Shop the JK Dana 44 Chromoly Kit →
Both wear a 10-bolt cover, but they are not close in size. The Dana 60 front is a 3/4-ton and 1-ton truck axle with a ring gear of about 9.75 inches. The Dana 44 front is a half-ton and light 3/4-ton axle with a ring gear of about 8.5 inches. Short answer: on 35s, yes. On 37s, it depends how you drive. On 40s, buy the 60.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Dana 44 Front | Dana 60 Front |
|---|---|---|
| Ring gear | About 8.5 in | About 9.75 in |
| Axle U-joint (typical stock) | 297X series on most trucks and older Jeeps | 760X series, physically larger caps and cross |
| Inner axle splines | Usually 30 | 30 on older trucks, 35 on many later ones |
| Outer stub splines | 19 on many older trucks, 30 on later and aftermarket stubs | 30 or 35 depending on year and model |
| Steering knuckle | Ball joints on most | King pins on most pre-1994 trucks; ball joints on 1994-2002 Ram and 1999+ Super Duty |
| Axle tubes | Smaller diameter, thinner wall | About 3 in OD on most, heavier wall |
| Carrier break | 3.73 and down / 3.92 and up | 4.10 and down / 4.56 and up |
| Weight | Lighter | Roughly 100 lb or more heavier, complete |
| Realistic tire ceiling | 35s easy, 37s with upgrades | 37s to 40s and up |
Both axles came in standard rotation (low pinion) and reverse rotation (high pinion) versions, and gear sets are not interchangeable between the two. Check before buying a Dana 44 reverse rotation 4.56 gear set ($512.61) or a Dana 60 reverse rotation 5.38 thick gear set ($290.99).
Which Trucks and Jeeps Got Each
Dana 44 front
- Ford F-150 and Bronco, 1969-1979 solid-axle trucks. The 1980-1996 Twin Traction Beam 44 is a different design.
- GM K-series half-tons and Blazers through the mid-1970s, and K20 3/4-tons into the 1980s.
- Dodge W150 and W250, including 1985-1993 trucks.
- Jeep Wagoneer, J-trucks and International Scout.
- Jeep Wrangler JK Rubicon, 2007-2018, and the JL and Gladiator JT Rubicon. Non-Rubicon Wranglers got a Dana 30.
Dana 60 front
- Ford F-250 HD and F-350, roughly 1978-1997, king pin knuckles.
- GM K30 and V30 1-tons, roughly 1977-1991, king pin knuckles.
- Dodge W250 and W350, roughly 1975-1993, king pin knuckles.
- Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500, 1994-2002, ball joints and a center axle disconnect.
- Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty, 1999 on, ball joints. 2017-and-later trucks use an updated version.
King pin 60s from the 1970s and 80s are the junkyard prize for swaps. King pins carry load better than ball joints. The Dana 60 kingpin rebuild kit for 1975-1993 Ford, GM and Dodge ($207.99) is the first thing to install on a used one.
Where a Dana 44 Breaks
On a front axle the weak link is the steering joint: with the wheel turned and the front locked, the axle U-joint runs at a steep angle under full torque. On a 44 the 297X joint, the outer stub and the inner shaft are where it lets go, usually on a climb with the wheel cranked. Bigger tires and a front locker multiply that load.
Next are the tubes and the housing. JK Dana 44 tubes bend on hard hits and the inner seals start leaking. After that comes the 8.5-inch ring gear. Deep ratios (about 5.13 and up) shrink the pinion. Our Dana 44 problems and rebuild cost guide covers the full failure list.
When a 44 Is Enough
35-inch tires: a stock 44 with 4.56 or 4.88 gears is fine for daily driving and normal trails. Add chromoly shafts if you run a front locker.
37-inch tires: this is the gray zone. A built 44 (chromoly shafts and stubs, upgraded joints, gussets or a truss, 4.88 or 5.13 gears) survives on rigs that see highway and moderate trails. A heavy four-door with a locker that crawls every weekend will keep finding weak parts.
40-inch tires and up, or a heavy diesel truck: stop spending money on the 44.
See the regear guide and open vs limited slip vs locker.
Building a 44: What It Takes
- Shafts: the Revolution Discovery Series chromoly kit for the JK Dana 44 ($817.99) or the Discovery Series chromoly kit for the 1969-1979 F-150 Dana 44 ($730.99). For one broken side on a JK, the Yukon 4340 chromoly outer stub ($250.96).
- Locker: the Eaton ELocker4 for the Dana 44 front, 30 spline, 3.92 and up ($1,447.99) covers most regeared fronts.
