Dana 44 question

In the rear of my 73 CJ5 the Dana 44 on the drivers side is making a pop pop pop sound and the wheel is getting no power. I jacked up the rear and I can spin the passenger side wheel no problem, when I spin it the rear drive shaft spins also and everything is nice and smooth, when I spin the drivers side rear wheel it just free spins and the drive shaft doesn't spin at all and it sounds pretty gravely and rough. Now it does not seem like anything is broke on the pumpkin side of the shaft, maybe the shaft splines are stripped on the outer portion of the shaft on the rim side?? and how would the jeep still drive with the one side broken????? wouldnt there have to be a locker in the rear end in order for the one side to still power the jeep with a shaft broken??? if it had no locker then wouldnt the broken side shaft just spin and the jeep woulnt even move correct???

 

Yes. It has to have a locker or a spool.

I'm guessing the axle is broken.

 

Could it be possible that you have something like a lunchbox locker in there that has one of the side gears buggered up.

 

possible I guess, But the sound definetely comes from the outerside of the axle tube almost as if the shaft is busted just inside the tube by the rim. I'll just have to pop the diff cover and pull the drivers side shaft.

 

You don't need to pull the diff cover to pull an axle. The 44 doesn't have C clips.

 

pull the drum off and you will see 4 bolts on the end of the axle tube. you can use a socket extension and go through the hole in flange. then you should be able to pull the shaft out. you can put the drum on backwards to be a slide hammer if it is stubborn. no need to pull the diff cover technically

 

sweet, thanks fellas, good info, now finding a shaft might be tricky. Do I need to find specifically a 72-75 CJ dana 44 rear shaft????

 

Yes.