C4 Dana 44 Question
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C4 Dana 44 Question
I pulled the differential out of my 96 to replace the pinion bearings. Unfortunately I think I need to replace the ring and pinion as well. When I took the batwing/diff cover off, I found that only one of the short axle stubs had a snap ring keeper on it. The other one, passenger side, did not have a snap ring groove in the end of the axle stub splines. But- I found the snap ring in the bottom of the differential. Can anyone tell me how this could be? It makes me believe that the diff has been pulled out and gone thru before, but how did anyone put the axle stub in without a snap ring to hold it in place? I didn't know you could get an axle stub without the snap ring groove in it.
Any help is appreciated.
Any help is appreciated.
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Joined: Apr 2016
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From: N.E. Ohio OH
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
Is it stretched out/sprung ? So that it could have popped out of the groove and dropped when the axle floated ?
Here is the only place left to get replacement ones
http://tomsdifferentials.com/
Here is the only place left to get replacement ones
http://tomsdifferentials.com/
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
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I should have NOS 'correct' short-axle. It might be wise to ID the differential for year etc. If an original '96 D44 it would have a crush sleeve vs pinion shims for starters. Information on the ring gear might help ID the build. A '96 also should have information on the bottom of the housing. Should be maybe 4 lines of info. Ratio & CODE, a GM # and a Spicer assembly.
This is a very late D44 info on a rear housing. There should be similar on yours but likely not a match!
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ification.html
If the ring was in the bottom of the diff I'd guess that the short-axle failed. Until the axle shafts were removed there would be no way for the short-axle to exit the rear. I don't believe I've ever seen that failure. Broken/twisted yes but NOT where the short-axle broke on the minimum diameter of the short-axle. I'd thin there should certainly be evidence of the break.
This is a very late D44 info on a rear housing. There should be similar on yours but likely not a match!
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ification.html
If the ring was in the bottom of the diff I'd guess that the short-axle failed. Until the axle shafts were removed there would be no way for the short-axle to exit the rear. I don't believe I've ever seen that failure. Broken/twisted yes but NOT where the short-axle broke on the minimum diameter of the short-axle. I'd thin there should certainly be evidence of the break.
Last edited by WVZR-1; Sep 4, 2019 at 07:54 PM.
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ID differential year
I should have NOS 'correct' short-axle. It might be wise to ID the differential for year etc. If an original '96 D44 it would have a crush sleeve vs pinion shims for starters. Information on the ring gear might help ID the build. A '96 also should have information on the bottom of the housing. Should be maybe 4 lines of info. Ratio & CODE, a GM # and a Spicer assembly.
This is a very late D44 info on a rear housing. There should be similar on yours but likely not a match!
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ification.html
If the ring was in the bottom of the diff I'd guess that the short-axle failed. Until the axle shafts were removed there would be no way for the short-axle to exit the rear. I don't believe I've ever seen that failure. Broken/twisted yes but NOT where the short-axle broke on the minimum diameter of the short-axle. I'd thin there should certainly be evidence of the break.
This is a very late D44 info on a rear housing. There should be similar on yours but likely not a match!
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ification.html
If the ring was in the bottom of the diff I'd guess that the short-axle failed. Until the axle shafts were removed there would be no way for the short-axle to exit the rear. I don't believe I've ever seen that failure. Broken/twisted yes but NOT where the short-axle broke on the minimum diameter of the short-axle. I'd thin there should certainly be evidence of the break.
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The differential year stamp is 10/95. If you have a NOS short axle for the passenger side, the 7 3/8" one. or the longer of the two, I would like to buy it. The axle did not have a groove for the snap ring in it, and the end against the spider cross shaft was completely smooth, like it had been cut off with a lathe or something. Really weird. If you have this axle stub, please let me know. Thanks a bunch.
Team Owner
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The differential year stamp is 10/95. If you have a NOS short axle for the passenger side, the 7 3/8" one. or the longer of the two, I would like to buy it. The axle did not have a groove for the snap ring in it, and the end against the spider cross shaft was completely smooth, like it had been cut off with a lathe or something. Really weird. If you have this axle stub, please let me know. Thanks a bunch.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2015
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From: Arkansas
I'm very puzzled regarding how this Vehicle could have been driven, or how a "C" clip could have fallen out off the Short Axle.
SO my Brain is telling Me that,,,
The "C Clip secures the Short Axles in place, as many others differentials that initialize "C" Clips. BUT, Once properly assembled with "C" Clip in place,, Diffy Assembled. The Short Axles can not be removed. Unless there's an internal failure, "C" Clip or the short Axle.
So how about a few photos of the "C" Clip and
Since On a C4 Corvette the Short Axle acts as the Upper Control Arm and physically sets the Hub-to-Hub width. Changing the Half Shaft Length is the means to narrow or widen the Hub-to-Hub width on C4 IRS into other Vehicles. I just completed this in my 1937 Chevy Coupe build.
Here's where I'm very puzzled,,,, So how could this Car be driven ??
Michael..
SO my Brain is telling Me that,,,
The "C Clip secures the Short Axles in place, as many others differentials that initialize "C" Clips. BUT, Once properly assembled with "C" Clip in place,, Diffy Assembled. The Short Axles can not be removed. Unless there's an internal failure, "C" Clip or the short Axle.
So how about a few photos of the "C" Clip and
Since On a C4 Corvette the Short Axle acts as the Upper Control Arm and physically sets the Hub-to-Hub width. Changing the Half Shaft Length is the means to narrow or widen the Hub-to-Hub width on C4 IRS into other Vehicles. I just completed this in my 1937 Chevy Coupe build.
Here's where I'm very puzzled,,,, So how could this Car be driven ??
Michael..
