OVERSEAS DANA 44 FOR A YJ
Four Wheeler|February 2021
OVERSEAS DANA 44 FOR A YJ
VERNE SIMONS
OVERSEAS DANA 44 FOR A YJ

Q I came across an SJ rear Dana 44 on eBay, which are super rare near me (I’m a service member in England, so there are zero American axles around me), and I jumped on it without much thought. It’s from a ’78 SJ, narrow track width, 4.09 gearing, coming out of a Quadra-Trac vehicle. So, the rear differential is offset, which I’ve never heard of until now, and I couldn’t really tell from the pictures. I can find astoundingly little information on this axle or people who have successfully swapped it. Most magazine articles reference how great old Wagoneer axles are, without mentioning to steer clear of the Quadra- Trac ones with rear offset differentials.

Now that I’m stuck with it, what are my options? Try to get rid of it? Can I run it with the offset diff? Double cardan driveshaft? Or should I just pay a shop to center the diff by replacing/cutting down the axletubes? Obviously, I’d have to shorten one axleshaft and replace the other. I’ve been hunting for axles for my YJ for a while, especially the rear, to replace the Dana 35. I’m just planning 35-inch tires and a locker ... for now. I’m open to ideas. And I’m open to coughing up the money to make a good axle, without any heartburn. Live and learn, and think about taking a better look at the eBay pictures next time. Now I know.

A I’d like to start out by saying thank you for your service. Your sacrifice is greatly appreciated.

This story is from the February 2021 edition of Four Wheeler.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the February 2021 edition of Four Wheeler.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM FOUR WHEELERView All
2022 Summer Safari
Four Wheeler

2022 Summer Safari

NEK Overland led the way into parts of Vermont and a bit of New Hampshire most will never see

time-read
5 mins  |
February 2023
This fourdoor Ford foreshadowed late-model Broncos
Four Wheeler

This fourdoor Ford foreshadowed late-model Broncos

Ddecades ahead of the '20 four-door Bronco, and even preceding the Ford Explorer and Excursion, came an SUV that could have passed for OEM and was built to answer the call for a three-row people-haulin' off-roader.

time-read
3 mins  |
February 2023
JEEP OR BLAZER BUILDING
Four Wheeler

JEEP OR BLAZER BUILDING

I was hoping to pick your brain as to a couple of different builds. I have a '19 Jeep Wrangler JL and a '74 Chevy Blazer. I'm a little baffled as to what to focus on. The '74 full convertible Blazer is my dream vehicle. She's been a long build and now I am thinking of focusing my energy on my wife's '19 Jeep JL. I recently joined a Jeep club and have been going off-road with a few guys. I'm shopping around for lift kits. Would you suggest that my time be spent and focused on the Blazer or enjoy the Jeep? I really can't do both.

time-read
6 mins  |
February 2023
JEEP BEACH 2022
Four Wheeler

JEEP BEACH 2022

10 days, 25,000-plus Jeeps, 225,000-plus spectators

time-read
3 mins  |
February 2023
TAULER JACK
Four Wheeler

TAULER JACK

A new alternative to the old off-road jack

time-read
3 mins  |
February 2023
OVERLAND ADVENTURE 2022:
Four Wheeler

OVERLAND ADVENTURE 2022:

MEET THE PARTICIPANTS 12 outstanding, Mojave-ready over landers

time-read
7 mins  |
February 2023
JEEP GRAND CAMPER
Four Wheeler

JEEP GRAND CAMPER

This custom 1994 Grand Cherokee and homebuilt trailer were made to go camping

time-read
3 mins  |
February 2023
ROCK JUNCTION 2022
Four Wheeler

ROCK JUNCTION 2022

4 days, 23 trails, 1 awesome event

time-read
4 mins  |
February 2023
DECKED OUT SILVERADO
Four Wheeler

DECKED OUT SILVERADO

Is this the ultimate overland accessory for pickups?

time-read
10 mins  |
February 2023
SANDTASTIC!
Four Wheeler

SANDTASTIC!

Dangle the opportunity to put the hammer down on more than a dozen square miles of the largest coastal dune complex in the world, add in partying with family and friends at sand camps, spice it up a bit with a variety of motorsport competition and nightly concerts, and it's easy to see why the five-day

time-read
6 mins  |
February 2023