compatible?

brycewetton77

brycewetton77

New member
I have a 77 Scout with a manual trans with Dana a Dana 44 rear axle that has a bad differential (bearing is going out causing the pinion to bind up while driving) I was wandering if there was any way that I could use an axle from a 79 Scout with an automatic transmission..... I know the axles are the same size I just dont know if the gears are the same on both differentials.... How would I figure this out?
 
Two ways. One possibly easy. The other more difficult, but definitive. Lets start with the easy. All Dana axles came from the factory with a gear ratio tag which was a thin piece of tin attached to one diff cover bolt. If this is there and you can read the numbers, simply compare them to those found on the tag attached to your front axle. If that method doesn't work, you will have to get more invasive. This will require removal of the diff cover from the donor axle to examine the numbers stamped on the ring gear. It would help to know the axle ratio of your front axle for comparison. The only time the ratios from front to rear must much up is when 4x4 is engaged. You can get by with a mismatch on a temporary basis so long as 4x4 is not engaged.
 
Will there be problems if the gear ratios are different and I engage 4 wheel drive? I use 4 wheel quite often, I live in the snow
 
There will be issues in 4x4 if the gear ratios between front & rear are mismatched. And not recomended till both axles have same ratio.

Although, I do know that if the ratio is .01 difference then you're safe. An 89 & 90 Ford Bronco had 3.54 front and 3.55(I think, it's been awhile) and it came from factory that way

would be a good idear to double check the ratio in your front axle and compare it to donar axle. If maintenance is questionable in your axles (front & rear & donor) it might even be a consideration of rebuilds. That way you know the would be good to go for awhile longer.

As a side note - a couple times I have seen those tags on the cover still attached, but the gears were changed. Good ole p.o. Syndrome
 
Yes if you have two different axle ratios you can break things. The two will bind up because the wheels will want to turn at different speeds.
 
Also, you could chalk line the tires, spin them one revolution and count how many times your yoke takes to make one full revolution and you have your axle ratio.
 
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