Dana 44 front axle upgrade

[Alanmizzen]

Hey all,

 

I’ve got my 89 Comanche on blocks cuz I can’t get the wheel bearings out. I’ve been tinkering with the idea of upgrading to Dana 44s all around and figure it might be a good time now. Rather than keep fight just to get the bearings out to upgrade the whole assembly.

 

My questions are:

 

Is it a pretty straight swap? Or will there be a lot of other things along the way?

Trusted brands? I’ve seen mopar floating around the net for Dana 44. But will it fit my 89?

 

I know it will be a few thousand to do both but I’d rather upgrade than to see her sent to a junker cuz I can’t the dumb @$$ rusted bearings out.

 

I literally spent 16 hours on the front end and only got 1 bearing out.

 

 

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[DirtyComanche]

Have you priced any of the bolt in D44 front axles?  A 'few thousand' won't go far, and it won't do both.

 

The only cheap(ish) one is the TJ Rubicon axle, which isn't much of a real upgrade.

[mnkyboy]

Unless this rig is heavily wheeled i would look for a HP D30 from a late model XJ.

 

You will ditch the CAD, get an axle/U joint upgrade, and it will be about a decade newer so it likely won't have lots of rust and seized parts, best part is it will bolt right in and should only run you about $200.

[Smokeyyank]

I'd just get axles from a 97-99 XJ. D44 isn't straight forward at all. Need a lot of stuff to do it right. At least with the XJ axle you'll get bigger u joints, CAD delete and will be a HP. 

[Alanmizzen]

Thanks guys! I’m going to give it one more go at the bearings today. Soaked em in pb. If this doesn’t work I’ll see about sourcing a newer xj axle.




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[DirtyComanche]

How are you trying to get them out?

 

Professionals basically never use penetrating oil.  It hardly helps most of the time, if it does anything at all.

 

Every parts can be removed using a combination of brute force and ignorance.  Or careful planning and well thought out brute force.

 

You can push them out with the power steering, but personally I normally just use a slide hammer and go full hog on it.