NEW GENERATION DANA 44 COMPARISON CHART | | |
Ring Gear Diam Front | 1st Generation Dana 44 8.5” | Mopar JK Rubicon 44 New Generation 8.5” |
Ring Gear Diam Rear | 8.5” | New Generation 8.8” |
Standard Ratio | 3.07 through 4.56 | 4.10 |
Aftermarket Ratio Available | 3.07 through 5.89 | 4.88, 5.13, 5.38 |
Pinion Shaft Diam Max | 1.375 | 1.625” |
Pinion Shaft Diam Min | 1.125 | 1.375” |
Pinion Spline | 1.12” -26 spl | 1.25” -24 spl |
Inner Pinion Bearing OD | 3.00” | 3.25” |
Outer Pinion Bearing OD | 2.87” | 2.85” |
Carrier Bearing OD | 3.265” | 3.313” |
Here’s where it gets confusing: the next generation Dana 44 uses a different sized ring gear depending on whether it is a front or rear axle. The front uses the old, 8.5-inch diameter ring gear, while the rear uses an 8.8-inch ring gear. Both the front and rear have larger diameter pinion shafts and pinion bearings with larger inside and outside diameters. The larger diameter of these components contribute to strength and stability. On the front, however, the pinion bearings are closer together compared to the first generation Dana 44. The rear has them spaced out, similar to a first gen for even greater strength.
The carrier bearings are slightly larger in diameter with the new generation Dana 44 found in Rubicon models. Another difference is found in the design of the differential. The cross-pin in the Rubicon next-gen 44 is not in the same place as the first gen, requiring different length axleshafts. The Rubicon model next-gen 44 front axleshafts also used larger steering joints and had more beef around the joints. The non-Rubicon JKs only came with a Dana 44 rear axle. The differential and carrier bearings in the non-Rubicon models are the same as the older generation 44s.