Dana 44 front axle

I got a dana 44 front axle from PO that is from a scout 2 with the disc brakes on it, would i be better off using this axle or find a newer jeep 44 axle with disc brakes, a friend of mine has a scout2 in need of the axle i have, but i do not want to part with it, if it is a good fit for my 68 cj5. Just wanted to here some thoughts from the group.

 

let the buddy who needs it use it
better options out there, so I'm told.
regardless, I'd cut any 44 down to fit the Jeep: I don't like the wide look.
that's my opinion

 

I agree with Jim.
The Scout 2 has 0* caster from the factory. The arms on the knuckles are way too long. Best part of the Scout 2 stuff is the disc brakes can be converted to work on Jeep. You would have to outboard the front springs then overall width would be quite wide. Better to start with Narrow track Wagoneer axle, shorten the long side, and convert to 5 lug bolt pattern. It's far easier. I've done it dozens of times. Nickmil

 

I agree with Nickmil. I used an early 70's J10 44 actually cut both sides to get the track width right. It was spring under already ground the spring perch on the housing a little bit and set the caster to match the original D27 I had in my 68. There was a write up on doing this in JP magazine a 5 or 6 years ago. Pretty straight forward if you are comfortable with grinding steel and hitting thing with a BH. I used ford spindles and hubs and it worked great. Give the scout axle a good home in a scout!

 

My opinion. Let the friend have the scout 44. The outer shafts are the same as a Dana 30 anyway. If you have fab skills, and are going to go through with the trouble of swapping in a better axle, (and of course I support what I did!) swap in a high pinion 44 from a 3/4 ton ford truck. It really improves the safety of your front drive shaft. You can put 5 lug rotors on it. And it is made beefier. Shorten the long side and lengthen the short side so it fits in your jeep just perfect. Set you caster as you weld on your knuckles. You can keep your springs under the frame rails. When you are done, the custom inner shafts may have cost you a little more, but you will have a good front end.

 

Nickmil

 

Nickmil,
I agree with all of that. And that is probably why I see more chevy and wagoneer and scout conversions than Ford.

Correction on the scout outers. The shaft diameter and splines are the same as a cj's dana 30.

 

You are correct on the shaft diameter and splines being the same. That's why I said "not quite". guess I should've been more specific. As I said the Scout 44 outers use a larger 297/760 u-joint. No CJ ever used that joint so they are not "the same". Although close, they will not directly interchange with a 30 axle without changing the inner axle to a custom axle using the larger u-joint. You can machine the 30 front axle to accept the larger joint but I don't recommend it as it makes the "ears" or yoke portion too thin and weak. The Scout 2 Dana 44 outer axles are beefed up in this area to handle the load. I wanted to clarify this because I didn't want someone with an open knuckle CJ 30 thinking they could get outer axles from a Scout 44 as replacements. Nickmil