USA Standard Dana 44 Front Bearing Kit Replacement

If the front axle on your old K5 Blazer, Ramcharger, Scout II or Wagoneer whines as soon as the hubs lock, or you are putting new gears in a standard rotation Dana 44 front for bigger tires, the bearings come first. The USA Standard Gear ZBKD44 is a bearing kit for the standard rotation Dana 44 front: Koyo carrier bearings and races, Koyo inner and outer pinion bearings and races, a pinion seal, a pinion nut, gear marking compound and a brush. It is aimed at shops and builders who already have shims on the shelf and want the bearings without paying for a full master kit.

What the bearing kit does in a front Dana 44

In a standard rotation front Dana 44 the pinion enters below the carrier centerline, cut the same way as a rear axle, which is why it is often called a low pinion front. The pinion runs on a head bearing beside the gear and a tail bearing near the yoke. Its depth is set by a shim under the head bearing race, and its rotating preload is held by the pinion nut. The carrier, which carries the 8.5 inch ring gear, rides on two side bearings, and Dana sets their preload and the backlash with shims behind those bearings instead of adjuster nuts. Every one of those settings depends on four tight bearings. Once a race spalls or the rollers wear, the pinion moves under load, the tooth contact drifts to the edge and the front end starts to howl. New bearings put the gears back where they were set.

Symptoms of worn front Dana 44 bearings

• A whine from the front in four-wheel drive that disappears when the hubs are unlocked and the transfer case is in 2WD
• A note that changes between throttle and coast, typical of pinion bearings that have lost preload
• A growl that rises with road speed from tired carrier bearings
• Play when you rock the front pinion yoke with the driveshaft off
• Gear oil on the front driveshaft or yoke from a failing pinion seal, or bearing flakes in the oil

How to confirm before you order

Drive the same stretch of road in 2WD with the hubs unlocked, then in 4WD. A noise that only shows in 4WD lives in the front axle or front driveshaft. Our carrier bearing noise guide and pinion bearing noise guide help separate the two. With the cover off, check the ring gear for chipped teeth and measure backlash with a dial indicator before anything comes apart. Then confirm rotation: Jeep JK and JL fronts are reverse cut, and high pinion fronts take a different kit.

Fitment

The ZBKD44 is listed for the standard rotation Dana Spicer 44 front axle. Front Dana 44s were used in many trucks and SUVs, including 1967-1976 K5 Blazer, K10 and K20, 1974-1993 Ramcharger, 1980-2001 Dodge half-ton 4x4s, 1975-1980 International Scout II and 1974-1991 Jeep Wagoneer. Not every front Dana 44 is standard rotation, and Ford's Twin Traction Beam Dana 44 uses its own kit, so check the tag on the housing and the old bearing numbers, or send us your year and VIN. Compare other kits in the rebuild kits section.

What is not in the box

This is a bearing kit, not a master overhaul kit. The spec sheet lists no pinion shims, carrier shims, crush sleeve, ring gear bolts, axle seals or cover gasket. Plan on reusing your shim packs or adding the Yukon CK D44 carrier kit with its shim set. If you want everything in one box, including inner axle seals, the Yukon YK D44 front master overhaul kit is the complete version.

Install notes

• Mark the bearing caps, record backlash, and pull the axle shafts before removing the carrier.
• The case is shimmed tight; a housing spreader makes carrier removal and install easier and safer for the bearings.
• Press the old races out, seat the new ones fully, and pull carrier bearings with a clamshell carrier bearing puller so the journals are not scored.
• Yukon's setup chart for the Dana 44 lists 14-19 in-lb pinion preload with new bearings, 6-11 thousandths backlash on 5-cut gears and 60 ft-lb on the cap bolts.
• Paint the gears with the included marking compound and read the pattern before final assembly, then fill with the GL-5 gear oil your manual specifies. New inner axle seals, such as those installed with a Dana 44 front axle seal installer, keep the new oil in the housing.

What comes in the ZBKD44 bearing kit?

Koyo carrier bearings and races, Koyo inner and outer pinion bearings and races, a pinion seal, a pinion nut, gear marking compound and a brush.

Does it include shims or a crush sleeve?

No. The spec sheet lists no pinion shims, carrier shims, crush sleeve, ring gear bolts or cover gasket. Reuse your shims or add a carrier shim kit, or buy a full master overhaul kit.

Will it fit a Jeep JK or JL front Dana 44?

No. JK and JL front Dana 44s are reverse rotation (high pinion) and use their own kits. This kit is for the standard rotation front Dana 44.

Can I install new gears with this kit?

Yes. It has the bearings, seal and nut for a gear swap. You will also need the right shims to set pinion depth and backlash for the new gear set.

Does it fit a Ford TTB front Dana 44?

Ford's Twin Traction Beam Dana 44 uses a different kit. Check the housing tag and old bearing numbers, or send us the year and VIN before ordering.

What are the setup specs?

Yukon's chart for the Dana 44 lists 14-19 in-lb pinion preload with new bearings, 6-11 thousandths backlash on 5-cut gears and 60 ft-lb cap bolts.