I stopped at the Junkyard today, and happened on about 4 different vac disconnect dana 44's. I realize everyone says to avoid them, but what exactly is the issue? Can they be converted to non-disconnect? I know its probably not worth the trouble, but how hard would it be?

Just like on a YJ - open up the vacume housing and flip the fork over - locked in all the time

What about converting it from disconnect to a non disconnect?

No can do. The inner axle shafts, spiders, etc. are completely different.

A D44 vac disconnect isn't "just like a YJ" either. The disco isn't on the axle tube, it's in the center section.

The non-disco's aren't that hard to find. I see them with regularity. You gotta hit more junkyards other than pull-n-save. Try Western, Colorado, or Action.

you cant convert the vac disconect but you can "disable it" the components are as strong as the rest of the 44 but the vulnerabity is the unreliable shift...methods are endless but some how find a way to lock the fork in the engaged mode i have done this before by placing a 9/16 nut on the shift rod behind the fork...or you could use one of the cable actuators the several cos sell...seems like booty fab but i think we will all agree that the vaccum disconect is danas booty fab

well can you get locking hubs for that d 44 ??

No can do. The inner axle shafts, spiders, etc. are completely different.

A D44 vac disconnect isn't "just like a YJ" either. The disco isn't on the axle tube, it's in the center section.

The non-disco's aren't that hard to find. I see them with regularity. You gotta hit more junkyards other than pull-n-save. Try Western, Colorado, or Action.


Pull-n-save had a non-vac set so I picked them up. Fairly cheap too. Now Im trying to track down what I need to rebuild them, and Ill be making a second trip to pick up a set of flat tops. I found the diagrams for the front 44 in the tech section here. Now I just need the one for the rear 44.