge, the bottom jaw gentle pushing up on the socket. Whole thing popped up real easily.
Diff-425.JPG

* One item I've had problems with in the past, is having the positioning ring walk back up the axle. I'm still using D44s, so I can use the castellated ring to guide the axle. This time, I used a single wrap of duct tape to backstop the ring. Worked like a champ. Having also oiled the end of the shaft to help ease it through the seal, it worked perfectly.
Diff-425-2.JPG

* The Tool
I've enjoyed seeing the wide range of contraptions, drive rods, and what-have-you, folks use for seating the seals in. I came up with a rather elegant approach that can work well for everyone.

Picked up 2 ~30" 3/8" drive extensions, a 1-11/16" 3/4" drive socket. To connect the extensions (~$25 for 2 3-packs at Harbor Freight) to the 3/4" drive socket, I used a 3/8-to-1/2" adapter into a 1/2"-to-3/4" adapter. I debated between 1-11/16" socket. I'd recommend 1-3/4". Couldn't have worked out better.
Diff-425-3.JPG
Diff-426.JPG

Of course, here's the kicker. Project took longer than expected. 2 hours before needing to leave for Easter dinner, an hour drive away, I still had no axles installed. Under the gun, got it all back together, new diff cover, added fluid, dropped Stitch on the ground, my wife loaded dogs and food, and away we went :).

Hope this overall thread proves useful for all. When I did a Google search for variations of 'jeep jk d44 front axle seals' this thread always showed up on top.
 
Backlash

Did you guys recheck the backlash? Should it be checked even if the shims were changed or the pinion wasn't changed? I'm thinking not, but............
 
Top Bottom