Axle Woes

1969/1970 Jeepster-Commando rear Dana 44, centered axle with tapered shafts and separate hubs, also has a Power-Lok.
I am in the process of going through my rear axle to install new Power-Lok clutch packs when I came across the issue shown below. The end of the axle splines are trashed where they enter the spider side gear.


The side gear is stripped out as well.


This axle is a 27 spline unit and I cant seem to find any info about it, the search function brings up the 19 & 30 spline versions but nothing on the 27 spline unit. A search on the internet gets no results either.





So... I am going to need a replacement side gear & replacement axle any idea where I can get info & parts? I checked with Herm and he had nothing.
Oz

 

That is a very rare axle only used for a year and half? Reminds me of how I tried to chase down a T18 transmission that was bolt in ready. It may be easier to find a later 30 spline count centered axle.

 

I have a good set of all the 27 spline powr lok internals, so that's covered.
Axle shaft may be the problem.

 

So, only used for about 1 1/2 years...that explains why there is seemingly no support for this version of the D44.

I appreciate the offer on the internals Jim, I will post an ad in the classified and see what comes up for an axle. Maybe i'll get lucky and someone will have one they can part with.
I do have a 1974 D 44 30 spline with worn out bearings and an open differential that could be rebuilt if I cannot obtain a replacement axle.
Thanks,
Oz

 

The 30 spline D44 would be the best to use in my opinion.
This 27 spline is very very hard to find.

 

My notes show that we called it a "44-30" axle.
It has Dana 44 center section (ring and pinion, carrier) but the splines of a Dana 30 front axle shaft (27 spline).
Oddball for sure.
Jeep also did this on Dana model 53 axles, maybe some others.
Royal pain in behind.

 

A "44-30" , I never knew that. No wonder it was so hard to look up anything about it. I appreciate the info Jim.

I also put a "want to buy" post up over at the Jeepster Commando Club site and put the word out to some others, so I will go "fishing" for the shaft for a while and see if anything shows up.

The 30 spline D44 may end up being the the route that I go if a shaft isn't available.
Thanks,
Oz

 

I had one of these years back in a '69 Commando. I chased my tail and never found the parts I needed. I ended up dropping a D30 rear in as a replacement.
Thinking back, it may have had the 27 spline shaft I needed, but I never went there.
-Donny

 

Well after considering the difficulty locating the shaft I have decided to go with the 30 spline Dana 44.
I've got one hub on the 44-30 that's needs to be replaced and it needs a pinion yoke too. It seems that by time this all adds up I may be be better off putting the money in the 30 spline with flanged axle shafts. I guess I'll look into the limited slip options for the 30 spline unit too.
Jim, I appreciate you jumping in right away with the offer of parts availability, that's good karma right there.
I'll hang onto the tapered 44-30 in case I can help someone else out with some parts in the future.
Thanks all,
Oz

 

Could you just use 30 spline shafts with 30 spline side gears in your current rear end? Am I missing something? I may be, I'm not an axle expert by any means.

 

Delayed response from me... I just got back from deer camp.

I don't know if I can stuff the stock 30 spline shaft into the tapered housing or if it would take custom axle shafts or not . Would need to check bearing & seal sizes differences, if any. I got some measuring to do.

The 30 spline housing is definitely more stout than the 27 spline, the axle tubes are bigger. I'm thinking that I can put the money and effort into the stock 30 spline I have.
That being said, if I can transfer the Power-Lok from the tapered unit over to the flanged unit I would require the new side gears anyways.
Oz