Simple yes or no question.

Can a mini spool be installed in a dana 44 without removing the carrier and having the gears reset.

Originally posted by 46willys
Simple yes or no question.

Can a mini spool be installed in a dana 44 without removing the carrier and having the gears reset.

I would say yes, kind of like a lockright sort of install.

I'll be helping a buddy put his in when he get's it, and I don't think it'll take more than an hour or so.

Sorry, not a definitive yes. :(

I am going to go with sorta. you will have to remove the carrier b/c you will not be able to get the spider gears off with out removing the ring gear. but the ring gear should be able to go back on with out have to set up the R&P again. just keep everthing lined up to make sure.

PS: what type of mini-spool did you get and where from. also how much was it. I think I want one for the front of my YJ

Originally posted by GaJeep94YJ
I am going to go with sorta. you will have to remove the carrier b/c you will not be able to get the spider gears off with out removing the ring gear. but the ring gear should be able to go back on with out have to set up the R&P again. just keep everthing lined up to make sure.

PS: what type of mini-spool did you get and where from. also how much was it. I think I want one for the front of my YJ

You sure about this??? Every axle I ever worked on you were able to remove the spiders with out removing the ring gear. Well except old Eaton 1 tons and 14 bolts....

Originally posted by Madmarx


You sure about this??? Every axle I ever worked on you were able to remove the spiders with out removing the ring gear. Well except old Eaton 1 tons and 14 bolts....

Yea, if you are running a low gearset, you'll sometimes have to remove the ring gear to remove the pin. (I've heard of some guys shaving a couple of teeth down to clear it, but I wouldn't do it)

I had to do that on my AMC20 with 4:56 gears, so I'm pretty sure that it's fairly common.

Originally posted by 46willys
Simple yes or no question.

Can a mini spool be installed in a dana 44 without removing the carrier and having the gears reset.


Sometimes. I know that with 5.38 gears, the crosspin will not clear the ring gear. In those cases you have to pull the carrier, but shouldn't have to reset the gears.

Using a mini spool with a D44 carrier is asking for trouble though, but I'm guessing folks have already told you that.

Originally posted by Madmarx


You sure about this??? Every axle I ever worked on you were able to remove the spiders with out removing the ring gear. Well except old Eaton 1 tons and 14 bolts....

failry sure. I just regeard two dana 44s one front from 74 cherokee and one rear from 88 wangonner and both of them I had to change the carrier, I resed the the spider gears and had to remove the ring gear before i could get them on .

Forgot about that dang pin. I had no problem with the 4.56's in my 60's, but I did have to shave a tooth on some 4.56 dana 30 gears. Mea Culpa

Originally posted by oldjeep
... Using a mini spool with a D44 carrier is asking for trouble though, ...


Why? This is the first time I've heard anyone say this.

I am running a Mini in My 44, when I first installed it I had 3.54 gears, I had to pull the carrier, to remove the cross pin.
Your shims won't be effected.
Now running 4.10's and same senario.
No problems so far with it.

There is a writeup on this done by a guy who posts as b1pig. Not sure if he posts here as that, but he does post under that on JU in the CJ forum. The link was there. It was in a '73 with the stock D44.