Yukon Gear 24 Spline Front Pinion Yoke for Dana 30/44 Jeep JK w/1350 U-Bolt Design
Lifted Wrangler JK owners usually land here for one of two reasons: the front pinion seal is leaking gear oil onto the skid, or they are putting in a heavy-duty 1350 front driveshaft and need a pinion yoke to match it. The Yukon YY D44-1350-24F is a 24-spline front pinion yoke for the JK Dana 30 and the JK Rubicon Dana 44 front axles, machined for a 1350-series U-joint and built in the U-bolt style. Yukon lists a 1.850 inch hub diameter, which is the surface the pinion seal runs on.
In four-wheel drive, the front driveshaft turns the pinion gear, and the yoke is the link between them. It slides onto the 24 splines at the front of the pinion, the pinion nut clamps it down, and the rear joint of the driveshaft sits in its ears. Because the JK front axle sits low and right behind the tires, its yoke lives in mud, water and road salt. Once the seal surface on the hub pits or grooves, the pinion seal leaks no matter how good the new seal is.
The 1350 joint is a size up from smaller series joints, with larger caps and bearings. That is why builders running bigger tires, lockers and more time in low range often move to a 1350 front shaft, and the yoke at the axle has to match the shaft.
A howl or whine from the front end that changes with throttle is usually ring and pinion or bearing wear, which a yoke alone will not fix. Front ends that have been regeared are also prone to pinion bearing issues if preload was not set right.
Unbolt the front driveshaft at the axle and look closely at the hub. If you can feel a groove with a fingernail, replace the yoke along with the seal. Grab the yoke and rock it up and down. Any real play means the pinion bearings or preload are the problem, and that is a bearing kit job. Also measure the rear joint on your front driveshaft. If it is not a 1350, this yoke will not bolt to it without a different shaft.
Yukon's fitment for the YY D44-1350-24F covers the 2007-2017 Jeep Wrangler JK 4WD with the Dana 30 front (non-Rubicon), the 2007-2017 Wrangler JK Rubicon with the reverse-rotation Dana 44 front, and the 2018 Wrangler JK with the Dana 30 front. It is a 24-spline pinion yoke for a 1350-series U-joint with U-bolt caps. It does not fit JL Wranglers or the JK rear axle. Confirm your axle with the tag on the differential cover and match the joint size on your driveshaft. If you want us to check, send the year, VIN and trim. More driveline and axle parts are in our hard parts section.
Put the Jeep on stands, mark the driveshaft and yoke so the shaft goes back in phase, and drop the shaft at the axle. Hold the yoke and remove the pinion nut. Before you loosen anything, measure the turning torque of the pinion with an inch-pound wrench so you know where preload started. The JK front axles set pinion preload with a crush sleeve, so tightening the nut past where it was can over-load the bearings, and backing off a crushed sleeve does not restore preload. Many builders install Yukon's crush sleeve eliminator for JK Dana 30 and 44 fronts while the yoke is off, which replaces the sleeve with a solid spacer and shims.
Install a new pinion seal, lube the lip and the yoke hub, draw the yoke on with the nut, and torque to the factory spec. Use new U-bolts and tighten them evenly. Top off the axle with 75W-90 gear oil. If the front end needs bearings too, the JK Dana 30 front master kit and the JK Rubicon Dana 44 front overhaul kit cover the bearings and seals for each axle. After a lift, check front driveshaft angle at the pinion so the new 1350 joint does not run at a bind.
| Brand | Yukon Gear & Axle |
| Part number | YY D44-1350-24F |
| Fits | Yukon Gear 24 Spline Front Pinion Yoke for Dana 30/44 Jeep JK w/1350 U-Bolt Design |
| Type | Pinion Flanges |
| Condition | New |
| Ships | Same business day (in stock), from the USA |
| Warranty | 1-year |
Doing this repair right usually means replacing these at the same time. Same transmission, ships together.
Yes. Yukon lists it for the 2007-2017 Wrangler JK Rubicon reverse-rotation Dana 44 front and for the 2007-2017 non-Rubicon Dana 30 front, plus the 2018 JK Dana 30 front.
No. Yukon lists it only for JK Wranglers. JL front axles use different yokes.
Only if your driveshaft has a 1350-series joint at the axle. Measure the cap diameter and span on the rear joint of your front shaft. If it is a different series, you will need a 1350 front driveshaft.
The JK front axles set pinion preload with a crush sleeve. If you change the yoke, do not overtighten the nut past where it started. Many owners install a crush sleeve eliminator kit at the same time so preload can be set with a solid spacer and shims.
Top off with 75W-90 gear oil, or the fluid listed for your axle, and check for leaks after a short drive.
