Well the pics of the last JV trip got me to thinking...how do you go about replacing a Dana 44?

http://www.myjeeprocks.com/photopost/data/536/8D35-thumb.jpg

The Dana 35 thing seems pretty easy if messy.

1) Stop driving before the rear wheel/axle exits the housing and passes by you.
2) Pull rear wheel and outer part of axle out.
3) Open diff cover and catch gear oil.
4) Remove c-clip and push/pull inner part of shaft out axle housing (how do you get that inner shard all the way out? or does it usually break close enough where you can pull it out the differential side?).
5) Replace new shaft and re-insert c-clip.
6) Put gear oil in thin plastic bag and pack into diff (bad idea with ARBs?)
7) Re-RTV diff cover and affix.
8) Enjoy guffaws of wheeling buddies.

How's the procedure on fixing a broken Dana 44? Thanks in advance! This write-up would probably make a good feature!

Originally posted by jmbrowning

3) Open diff cover and catch gear oil.

I bring along coffee filters for this very reason. If you strain the oil on a coffee filter and let it run into a plastic bag it can be re-used to help get you home.

It is almost like changing the front. Axle is held in by a retaining clip bolted to the housing.

didn't you know stock 35's aren't for JV.