- Gears and setup: the Revolution JK Rubicon Dana 44 front 4.88 gear set ($257.99) with the JK Rubicon Dana 44 front master kit ($226.99). JL and Gladiator owners need the JL/JT Dana 44 front master kit ($319.99).
- Steering joints: fresh ball joints with the Yukon JK Dana 30/44 ball joint kit, one side ($130.89), pressed in with a ball joint and U-joint press kit ($71.99).
- Housing: weld-on C gussets and a truss or tube sleeves. Figure about $150-$400 in parts plus welding.
Set backlash and pinion depth with a dial indicator. The backlash and pinion depth setup guide walks through it,, and a Dana 44 front axle seal installer ($89.99) seats the inner tube seals straight.
Swapping to a 60: The Real Bill
A used king pin 60 core is the cheap part. Then come gears, a locker, a rebuild, steering, brackets, a track bar mount, driveshaft work and brake lines. On a 60 a common combination is the Revolution Dana 60 front gear set (3.55 shown, $280.99), the Yukon Dana 60 and 61 front master overhaul kit ($505.89) and the Eaton ELocker4 Dana 60, 35 spline, 4.56 and up ($1,488.99). Super Duty owners regearing in place use the Revolution 1999-2016 Super Duty Dana 60 front master kit ($268.99). See our Dana 60 front problems and rebuild cost guide and the manual locking hubs buyer's guide for hub choices on both axles.
What It Costs: Build the 44 vs Swap to a 60
| Path | DIY parts | Shop (rough) |
|---|---|---|
| 44: chromoly shafts only | About $730-$820 | About $1,000-$1,300 |
| 44: regear with master kit | About $480-$860 | About $1,100-$1,700 |
| 44: gussets or truss | About $150-$400 plus welding | About $400-$900 |
| 44: full build (shafts, gears, locker, gussets, ball joints) | About $2,800-$3,600 | About $3,000-$5,000 |
| 60: used core, rebuilt, regeared, locked, swapped in | About $3,500-$6,000 | About $5,000-$8,000 |
| 60: new aftermarket housing, built and installed | About $6,000-$9,000 | About $8,000-$12,000+ |
Either axle needs fresh gear oil after setup; the differential fluid change guide covers capacity and intervals.
Parts and Tools for the Job
| Need | What We Carry |
|---|---|
| JK Dana 44 shafts | Revolution Discovery chromoly kit, JK ($817.99) |
| Dana 60 front locker | Eaton ELocker4 Dana 60, 4.10 and down ($1,488.99) |
| Dana 60 front overhaul | USA Standard Dana 60 front master overhaul kit ($340.89) |
| Super Duty ball joints | Yukon 1999-2019 Super Duty ball joint kit, both sides ($275.89) |
More bearing kits are in our rebuild kits section, gear oil in fluids, and presses and gauges in tools. CoreTransmissionParts.com carries transmission and transfer case parts for the rest of the driveline.
Make the 44 Last on Bigger Tires
Factory shafts and stubs are the first thing to snap with a locker and 37s. Chromoly fixes the weak link before it strands you on the trail.
Shop the Dana 44 Chromoly Kit → Axle Rebuild KitsFAQ
How can I tell a Dana 44 front from a Dana 60 front?
Both use a 10-bolt cover, so check the tag on a cover bolt first. Without a tag, the 60 has a visibly larger center section, a ring gear of about 9.75 inches instead of about 8.5, fatter tubes, larger axle U-joints, and on most pre-1994 trucks, king pins instead of ball joints.
Is a Dana 44 strong enough for 37-inch tires?
For a mostly street-driven rig with moderate trail use, a Dana 44 on 37s can live with chromoly shafts, upgraded U-joints, tube sleeves or a truss, and correct gearing. Rock crawling with a front locker on 37s or anything on 40s is where the 44 starts breaking parts and a 60 makes more sense.
Did Jeeps come with a Dana 60 front axle?
Stock Wranglers came with Dana 30 or Dana 44 front axles, not a 60. The Dana 44 front came on the 2007-2018 JK Rubicon and the JL and Gladiator Rubicon. Jeep owners who want a 60 usually buy an aftermarket housing or swap one in from a 1-ton truck.
Is it cheaper to build a Dana 44 or swap to a Dana 60?
Building a 44 with chromoly shafts, gussets, a locker and a regear usually runs roughly $3,000-$5,000 at a shop. A Dana 60 swap commonly lands around $5,000-$10,000 or more once you add the axle, gears, locker, steering, brackets, driveshaft work and labor. The 44 build is cheaper unless you are going to 40-inch tires.