I have two Cherokee Dana 44s. The one thats in use is under my 87 Cherokee that has 295,178 miles. I bought this Cherokee just for this Highly desired axle(Thought I would put it under my 01), but this amazing Jeep has kept on going, so its still in use. The other axle is from another 87 Cherokee, I know of this Jeeps past a little bit, enough to know it wasnt swapped in. This Jeep was junked two years ago, so I snagged the 44 out from under it, and it has sat in my driveway for the past two years. The two Dana 44s have different structural webbing(the bracing from the front of the pinion to the diff cover area) and they are shaped different on the bottom, where the axle would scrape if you were to hit ground. Same gear ratio(3.54) both open carriers. I know I need to post pictures to really get the point across, I will once I get a good camera to do this.

 

Your sure it's not a D35?

 

No, he means D44s. I have seen both types as well. Here are some pictures of each one. On the yoke side of the pumpkin the ribbing is different. One has 3 ribs per side like the first picture. Then there is the other style that has one big thick rib with small gussets. I'm not sure if one is really any stronger than the other.

 

Thanks, dysfunctionaljd, whatyou described is exactly what Im talking about. All I was getting at, was if anyone else had noticed this, and that I thought it strange to find these differences in Dana 44 castings from two same year Cherokees. I like the 44 thats on the 87 Cherokee Im driving now the best, it has the one big rib on the drivers side vs. the three smaller ribs. Someday it will be under my 01 in place of the Chrysler 8 1/4. The thin diff covers are my only complaint. The diff covers from early Dana 35s(84thru 86) are much heavier and tougher in my opinion.

 

I like the look and thought of welding the axle tubes to the diff housing, will have to do this if or when I swap and re-gear my 44z.