I have a D44 that I wish to build up for my '96 XJ Cherokee

here is some pictures to help ID what it came out of

The PO was getting out of later XJs (staying with earlier models)

and was selling & wrecking various XJ Cherokees

he was a Jeep nut & ex-mechanic, a real good honest fella

he told me the following about this D44;

* it was from his mates truck, and he has a notion it may have been IMPORTED direct from USA to Australia..more than 10yrs ago

* he thinks it is an original Cherokee XJ item, as the shock & other mounts all line up perfectly and show no sign of alteration from factory

* cannot find any numbers on axle tube, only those pictured
(D44 supposedly have stamped numbers on axle tube to ID?)

I bought it for $150, with ARB airlock centre, and full master rebuild kit, had 4.10 gears, (I have 3.55 as well). It also has been converted to disc brakes. It ran in a Cherokee for many years locally

it has been dismantled down to the very last item, but is complete

hopefully I can find time to put this together soon!


I am not sure where the pinion shims and thrower should be placed...it would help me to know EXACTLY what this came out off, and look at the Parts Manual. I cannot find a D44 in the XJ Cherokee Parts manual, but have read they came as optional for Tow Packs (in USA at least)

The numbers stamped on the mount read;


08/99 ODM 481C7 (the "C" is likely a mis-stamped 0)


It would seem this is a out of a '99 XJ with optional towpack?

How wide are the axle flanges when assembed? 60" would work for XJ and MJ

it is 55" (inside) flange to flange..IDENTICAL to both my D35 XJs

as I mentioned, the PO said this had been fitted to a (mid 90s) XJ for over 10 years

but it was not original to that vehicle

My XJ axles are both 60"

I'm new to all this but from what i've read, they came in only 2-3 years in late the 80's in the 2wd xj's with the tow package. Dana used "C" to mean "clipped" in a lot of the xj axle applications. Maybe that will stear your info hunt in the right direction? good luck

Cheers,
A

sorry the "c" came at the end of the numbers so probably not the case here

we are probably not measuring the same thing??

my housing is bare, axles out

housing tube outer flange (inner side) -to housing flange on other side

(axles were in in pics, and would probably add about 2.5" on each side)

if worst come to worst, I will have to try and use witness marks on the pinion to work out where one set of pinion shims go, and the thrower

they can be placed in 2 different ways on various D44

honed up some dummy bearings last time

thx, (this) D44 has the retaining plate end..so no C-clip

Just to clarify something about the "C". It means corporate assembled. So all the stuff was shipped to AMC or Chrysler depending on year and assembled there. Chrysler prefers to use C clips, so any their assemblies had them. The Dana design however doesn't need them. The axles have a flange that rides against the axle seal that holds it all together.