CJ7 Dana 44

[EVERYUSERNAMEISTAKEN]

After reading this you will figure out that I know nothing about drivetrains.

I know people say that an upgraded AMC20 is as strong as a Dana 44 . However there is a Dana 44 in my area with the gears I want and a locker for a good price. Should I replace my AMC20 with the Dana 44 ?

A little background on my rig: 7" of lift and 36" tires. Stock axles with stock gears. They have lasted until now.. I haven't taken apart the axle yet but something is toast in the rear.

Thanks in advance!

 

[PistolDave]

To say that there are a lot of strong opinions on this subject is to make something of an understatement. From a purely financial standpoint, if the 44 is in good shape, including brakes, bearings, etc. and can be had for a good price(500$ or under), it would probably make more sense to go for the 44. By the time you upgrade the axles and put new gears into the '20 you will have around 600$ in it, and that's if you do the work yourself, plus you might still want to weld the tubes to the housing and maybe add a truss of some sort to decrease the chance of bending the housing which is more $$$ if you do not have the equipment to accomplish this. Personally, I prefer the 44 to the '20, not because I believe it to be vastly superior, I just think the 44 is a little better in stock form. I would not pull out an upgraded, fully functioning '20 to replace with a 44, but if your '20 is shot and a cheap 44 is available, I say go for it.

Full disclosure: My rig has 44's front and rear.

The above is my opinion, and I may be completely full of , use at your own risk, viewer discretion advised, blah blah blah.

 

[CJim7]

If it's already geared and locked I would say go for it...definitely. I'm assuming this axle is out of another CJ. If not, there is a lot of work involved.

By the description of your corp 20, I would bet the stock 2-piece assembly failed. What are the symptoms?

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Not all 44's are the same. What's this one out of?
Find out first, what broke in yours-
LG

 

[Peanut Butter]

Don't forget changing the rear gear means a change in the front gear too!

 

[Hedgehog]

Yeah, even though you clearly wrote in your post that it's geared the way you want it to be, pull the cover and look before you pay. You never really know until you look. The gearing should be stamped right on the gear itself, along with it's birth date and number. Also remember, regearing ain't cheap.

What kind of locker does the Dana 44 have? A Limited slip was more or less standard equipment in the '72-'75 Dana 44 's.

Go ahead and jump on me for being an uninformed "Frequent poster", I know that not all CJ's came with a Limited slip, but most did .....

 

[mtnwhlr]

The only Dana 44 that is a bolt in your Jeep would be one out of a 86 CJ. That being said if that is what it is I would go for it. If not it could take a lot of work to get it in your Jeep and may not be worth it.

 

[EVERYUSERNAMEISTAKEN]

Sorry guys, I left out some good info that y'all pointed out.

The Dana 44 is a Wide Track Dana 44 out of a CJ7 . From what I can find the only year possible is an 86 CJ7 and has an Eaton E locker in it. It is listed for $1000 but can hopefully be had for less.

As for the symptoms of my AMC20 .. The jeep would move until I parked it. Now the drive shaft spins but it won't move. Please ignore my drivetrain ignorance.

I am currently considering buying built axles both front and rear. I'm thinking that I could buy this Dana 44 for thousands less than new. Then buy an upgraded front with the same gearing. Sure I could find other used axles and fabricate them to fit. My lack of knowledge just scares me away from this..

 

[Posi]

Sounds like you spun the 2 piece shafts.
You don't say what year CJ or whether it's a 5 or 7 some years have narrow track axles. If I had to guess it would be 80s CJ7 .

 

[EVERYUSERNAMEISTAKEN]

Sounds like you spun the 2 piece shafts.

You don't say what year CJ or whether it's a 5 or 7 some years have narrow track axles. If I had to guess it would be 80s CJ7 .

I have an 84 CJ7 (wide track) and this axle is a wide track Dana 44 off of a CJ7 . Jeeptech.com says that it had to come off of an 86 CJ7 for it to be a wide track.

This axle would be a direct replacement.

 

[CJim7]

Yes. This axle is a direct replacement all things fitment-wise. I don't know that I would pay $1000 for it......if you can talk him down, it would be a good axle to pick up.

Meanwhile, it will run you about $200 to pick up a 1-piece axle kit for your corp 20, minus labor to install unless you do it yourself.

You can probably find a replacement 2-piece for free somewhere, but I would highly recommend against that. You'll be in the same situation you are now.

 

[Posi]

I have an 84 CJ7 (wide track) and this axle is a wide track Dana 44 off of a CJ7 . Jeeptech.com says that it had to come off of an 86 CJ7 for it to be a wide track.

This axle would be a direct replacement.

Just needed to know what year and model you had. As Jim mentioned it is a direct fit.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Sounds like you spun the 2 piece shafts.

Jack up both rear wheels and put it in gear-brake OFF.
See if you can spin a wheel. How much side to side play do you have?
Set of Moser 1 piece axle are way cheaper...
Just say'n is all.
LG

 

[mriplaybass]

Sorry guys, I left out some good info that y'all pointed out.

The Dana 44 is a Wide Track Dana 44 out of a CJ7 . From what I can find the only year possible is an 86 CJ7 and has an Eaton E locker in it. It is listed for $1000 but can hopefully be had for less.

As for the symptoms of my AMC20 .. The jeep would move until I parked it. Now the drive shaft spins but it won't move. Please ignore my drivetrain ignorance.

I am currently considering buying built axles both front and rear. I'm thinking that I could buy this Dana 44 for thousands less than new. Then buy an upgraded front with the same gearing. Sure I could find other used axles and fabricate them to fit. My lack of knowledge just scares me away from this..

Last spring I did a Dana 44 rear w/Eaton elocker on a narrow track. Replaced everything w/new parts except the housing and axles. I have about $1200 to $1300 into it, but I did the rebuild myself. I don't know what a shop would charge for labor. $1000 depending on condition, might not be too far off, but you could probably talk the guy down a few hundred.

 

[EVERYUSERNAMEISTAKEN]

Thanks for the replies! After thinking about it more, it might be worth spending more money and doing this right the first time.

I might be going with larger tires in the future so I'm thinking about just buying a built ford 9" or Dana 60.

 

[CJim7]

Thanks for the replies! After thinking about it more, it might be worth spending more money and doing this right the first time.

I might be going with larger tires in the future so I'm thinking about just buying a built ford 9" or Dana 60.

If you are going much larger than the 36's, that's what I would do.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Can't argue about the 9" . Love mine.
Find out what's wrong with your model 20 rear, FIRST. Then see if the 44 is a good investment.
LG

 

[CJim7]

LG has a point. The 20 can be fixed easily and fairly cheaply (if it's a spun 2-piece) and that will give you a decent axle to run 36's with until you decide to dive into larger axles.

If your plan is to go to larger axles in the near future, I would just forego the Dana 44 and fix the 20 for the time being.

I've been running 36" TSL's on a locked 1-piece corp 20 for several years now and have had no issues. The front 30 however.......

 

[mtnwhlr]

I think $1000 is to much for a Dana 44 . I bought one for $300 and sat on it for a year and then sold it for $400. I would just fix the one you have. IMO

 

[EVERYUSERNAMEISTAKEN]

Alright so the cheapo in me decided to buy this Dana 44 . I feel like I got a decent deal on it and should be cheaper than upgrading my AMC20 with: one piece axles, e-locker, new gears and possibly disk brakes. Maybe even learn a thing or two!

Do yall think it is worth it to convert the rear drum brakes to disk? I am considering the tsmmfg.com disk brake kit.


(Not being able to sign into my account on a computer is driving me crazy)