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Is The Dana 44 In A 70 Dj5 The Same As A 70 Cj5?

Discussion in 'Intermediate CJ-5/6/7/8' started by JeniFav, May 6, 2020.

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  1. May 6, 2020
    JeniFav

    JeniFav New Member

    Atlanta
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    I had a post on here from a month or so ago about this axle but in that one I misidentified it as a 72. I confirmed with Dana Aftermarket that it's from a 1970 DJ5.

    Anyway, this 70 DJ5 Dana 44 is in my 74 CJ5. We've discovered that the driver's side axle shaft needs to be replaced.

    Can I just replace it with the driver's side axle shaft for a 70 CJ5? I can find that pretty easily but sourcing parts for a DJ5 isn't so easy.

    Thanks!
     
  2. May 6, 2020
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    The '70 CJ-5 has an offset carrier or "pumpkin," the big round casting with the gears at the center of the axle. This means the driver's side shaft is quite a lot longer than the passenger's side. I vaguely recall that your axle is centered between the wheels, as it would normally be for a '74 CJ-5. If so, if anything widely available will fit, it's the axle shaft for a '72-75 CJ-5.

    Anyway, if it's a Jeep Dana 44 with flanged axles, chances are pretty good that the rest of the dimensions will be correct. Match the spline count, and match the length, and that's your best bet.
     
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  3. May 6, 2020
    JeniFav

    JeniFav New Member

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    Thanks for the response, Tim. I just went to look and it's just slightly offset diff, to the left/driver's side. I know the old shaft has a 30 count spline. But I don't know the length (it was carted away by the guy helping me with it and he sold it as scrap...just the luck).
     
  4. May 6, 2020
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    Tim, she’s asking about a ‘70 DJ. Your reply mentions a CJ.

    I want to say the shafts are the same, but I’d just be speculating.
     
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  5. May 6, 2020
    JeniFav

    JeniFav New Member

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    Well, it's nearly impossible to source a 70 DJ shaft so I was hoping a 70 CJ shaft would be interchangeable. Thanks!
     
  6. May 6, 2020
    Jeff Bromberger

    Jeff Bromberger Quarantined in the Garage

    Dallas Metroplex...
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    Since you've already been in touch with Dana, wouldn't they have definitive information? I don't mean to be Captain Obvious here, but when you get questions like this and you've already got a channel to the manufacturer, why not use it?
     
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  7. May 6, 2020
    JeniFav

    JeniFav New Member

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    I just am not guaranteed they will reply, so I thought I'd ask the forum. They did reply that one time to tell me where the axle came from when the BOM didn't appear in the database everyone uses. So, I'm hopeful they will reply again.
     
  8. May 6, 2020
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    Yep. She has a CJ. It's 4WD. The rear axle has the BOM for a DJ axle. I remember her earlier post. 72 Dj-5 Dana 44 - Is It The Same As 74 Cj-5?

    The axle has to be WAY offset to fit a '70 CJ-5. A '70 CJ looks like this -

    upload_2020-5-6_12-29-49.png

    Here's my '75, which will be the same as all '72-75 CJs.

    CJ6RearAxle.jpg
    I measured my Jeep and the casting edge to the u-bolt is exactly the same on both sides, about 5".
     
    Last edited: May 6, 2020
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  9. May 6, 2020
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    You can have an axle made or recut, so it's not impossible. What's your gear ratio? It might be easier to find a complete '72-75 rear axle and junk the DJ axle, if it's not the same as the CJ axle I posted above.
     
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  10. May 6, 2020
    JeniFav

    JeniFav New Member

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    Here is my differential. I thought of that as slightly offset but I think, comparing the distance of the spring perches (which were moved) it's probably not "slightly"

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  11. May 6, 2020
    JeniFav

    JeniFav New Member

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    I really don't want that expense right now but I realize it might be the last resort...
     
  12. May 6, 2020
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    Yeah, looks different. Suggest you use your tape and measure from the center casting edge to the flange on both sides. Unlikely it was not centered when built, but maybe.

    A second-hand axle may be cheaper than trying to fix this one, in the long run. An open '72-75 rear axle with 3.73 gears is not much sought after. Especially if you reuse your brakes. Look through the forums/Craig's List/Facebook and find a friendly seller that wants it gone.
     
    Last edited: May 6, 2020
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  13. May 6, 2020
    JeniFav

    JeniFav New Member

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    Ugh. Just...ugh. Is ebay the best place to get second-hand axles?

    Just for kicks, here's what Dana Aftermarket sent me originally:

    "Hello, 603132-2 is A Dana 44 out of a 1970 Kaiser jeep postal van with 3.73 trac-lock. Thank you"
     
  14. May 6, 2020
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    IME stuff on eBay is over-priced. Most of the parts posts there are junkyards retailing their parts, it seems. Or flippers.

    Look at the for-sale ads here and on other Jeep forums. This kind of stuff will always be cheapest private-party from an enthusiast. I notice that BostonBob is trying to sell '72-75 axles here in the for sale section. The 4.27 axles are valuable as a pair, but he might be willing to sell a 3.73 rear separately. The brakes on one of these axles has some value too, so you should get it without brakes cheaper.

    I don't do Facebook, but the buzz says Facebook Marketplace is a good place to look for Jeep parts. Maybe someone here that knows something about this can help you.
     
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  15. May 6, 2020
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    Hermosa, SD
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    You gotta be careful on these postal axles.
    Some of them don't match up CJ wise and just made for the postal application.
    And that may have been only for 2-3 years till they changed vehicles/drive trains again.....
     
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  16. May 6, 2020
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

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    Sorry for the confusion. I couldn’t figure out why Tim kept mentioning an early CJ. I was missing the part where you wanted to pull a shaft from a 70. :oops:

    That is definitely an oddball. Every postal D44 I’ve seen was centered. I’m with Tim on this one; find a whole unit.
     
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  17. May 6, 2020
    JeniFav

    JeniFav New Member

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    Thanks for the tips. I don't do Facebook, either, but I'm willing to check it out if need be.

    I'll come back here to post what Dana Aftermarket says, if they respond.
     
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