Yukon Gear Replacement Chrome Cover For Dana 44

A Dana 44 cover takes the hits. Rocks, ledges, trailer hitches and road salt all find it first, and once the flange rusts or the face gets pushed in, the axle starts weeping gear oil. Yukon Gear & Axle YP C1-D44-STD is a direct replacement cover for the standard-rotation Dana 44, made in the factory shape and finished in chrome. It is the 10-bolt cover found on Jeep Wrangler TJ and JK rear axles, Cherokee and Comanche Dana 44 rears, Ford Bronco and F-150 front axles, Dodge Ram and Ramcharger fronts, older GM K-series 4x4s and International Scouts.

What the cover does on a Dana 44

The Dana 44 is an integral-carrier, Salisbury-style axle, so the only way into the gears is through the rear cover. That cover is part of the oiling system: the ring gear slings gear oil up the inside of it and the oil runs back down into the pinion and carrier bearings. It also holds the oil level and keeps water and dirt out. A cover that is dented inward can rub the ring gear, and a cover with rust pits along the sealing flange will leak no matter how much sealant you use. Yukon describes this part as the stock OE design in chrome, so it bolts on in place of the original without spacers or changes to the housing.

Signs it is time for a new cover

• Gear oil seeping from the bottom of the cover flange, often worst after highway runs
• A dent or crease in the face from a rock, stump or a jack placed on the cover
• Rust scale around the bolt holes or pin holes in the stamped steel
• Cover bolts that pulled through or holes that were opened up by overtightening
• You are regearing or adding a locker and want a clean cover to finish the job

If the oil is coming from the pinion seal or the axle tubes instead of the cover, a new cover will not stop it. Our Dana 44 axle problems guide walks through the usual leak and noise points.

How to confirm before you buy

Count the cover bolts. This cover has 10 bolt holes, and Summit's spec sheet lists it for a Dana 44 with 10 ring gear bolts. Then check which side the pinion enters. A standard-rotation Dana 44 has the pinion below the axle centerline. Reverse-rotation or high-pinion fronts, including the JK Rubicon front Dana 44, take a different cover, and the JL Wrangler 210 mm and 220 mm Dana 44 axles use their own covers too. The Dana 44HD rear in Corvettes, Vipers and 1996-2004 Grand Cherokees is a different shape; the Yukon Dana 44HD steel cover is the one for those.

Fitment

Yukon's application list for YP C1-D44-STD includes these Dana 44 axles, front and rear:

• Jeep: 2007-2017 Wrangler JK rear (Rubicon and non-Rubicon), 1997-2006 Wrangler TJ rear, 1986-1993 Cherokee rear, Comanche, CJ5, CJ6, CJ7, Scrambler, J10, Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer
• Ford: 1980-1996 F-150 and Bronco Dana 44 IFS front, 1971-1977 Bronco, F-100 and F-250 Dana 44 axles, and E-series vans
• Dodge: 1994-2001 Ram 1500 4WD front, 1994-2002 Ram 2500 4WD front, Ramcharger and W-series trucks
• GM: 1960-1980 K10, K20 and K5 Blazer Dana 44 fronts, GMC K15 and K25 trucks, and some Camaro and C10 rears
• International Scout 800 and Scout II front and rear

Not every one of these trucks left the factory with a Dana 44 at both ends, so read the axle tag or the casting on the housing, or send us your year and VIN. More Dana 44 parts are in our hard parts section.

Install notes

• Summit's listing shows no gasket, bolts, fill plug or drain plug included. Reuse good factory bolts and seal it with a cover gasket or gear-oil-rated RTV.
• Scrape the old sealant off the housing flange and wipe it dry. Our gasket vs RTV guide explains both methods.
• Snug the 10 bolts in a crisscross pattern and torque evenly; overtightening bends the thin flange and starts the next leak.
• Refill through the housing fill plug with the grade your manual calls for, typically 75W-90, and add friction modifier only for a clutch-type limited slip.

If the gears are coming out, pair the cover with the Yukon Dana 44 standard-rotation master overhaul kit, a Dura Grip limited slip for 30-spline Dana 44s, or the Dana 44 open spider gear kit.

Will this cover fit the front Dana 44 on my JK Rubicon?

No. The JK Rubicon front Dana 44 is reverse rotation and uses a different cover. This one fits the JK Dana 44 rear on both Rubicon and non-Rubicon models.

Does it come with a gasket and bolts?

No. It is the cover only, with no gasket, bolts, fill plug or drain plug. Reuse your factory bolts and seal it with a gasket or gear-oil-rated RTV.

How many bolts does it use?

Ten. It is the standard 10-bolt Dana 44 cover. If your cover has a different count or shape, you likely have a Dana 44HD, a JL axle or a different axle model.

Is chrome as strong as an armored cover?

It is the stock OE shape and thickness in a chrome finish, so it protects like the factory cover. If you crawl rocks hard, look at a heavier cast or nodular iron cover.

What gear oil goes back in?

Use the grade in your owner's manual, commonly 75W-90 for these axles, and add friction modifier only if the axle has a clutch-type limited slip.