Dana 44 Rear Axle & Differential Parts Willys M38A1
U-Joints, Wheel Bearings, Ring & Pinion for Reliable Power Transfer (1952–1971).
Why the Dana 44 Rear Axle in the Willys M38A1 Needs Regular Maintenance.
The Dana 44 rear axle is one of the toughest axles ever fitted to a military or off-road vehicle, and in the Willys M38A1 it has been reliably transferring all drive power to the rear wheels for decades. Even this heavy-duty design isn't immune to wear, though: U-joints on the propeller shaft wear from constant angular movement and start to develop play, wheel bearings lose their precision fit due to moisture and age, and seals turn brittle, allowing axle oil to leak out. The ring and pinion in the differential also show tooth-flank wear after many years of service, while differential cover gaskets are a frequent cause of slow oil seepage. Anyone running their M38A1 off-road or on larger tires should keep a close eye on these components to avoid follow-on damage to the entire drivetrain.
- Axle Shaft Nut: The axle shaft nut secures the axle shaft reliably on either side.
- Wheel Bearings & Pinion Bearings: The wheel bearing and oil seal gasket and the complete outer pinion bearing kit keep rotation play-free.
- Transfer Case Output Bearings: The bearing cup and matching inner bearing for the Dana 20/300 transfer case output.
- U-Joints & Propeller Shaft: The standard U-joint or the heavy duty version, plus the front/rear slip yoke and the rear slip yoke.
- Differential: The ring & pinion with a 5.38 ratio, the pinion seal at the differential, and the differential cover gasket.
American Drivetrain Expertise for Your Dana 44.
Wheel bearings, pinion bearing kits, and differential cover gaskets from Crown Automotive form the backbone of the range – American engineering that has proven itself for decades. U-joints, pinion bearing hardware, and ring & pinion sets come directly from axle specialist Dana Spicer, while propeller shaft slip yokes and axle shaft nuts are supplied by Omix.
Your Partner for the Dana 44 Rear Axle in the M38A1.
Whether you need a single wear part or a full overhaul of the differential and propeller shaft, we're happy to advise you on torque specs, checking the gear pattern after replacing the ring and pinion, and the correct installation order for wheel bearings and seals. Ships from stock within the next business day.