Dana 44 Rear Axle & Differential Parts for Jeep CJ5
U-Joints, Drive Yokes, Pinion Bearings & Differential Parts for Reliable Power Transfer (1955–1971).
Why the Dana 44 Rear Axle in the Jeep CJ5 Needs Servicing After Decades.
The Dana 44 rear axle was used in the Jeep CJ5 throughout its entire production run from 1955 to 1971 and is still considered a rugged but maintenance-intensive design today. Wheel bearings overheat and seize from insufficient lubrication or hardened seals, while the axle shaft nut loosens over time from vibration. U-joints wear from the constant power transfer of the driveshaft and develop noticeable play or a clunking noise when starting off. The drive yoke wears at its splines, causing uneven power transfer. Pinion bearings and the ring & pinion set wear from the high torque load inside the differential, leading to whining noises. The differential cover gasket also hardens over time and lets gear oil leak out. Anyone driving their CJ5 off-road or preparing it for daily use should regularly check the Dana 44 components for play, noise, and leaks.
- Axle Shaft Nut & Seal: The axle shaft nut and the outer axle shaft seal for a tight axle shaft.
- Wheel Bearings & Gasket: The wheel bearing complete kit and the outer wheel bearing with oil seal gasket for the complete wheel bearing setup.
- Retaining Ring & Wheel Stud: The wheel bearing retaining ring and the wheel stud for wheel bearing and hub mounting.
- U-Joint & Drive Yoke: The greasable U-joint for the propeller shaft and the matching drive yoke.
- Pinion Bearings & Ring & Pinion Set: The inner pinion bearing cup set and the ring & pinion set 5.38.
- Differential Gasket & Gear Set: The differential cover gasket and the spider gear set with flanged axle shafts for a complete overhaul.
American Brand Expertise for the Dana 44 Axle.
Wheel bearings, U-joints, drive yokes, and differential components for the Dana 44 rear axle come mainly from Crown Automotive and Dana Spicer – both traditional US manufacturers with deep off-road experience. Wheel studs are supplied by Dorman, also of American origin, while the ring & pinion set and propeller shaft slip yoke come from Omix – all bringing American brand expertise to your axle repair.
Your Partner for the Dana 44 Rear Axle.
Whether it's a single wheel bearing swap, a U-joint replacement, or a complete overhaul of the Dana 44 rear axle, we're happy to advise you on shim selection, torque specs, and the correct installation order, including compatibility questions for later CJ6 and CJ7 models sharing the same axle. We're also glad to help you choose the right pinion bearings or differential parts for your restoration project. Your order ships from stock as quickly as possible.