As Mopar drivers, we're lucky to have some of the toughest equipment ever built by Detroit. Our cars have bulletproof engines, some of the best transmissions ever built, comfortable and tough torsion bar suspensions, and most came equipped with one of two extremely rugged rear differentials, the 8 3/4 or the Dana 60. Since these rear ends are so tough, very few ever broke, so most of us are driving around with the factory differential in our cars still intact, maybe even with the factory gear lube still installed. While this is a testament to the strength of the most common Mopar rear ends, there is still room for improvement in these differentials, specifically the axles and axle bearings.
While factory axles and axle bearings perform just fine in stock applications, the fact is most of our cars are no longer stock. There have been major improvements in engine technology since the engines in our Mopars were first built, so even fairly stock rebuilds can have significantly more axle-taxing power than the factory engine. With a stroker motor in a heavy car, especially with slicks, the factory axles don't stand a chance. And if you race your car at sanctioned drag racing events, there's a good chance the factory axles aren't even legal.
There's another anomaly with factory Mopar axles, and it has to do with the non-sealed axle bearings and the adjustor. To achieve the proper axle endplay, Chrysler added an adjustor to one of the axles. While not super complicated, this adjustor can be a pain, especially if you perform frequent gear changes. Additionally, the factory axle bearings are not sealed, and must be repacked with grease at regular intervals to perform properly.
Fortunately, Strange Engineering has the answer to both these issues. Whether you simply want to replace your factory axle bearings with sealed units that eliminate the adjustor, or you want to toughen up the rear with new forged axles that are approved by all major sanctioning bodies, Strange has you covered. In this months Quick Tech we'll show you how easy it is to improve your rear end with new axles, or at least new bearings on your stock axles.
Factory axles were held in...
Factory axles were held in by five nuts and studs on the axle end tubes. With the brake drum removed, you can access the nuts through a hole in the axle flange. Note the factory adjustor on this axle.
The axle bearings are held...
The axle bearings are held in place by a pressed-on sleeve. Since our new bearings will come with new sleeves, it's usually easiest just to cut the factory sleeve off with a grinder and cut-off wheel. Use caution not to cut into the axle, however.
The axle bearing kit from...
The axle bearing kit from Strange comes with new, non-adjustable, sealed bearings (commonly called "green" bearings), new axle retainers, new press-on sleeves, and gaskets. These bearings are fully sealed and non-adjustable, eliminating the factory adjustor and never requiring maintenance.
A hydraulic press can be used...
A hydraulic press can be used to remove the old bearings, and is a necessity to install the new bearings. If you don't have one at home it should only cost a few bucks to have an automotive shop press the new bearings in place.
As an alternative to changing...
As an alternative to changing the bearings on your factory axles, a new axle kit can also be ordered from Strange. These axles are far tougher than factory units, and meet the aftermarket axle requirement of racing sanctioning bodies.
The new Strange axles come...
The new Strange axles come with the sealed, non-adjustable bearings already pressed into place, with new axle retainers to hold the axles in the housing. They're also available for all common Mopar rear ends, and can be made for custom narrowed applications as well.
Unlike factory axles which...
Unlike factory axles which have pressed in wheel studs, the Strange axles utilize stronger, screw-in style wheel studs. These should be installed using Lock-Tite, and will take far more abuse than the factory studs.
Replacing factory axle bearings...
Replacing factory axle bearings is a good upgrade, but for the money we recommend an axle package from Strange. New axles will save the hassle of pressing bearings on and off, and you won't have to wonder about them if your car is equipped with a powerful engine. Once bolted in, you should never need to worry about the axles for the life of your car!