AMC 20 and Dana 35

[musciab]

Ok, second post today becasue I have a lot of work to do this weekend and need some help. Basically Im tying to get seals and bearing for both my AMC20 rear axles and the Dana 35 front axles. I saw that the AMC20 is a pretty common real axle for a 76 CJ5 (for the most part untill people started swaping them out). So I believe I found some seals and bearing for that. Now I am looking for seals and bearing for the Dana 35 front axles and Quadratec has them listed for much later wranglers. Is the dana 35 something that a PO may have swapped in? I only think its a Dana 35 because when I was trying to figure out what I had, I found a thing that showed the difference between the pumpkins and mine looks like exactly like the Dana 35. What Im asking for is to make sure i have a Dana 35 as well as specs for both the AMC20 and Dana 35 seals and bearings so I can find them online and order them. Let me know if anyone can help or if more info is needed. Thanks.

 

[CJ]

To be sure - take a look at this cover chart.

 

[musciab]

That is the sheet I found and decided that I have an AMC20 rear and a Dana 35 front. To double check, I will head outside as soon as I get a chance and take a look as well as try and snap a pic of each.

As I read into this further, there are a lot of people that have no idea waht a Dana 35 is and if they do, it was usually used for a rear axle. So either I am wrong or someone did a swap. Ill let you know and post the pics in a bit. Thanks.

 

[BusaDave9]

It is very unlikely that you have a Dana 35 front axle. It is much more likely that it's a Dana 30 .

Dana 30
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Click for more info on the Dana 30




The Dana 35 was a rear axle with a bad reputation as being weak. The Dana 35 was rarely used as a front axle but Dodge and ford did use it in a couple 4x4s such as the Ranger and the Durango.

These 2 axles are easy to tell apart. The Dana 35 has an oval cover.

Dana 35

 

[PaRenegade]

The dana 35 axle came in the 87-96 Wrangler YJ, 84-97 Cherokee XJ, 97-up Wrangler TJ/LJ (std), 07-up Wrangler TK (std), but as REAR axles. So someone would have had to do major work to make them front axles, unless it was from a Dodge or Ford mid-sized pickup. It was originally the AMC15 axle before they sold their axle manf. dept. to Dana. AMC used it in their cars. Not a desirable axle for a Jeep from what I've read, but I have no experience with it.

 

[BusaDave9]

The dana 35 axle ...
was originally the AMC15 axle before they sold their axle manf. dept. to Dana. AMC used it in their cars.

I did not know that.
Learn something new everyday.
Almost all Dana differential covers have the same basic shape. But not the Dana 35. Guess this explains that.

 

[musciab]

Here is my Front pumpkin. It doesnt look like the Dana 35 now that im looking at it but it aslo doesnt look like the pic that you posted of the Dana 30 . Its pretty close to the Dana 30 on the diagram that was posted. take a look and let me know what you think, thanks.

 

[Incommando]

That is a Dana 30 and looks just like the two I went out in the garage and looked at to check. The straight up and down lip on each side of the cover is a giveaway over the rounded 35. Dave's looks more like a 44 than a 30 to me. Compare them both to the chart above and tell me if I am crazy( again) or not?

 

[CJ]

It's a Dana 30 .

 

[musciab]

Sweet, Thats what i thought to when i went out to look at it. Now, my next question. Replacing the bearings and seals on both the AMC20 and Dana 30 ? I beileve both are 1pc axels. Will I need to press the bearigs off of the entire axle shaft on either? If so how and can I do it at home with basic tools?

 

[PaRenegade]

The AMC20 will be a 2 pc. axle (shaft & hub) if it's still factory. Does it have a big nut on the end in the center of the wheel? You may need to pull off a plastic cap to expose it. If so it's 2 pc., if it's flat it's already been changed. If it's 2 pc you should seriously think of upgrading it to a Moser or Superior 1 pc. axle for roughly $200-$250 or somewhere close to that. They usually supply the bearings so you'll just need seals. Get National or SKF brand, not Crown. The 2pc axle is the weak part of that axle and the main reason it gets a bad rap. And yes you will need a bearing pressed on. Do a search on this axle to find a video of taking one apart. Since it's not spun off on it's own yet (if it's 2 pc.) you'll need a large puller to get the hub off.
Jeep® CJ Series Axle & Differential Parts - Quadratec

The Dana 30 front is a full floating axle (no vehicle weight on the axle shaft itself) and is 2 shafts connected by a u-joint. It's a dry tube axle, where the 20 is a wet tube axle. Again, search for repair threads or videos for the axle dis-assembly.
Jeep® CJ Series Axle & Differential Parts - Quadratec

 

[CJ]

If you decide that you need or want to upgrade to Moser or Superior axles - the kits come with seals (just ordered a set of Superiors for my CJ8 ).

 

[PaRenegade]

Yeah I wasn't sure if they did, it's been so long since I put mine in. But if you don't go that route, and I think we all recommend you do, try partsgeek.com for cheap prices on Timken bearings and National seals for either axle.

 

[PaRenegade]

I just double checked my Dana 30 and it has a "30" poured in the mold of the diff., on top on one of the webs. Maybe all Dana axles are marked like that? The dirt and grease build up probably covers it!!

 

[Incommando]

All of my Dana axles have had the series cast in, but I have had some that are so corroded that they could not be read. Gotta love the rust belt...