Help, guys!!! Rec'd my new SLP Dana 44 rear end assembly Wednesday. Have had no response from SLP to my E-mails and phone calls over past three days...... Have excessive axle shaft end play (0.062" - driver's side and 0.150" - passenger side)! Also excessive play in axle bearings at housing ends. Tightening bolts on axle housing end plates has no effect, so internal shims must be corrected.

Due to high cost of shipping unit from Texas back to SLP in New Jersey, I am going to take it to a local rear end shop (Pyle Brothers in Baytown, Texas) and have them follow behind SLP and set it up correctly.

What are correct axle bearing part numbers for F-body Dana 44 with Moser axles? What is correct axle end play setting?

Do you have an E-mail address for Ed Hamburger? I'd like to contact him personally about problem with SLP rear end and see if he'll reimburse me for cost of correcting SLP's setup work. Have been attempting to contact someone at SLP who will work with me to correct problem for three days now without success.

Also, the Dana 44 housing ends and bolt hole locations/dimensions on housing ends appear to match those on our existing 3rd gen. Camaro 10-bolt (C-clip type) housing. Will our existing 10-bolt backing plates fit the Dana 44?

Any change required for our present rear universal joint?

Thanks in advance for your assistance,

Harry

 

Damn, for 1700 bucks that friggin rear end had better be right. By the time you get brakes on that thing you will be at a 3 grand investment. Jeez, is there no good solution for our rears?

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84 Camaro ZZ4 with HOT cam. 1.88 60' (12.98 @ 105MPH E.T.)
Recently Ported Heads, Installed Larger Race-Flo Valves and RPM Air Gap Intake (No new times)
Other Mods: You name it and I have probably changed it.

2001 Dodge Ram Quad Cab 5.9L 4*2

The Bowtie
ASE Certified Auto Tech
LIVE AND DIE BY THE ALMIGHTY BOWTIE!

 

You've got me worried now. I'm also from the Houston area and have a 44 from SLP waiting to go in my car that I need to check. I expect SLP to stand behind their products and make this right. Let me know how it plays out.

Can't use the stock rear U joint. The part you need per Joey @ SLP is either a Nepco 3-3130 or a Precision 372. I picked up the Precision part at the local Standard Auto Parts.

 

Hi, Mike and Mark!

Thanks for your reply! Yep - it's not a cheap rear and it BETTER be right - my son's new 350 will make 400 ft./lb. torque and we need the extra strength - his 7.5" 10-bolt has 140K on it and wouldn't hold up long behind his new engine.

We're swapping on his new drum brakes from the old 10-bolt rear, rather than go to expensive rear discs for now.

Figure it'll take a couple hundred bucks to have a good shop set up the Dana 44 correctly. The Dana 44 rears that SLP have are all 3.54's and we had them install a 4.09 ring & pinion. I'm pretty sure that is where the problem began - incorrect setup clearances. I'm hoping I can get SLP to reimburse me since it's their screw up, but even if they won't, it's still cheaper than a Currie 9" or Strange 12-bolt rear. Thanks for universal joint info - that will help us a lot!

Happy Motoring,

Harry

 

I have a 44 in my camaro with no end play.

Do you have the brake backing plates in the right place. the plates go on outside the bearing retainers so to instll them you must remove the bearing from the axle. My dana had the wrong year backing plates so we had to press of the bearings change the plates and install new bearing.

I hope this helps

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92 Z28 5.7 TPI AUTO 105k factory motor and trans.

SLP headers and runners, B&M 2400 stall, shift kit,LCA brackets, EIBACH spring kit, NITTO'S, N.O.S.

best 60ft 1.84 1/4 12.48 @ 110.81

 

Hi, Jerry!

Thanks for info! SLP shipped our Dana 44 with Moser axles and no backing plates. There are small, flat (retainer?) plates on the Moser axles, but tightening the bolts that secure them to the flange on the axle housing ends has no effect on axle end play. Are you sure retaining plate installs inboard of brake backing plate on Dana rear? All the other rears I've worked on have retainer plate outboard of backing plate.

What are correct backing plates to use with Dana 44 in 3rd gen. F-body? We are replacing stock 10-bolt rear in son's '89 RS, which has new drum brakes. Would like to reuse new drums, shoes & wheel cylinders we now have, if possible. Can the 10-bolt backing plates be used? What are correct bearing part numbers? What fits?

Thanks again,

Harry

[This message has been edited by enigma57 (edited April 16, 2001).]

 

I'm pretty sure, but not absolutely certain, that the Dana 44 uses the same backing plates as the 10 bolt.

 

Hi, Apeiron!

Appreciate info. Yes, our 10-bolt backing plates look as though they'll fit. Now if I can just find a way to adjust axle shaft end play, we'll be ready to install rear end.

Many thanks,

Harry