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Bad Day For My Dana 44

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by Michael Crabtree, Oct 16, 2020.

  1. Oct 17, 2020
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Yes.

    Check car-part.com and look for a 3.73 rear axle from a '72-75 CJ-5.
     
  2. Oct 17, 2020
    Michael Crabtree

    Michael Crabtree Member

    Lake County, CA
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    Right? Part of me is kicking myself for not checking, but then I ask myself who does? It's not like you routinely check the fluids, belts, hoses, tires, and the pinion nuts regularly...

    Yes, according to my research and running the casting numbers, its a D20 transfer case.
     
  3. Oct 17, 2020
    Michael Crabtree

    Michael Crabtree Member

    Lake County, CA
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    It's at least 100 according to my research. Definitely a failure on some level. Whether it was from somebody messing with it, or simple failure of a part, I can't say for sure.
     
  4. Oct 17, 2020
    Michael Crabtree

    Michael Crabtree Member

    Lake County, CA
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    Here are a couple more pictures of underneath. I put the diff cover back on to keep out dirt. When I pull it apart again, I shoot some more pictures.
    IMG_8542.jpg
    Judging by the fact that someone had to have a chrome diff cover put on, leads me to believe it's been messed with at some point...
    IMG_8543.jpg
    IMG_8544.jpg
    IMG_8545.jpg
     
  5. Oct 17, 2020
    wheelie

    wheelie beeg dummy 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    York, PA
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    I can't see ppls signatures on my phone for some reason. But thanks for clearing it up for me.
     
    Glenn likes this.
  6. Oct 17, 2020
    Michael Crabtree

    Michael Crabtree Member

    Lake County, CA
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    Was able to rotate it enough to see the stamping. Confirmed 3.73s. Also looks like the spider gears are in good shape, but large chunks are missing out of the ring and pinion gears. Could probably salvage the carrier if I wanted to save money, but makes sense to just replace it. Currently trolling CL and FB marketplace for either an entire axle, or at least the a differential housing that I can pull everything out of.
    IMG_8546.jpg
    IMG_8547.jpg
     
  7. Oct 17, 2020
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    Turn your phone 90°
     
  8. Oct 17, 2020
    Michael Crabtree

    Michael Crabtree Member

    Lake County, CA
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    This better?
    IMG_8546.jpg
     
  9. Oct 17, 2020
    Lockman

    Lockman OK.....Now I Get It . 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Silver Hill,...
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    It's a series 3 Trac-loc with 3.73 gears , 30 spline. Just like I've got in mine . Check out my media picture's . Series 3 may be a little difficult to find.... I dunno ? I did mine last winter, that's why I am offering my support.
    Rotate the ring gear alittle more to the right & you'll see the Date of make. Looks like maybe a '74 ?
     
  10. Oct 17, 2020
    Michael Crabtree

    Michael Crabtree Member

    Lake County, CA
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    Thanks for the advice Tim! Looks like there's a complete axle only a couple of hours from me.
     
  11. Oct 17, 2020
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Yep, it's a TracLock. You might consider replacing it with something other than another TracLock. They are considered weak (they break - BTDT), they wear out pretty fast and they are not aggressive. In their favor, they are hardly noticeable on pavement, and work quite well on loose surfaces like sand and mud IME. What's the favorite limited slip now, a Detroit TrueTrac? Think so - Detroit Truetrac | differential | limited slip | Eaton
     
  12. Oct 17, 2020
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Glad I could help. At J&W? A well-known source. Not the cheapest but they have a lot of parts.
     
  13. Oct 17, 2020
    Michael Crabtree

    Michael Crabtree Member

    Lake County, CA
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    Here's the ring gear rotated a little farther. Is 67 the year? Or is it 6/7/81? Either date wasn't what I was expecting. I appreciate all the help everyone has been giving me.
    IMG_8548.jpg
     
  14. Oct 17, 2020
    Michael Crabtree

    Michael Crabtree Member

    Lake County, CA
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    Yeah, part of me just wants to upgrade and have a better built rear-end if I'm going to go through all this trouble of having to pull it out and replace it anyways...

    Yes. Been to other similar businesses in that area of the state, but never there. Looks like you're correct on the prices, but still, if they have it I guess that's the biggest thing.
     
  15. Oct 17, 2020
    Lockman

    Lockman OK.....Now I Get It . 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    That's a 1981 Trac loc. 6/7/81 . I may have wrong about the Series ??????
    And.....From the pic's so far, Your ring gear looks re-usable.
     
    Last edited: Oct 17, 2020
  16. Oct 17, 2020
    Lockman

    Lockman OK.....Now I Get It . 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Cool. If you look at it ..........make sure to look under it's cover, my Friend.
     
  17. Oct 17, 2020
    Michael Crabtree

    Michael Crabtree Member

    Lake County, CA
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    Unfortunately there are a few teeth with very large chunks missing from them on both the ring and pinion gears. I just wasn't able to get a good picture of it on my phone.

    Excellent advice.
     
  18. Oct 18, 2020
    Michael Crabtree

    Michael Crabtree Member

    Lake County, CA
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    Well, found a D44 with 3.73s on FB marketplace for cheap, so I grabbed it. Was halfway hoping for a simple bolt-in replacement, but this one is actually about 2 inches shorter than my current one (PO said it came out of an old DJ mail jeep). I didn't realize they ran shorter axles. No worries though, since all I really needed was the ring and pinion gears and the carrier. At least this will allow me to get my hands dirty and learn while I'm swapping gears.

    IMG_8551.jpg
     
    Fireball likes this.
  19. Oct 18, 2020
    Lockman

    Lockman OK.....Now I Get It . 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    ......But we don't see the cover Off now, do We ? :rofl:BTW, the carrier is the big pumpkin thing that holds the gears & fluid. That's gonna have a open case., Not a Trac-Loc like you have now. Good Luck & have fun.
     
  20. Oct 19, 2020
    Michael Crabtree

    Michael Crabtree Member

    Lake County, CA
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    Lol, well if I was spending several hundred dollars on it, then yes I would’ve been very critical of it and pulled it apart before I spend the money on it. However, since the thing was pretty darn close to free, I figured I wouldn’t split it open and make a mess in the poor guy’s garage. I just took the stamping of the metal tag at its word that it’s in fact a 3.73, and just made sure it turned smoothly and freely. Even if I ended up with an oblong boat anchor, I won’t be out too much effort.

    Interesting. I always knew of the “carrier” as the part the ring gear bolts to, and the pumpkin as simply the “housing.” Yeah, I was guessing it won’t have a Trac-Loc, but I was considering taking Tim’s advice and upgrading to a newer limited slip.
     
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