A buddy with a 50s wrangler told me he'd give me his dana 44 when he builds up his yota axles. I cannot recall if the axles are original to the wrangler or they were scout axles, but I'm wondering if they're worth it. They are a couple inches shorter and of course, I'd have to rework the spring perches and shock mounts. Is this a good upgrade from my dana 35 or should I keep looking?

Thanks,
s

 

Wranglers weren't made till 87, it's a CJ. If it is a Scout 44 it's a few inches shorter and has a 5x5.5" bolt pattern, same for the Jeep 44. Depending on what year it is it could be a course spline or 2 piece shafts (both came in early Jeeps and IH). If it has the 2 piece shafts or course spline (19 instead of 30) walk away. If it is a mid 70s or newer you can get some wheel spacer/adapters and it will be an upgrade over any axle you can have even the rare XJ Dana 44. The Jeep and IH versions have larger tubes than the XJ.

 

How will I know if it is the good one? I'll likely take photos and post them so let me know what pics to shoot and what I'm looking for.

Thanks again,
s

 

I don't know about anyone else but I always take the pumpkin cover off and inspect the axle carefully before I purchase it.

 

Look at the hubs. If it has a solid hub it will be 1 piece shafts and more than likely 30 spline. If it has a nut on the hub, often with a cover over it, it has the junk 2 piece shafts and prob 19 spline, walk away. If it's in a 50s model Jeep there is a good change it will be offset to the passenger side which won't work for you anyway. IH will be centered but have the 2 piece shaft up to the mid 70s. 46 to 49 CJs had a Dana 41 with 10 spline, 50 to 70ish is 19 spline. Stay away from those. 70 and up have 30 spline and are a pretty good axle but like I stated earlier it's narrower and a larger bolt pattern. In 76 they swapped to a AMC 20 which also has 2 piece shafts but if swapped out to 1 piece are way strong.

 

If it is a 50s CJ, the axles are 10 spline. Went to 19 in the 60s

 

Even stronger than a D60?

 

No. No factory 44 made is stronger than a 60. Some of the aftermarket ones are up there but a full float 60 will always be stronger than a semi float 44. Also I think he was referring to the 1960s not a Dana 60. From what I found the 44 had 19 spline and the 41 had 10 spline in the early versions.

 

Don't forget the older CJs had the offset 44

 

I stated that above he he. Guess you didn't read all my rantings.

 

you did I missed it

 

I know, I was just givin him crap because he said
"If it is a mid 70s or newer you can get some wheel spacer/adapters and it will be an upgrade over any axle you can have even the rare XJ Dana 44."

 

By any axle you can have I meant factory ie D35, 44 or 8.25.