i have a 97 ram 1/2 ton with bad axle u-joints on a dana 44....before i get started changing them out i have to get the huge hub nut off...i have read a lot of forums that say its 1 15/16....this puppy has got to be 2 - 22/12 inches....some say its 32mm and others say 34 or 36.....which one is it???? hate to blow the money on a full set that i may only use one time.....can anyone say for certain....because the local parts houses sure cant....help please!!!

 

I don't know for sure if "97 and '96 is the same. If it is, it is 1-11/16" and you can get one from Sears, or NAPA. I bought mine from NAPA and had to get a 3/4" to 1/2" drive adapter to make it work with my 1/2" drive tools. The socket and adapter cost me around $35 to $40. I didn't know Sears Craftsman carried them, and they were actually a little bit cheaper. The NAPA tools carry the same warranty though. Also, be patient with trying to remove them. I got the first one off pretty easily, but the bearings were bad and must have loosened it just enough to work with it. The other one is a different story. I had to CAREFULLY cut the nut off and replace it with a new one. I could only find the new ones from the dealer, and it set me back $25, just for the 1 nut.

 

i wish it were 1-11/16, i put my 1-15/16 wrench up to it and itwas about 1/2 inch too small. thats what has got me thinking maybe 32-36mm

 

If that's the case, even the 36mm will be too small; it was too small for mine at 1-11/16". I wish I could help more, but I really don't know. If it were me, I would try to get an actual measurement of the diameter, then go to one of the store I mentioned earlier and buy the 2 or 3 closest sizes they have, and return whichever ones didn't fit. I did this for mine from Autozone since they didn't have a kit on hand to loan out. I had gotten the 32mm to 36mm sizes and all were too small. I had read that it was 1-11/16" on here, but they didn't even carry that size in the store. I normally don't go to NAPA, but afrter I started calling around to everyone locally, they said they had that size and the adapter to fit my 1/2" drive ratchet. That's how I ended up going to them. Hopefully someone else will be able to help with a specific size if you don't want to buy a few and return the unused ones.

 

Might be time to invest in a caliper so you can get a reading on what size it is.