Yukon Gear Bearing install Kit For Dana 44-HD Diff
If you are re-gearing the rear axle on a 1996-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee that came with the Dana 44HD, or chasing a howl from the back of a ZJ or WJ that changes with throttle, this is the bearing kit that goes under the new or existing gears. Yukon Gear & Axle part number BK D44HD packs Timken carrier bearings and races, Timken pinion bearings and races, a pinion seal, a new crush sleeve, and gear marking compound with a brush. It is built for builders and shops that already keep setup shims on the bench and do not want to pay for a full master overhaul kit to get a fresh set of bearings.
The 44HD is the Grand Cherokee version of the Dana 44 rear, and like every hypoid axle it depends on four tapered bearings. Two pinion bearings hold the pinion at a fixed depth and a measured rotating preload, while two carrier bearings hold the ring gear sideways against the pinion and set backlash. The pinion preload on this axle is held by a crush sleeve, which is why Yukon includes a new one: a used sleeve has already been crushed and cannot hold preload a second time. Once any of these bearings wears, the ring gear walks away from the pinion under load, the contact pattern moves toward the tooth edge, and the gears start to whine well before they chip. New bearings put the gear set back on a solid foundation.
Drive the vehicle and note whether the noise is on acceleration, on coast, or both; our acceleration vs deceleration whine guide explains what each pattern says about gear contact versus bearing wear. A constant growl that follows road speed in any gear usually points at the bearings, and our carrier bearing noise guide walks through separating it from wheel bearings and tires. With the cover off, wipe the gears and paint a few teeth; a pattern that has drifted heavy to the toe or heel on an axle that has never been opened is a classic sign of bearing wear.
Yukon lists BK D44HD for the Dana 44HD rear in 1996-1998 Grand Cherokee (ZJ) and 1999-2004 Grand Cherokee (WJ), both 4WD and 2WD. Not every Grand Cherokee in those years left the factory with this axle, so confirm the axle before ordering: check the tag on the cover bolts or the casting on the housing, and our axle code guide shows where to look. Yukon treats the later WK and XK Grand Cherokee Dana 44 and the Wrangler Dana 44 as separate axles with their own setup specs and kits, so this one is for the 44HD only. If you are unsure, send us your year and VIN before you order. For background on the whole axle family, read our Dana 44 problems and rebuild cost guide, and if you would rather have a second kit option for the same axle, see the USA Standard Dana 44HD bearing kit.
Because this is a bearing kit and not a master overhaul kit, there are no pinion depth or carrier shims in the box; reuse good original shims or have a shim set ready. Browse our differential and transmission rebuild kits if you need a fuller kit with shims and small parts. Yukon's published setup chart lists the Dana 44HD at 15-20 inch-pounds of pinion bearing preload with new bearings (8-12 with used), 0.006-0.011 in backlash for a five-cut gear set and 0.006-0.008 in for a two-cut set, and 80 ft-lb on the bearing caps. Ring gear bolt torque follows bolt size: 55 ft-lb for 3/8 in, 75 ft-lb for 7/16 in and 135 ft-lb for 1/2 in. A clamshell carrier bearing puller removes the old cones without damaging the carrier, and a carrier shim driver seats the outer shims without bending them. Tighten the pinion nut in small steps and check rotating torque each time; overshooting the crush sleeve means starting over with a new one. Refill with 75W-90 or 75W-140 gear oil, adding friction modifier if the axle has a clutch-type limited slip, and follow our ring and pinion break-in procedure if the gears are new.
| Brand | Yukon Gear & Axle |
| Part number | BK D44HD |
| Fits | Yukon Gear Bearing install Kit For Dana 44-HD Diff |
| Type | Bearings |
| 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.
Yukon lists it for the Dana 44HD rear axle in 1996-1998 ZJ and 1999-2004 WJ Grand Cherokees, 4WD and 2WD. Other rear axles were used in those years, so confirm the axle tag or send us your year and VIN.
No. BK D44HD is a bearing install kit: Timken carrier and pinion bearings with races, pinion seal, crush sleeve and marking compound. Reuse good original shims or buy a shim set separately if the gear set or carrier is changing.
Yukon's setup chart lists 15-20 inch-pounds of rotating pinion preload with new bearings and 8-12 inch-pounds with used bearings, measured without the carrier installed.
Not if the bearings are quiet and the yoke has no play. A seal alone is a smaller job, but if the axle already whines or the yoke moves, replacing the seal without the bearings only buys time.
Use 75W-90 or 75W-140 gear oil. If the axle has a clutch-type limited slip, add friction modifier. With new gears, change the oil again after the break-in miles.
