Yukon Gear High Performance Replacement Gear Set For Dana 44 in a 3.54 Ratio

A 3.54 is a road ratio. Owners shop for it when a classic Bronco, K5 Blazer, Scout II, Wagoneer or Dana 44 equipped Camaro or Corvette spins too many RPM at highway speed, when an old set is chipped or howling and they want the original ratio back, or when one axle of a 4x4 has to be matched to the other. The Yukon Gear & Axle YG D44-354 is a new 3.54 ring and pinion for the standard rotation Dana 44: 8.50 in. ring gear, 26-spline pinion, 10 ring gear bolts.

What a 3.54 ring and pinion does in a Dana 44

In a standard rotation Dana 44 the pinion enters below the axle centerline and drives the 8.50 in. ring gear, which is bolted to the carrier and turns the axle shafts. At 3.54:1 the driveshaft makes 3.54 turns per tire revolution, numerically lower than the 3.73 to 4.88 ratios most off-road builds use. That means lower cruise RPM, quieter highway driving and less fuel burned on stock-size tires, at the cost of some launch and crawl torque. Yukon's application notes say this set fits the 3-series carrier, the Dana 44 carrier for 3.73 and numerically lower ratios, so a truck already geared in that range usually keeps its carrier.

Symptoms that call for this gear set

• Whine on acceleration, deceleration or both that grows with speed, typical of worn ring and pinion teeth or failing pinion bearings
• Clunk on and off throttle from excessive backlash
• Chipped, pitted or blued gear teeth found at a fluid change
• Engine turning more RPM on the highway than you want with near-stock tire sizes
• Front and rear ratios that do not match after a used axle swap, causing binding in four-wheel drive

How to confirm before you buy

Read the ratio from the axle tag, or count driveshaft turns against one full tire rotation with the vehicle on stands. Then confirm the rotation: this set is for standard rotation Dana 44s only, not the high-pinion reverse rotation fronts used on later Fords and some Dodges. Our Dana 44 problems and rebuild cost guide helps separate gear noise from bearing and seal wear, and if you are deciding between axles for a swap, see our Dana 30 vs Dana 44 front axle comparison.

Fitment

Yukon's fitment table for YG D44-354 is long and mostly classic. Front axle applications include the 1971-1977 Ford Bronco, 1966-1977 F-100 and F-250 fronts, Chevrolet and GMC K10/K15, K20/K25 and K30 trucks and Suburbans through 1980, 1969-1980 Blazer and K5 Blazer, 1960-1993 Dodge W-series and Ramcharger, the 1994-2001 Ram 1500 and 1994-2002 Ram 2500 front, 1971-1980 Scout II and Jeep J10, Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer and Comanche fronts. Rear applications include the 1997-2006 Wrangler TJ with a Dana 44 rear, 1986-1993 Cherokee, CJ5 and CJ6, Comanche, Wagoneer, Scout 800 and II, 1970s Ford F-100, F-150 and Econoline, 1980-1982 Corvette, 1984-1985 and 1992-1994 Camaro and the 1993-1997 Isuzu Rodeo. With that much range, match the 26-spline pinion to your yoke and send us your year, model and VIN to confirm. More axle parts are in our hard parts section.

Install notes

• Install new pinion and carrier bearings, races, crush sleeve, seal and shims. For a standard rotation 30-spline front, the Yukon Dana 44 front master overhaul kit includes them.
• Since 3.54 runs on the 3.73-and-down carrier, a traction upgrade must be the same series, such as the Dura Grip for 3.73 and down. If you only need new ring gear bolts and carrier shims, add a Dana 44 carrier installation kit.
• Revolution Gear's standard D44 row lists 0.042 in. starting pinion depth, 14-19 in-lb new pinion bearing preload, 0.006-0.010 in. backlash, 55 or 75 ft-lb on the ring gear bolts by bolt size and 60 ft-lb on the bearing caps. Confirm the pattern with marking compound.
• Re-gear the other axle to 3.54 as well on a four-wheel-drive vehicle.
• Use 75W-90 or 75W-140 gear oil, adding friction modifier if the axle has a clutch-type limited slip, and change it after the first few hundred miles per our ring and pinion break-in steps.

Will this fit a reverse rotation or high-pinion Dana 44?

No. YG D44-354 is listed only for standard rotation Dana 44 axles. High-pinion reverse rotation fronts need a reverse-cut gear set.

Do I need a new carrier to install a 3.54?

Not if your axle already has a 3-series carrier, which is used for 3.73 and numerically lower ratios. Going from 3.92 or deeper down to 3.54 requires a 3.73-and-down carrier.

Is 3.54 a good ratio with bigger tires?

Usually not. A 3.54 suits stock or near-stock tire sizes and highway driving. Larger tires generally call for 4.10 or deeper gearing.

What pinion spline is this set?

It has a 26-spline pinion. Make sure your pinion yoke matches before installation.

What gear oil should I use?

75W-90 or 75W-140 gear oil works in most Dana 44s. Add friction modifier only if the axle has a clutch-type limited slip, and change the oil after break-in.