I have access to a set of D44 axles from a '62 Jeep j300.
F/R passenger side drop diffs, with 4.10 gears.
62" WMS to WMS, drums, closed knuckles, factory SPOA.
I can get these for about $100 for the pair.
any opinions on them? are they worth even considering for a swap? Cant remember if the diffs are passenger or dirivers side on the sammy's?
:confused:

Sami's are passenger side drop.

The only other input I have is that the closed knuckle front axle is not as desirable as the open knuckle (later model). Neither are the drum brakes on the front axle.

Sorry I have no further info. :D

Ok so exactly what are "closed knuckles" anyhow, is it a U-joint inside a housing like a birf?
never seen this type befor, someone has to know or have pics.
thanks

You got it - a closed knuckle axle looks like a Zuk or Toy front axle. Has U-joint inside, and I think it's a smaller U-joint than open knuckle. That's at least part of the reason it's not as desirable as open knuckle.

Thats kool, but a dana 44 front and rear for $100..../with 4:10 gears no less......thats tough to pass up I wonder if the closed knuckle is the same strength as the Sammy Birf or more like the Toy birf? any Ideas?
thanks again.

$100 seems like a good deal if the gears, bearings, etc are good. The rear axle is definitely usable. It might be good to check the axle splines though - I don't know if older Dana 44's ever came with less than 30 splines, but you might as well check to make sure.

What wheel lug pattern are they?

I'm not sure about the strength of the front U-joints, but I'm 99% sure it would be stronger than a Zuk Birfield. The only thing that would suck about the front then would be the drum brakes. I wonder if you can bolt on the spindle from a later model D44 to convert to front discs?

You might find some info about closed-knuckle D44s on the Jeep forum, or maybe in the Jeep section of http://off-road.com.

I guess it wouldn't hurt to use the front, see how it goes, and then swap to an open-knuckle front D44 later when you need/find one.

PASS! The closed knuck/drum braked POS 44s are junk! I might even go Toyota instead of that crap!:flipoff2: Seriously, almost all the components are inferior to modern stuff. Axle shafts, tiny ujoints, drum brakes, even the bearings and spindle are problematic. Look around, you can find later model 44s from a cherokee for cheap!

I am going to pass on the Axles. I think that I will keep looking and see what else is out there.

For Sale (http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=76033) :D

Oops, just checked locations, nowhere near you:emb3:...But I see this kind of thing every week...

We dont get too man of those here in Michigan, most have been crushed already by the yards. I'll bide my time, the stockers are fine for here, its when I goto MOAB in the spring that I need something a bit 'more'.
I hate getting stranded, and the pocket book hates it even more.:rolleyes:

thanks for your help:D