Yukon Gear Replacement Ring & Pinion Gear Set For Dana 44 Short Pinion Rev. Rotation / 4.56
The front axle is the half of a JK Rubicon regear that people find hardest to source, because it is not a normal Dana 44. The Yukon Gear and Axle YG D44RS-456RUB is a 4.56 ratio ring and pinion set for the reverse rotation, short pinion Dana 44 front axle under the 2007-2017 Jeep Wrangler JK Rubicon and Unlimited Rubicon. It has an 8.50 inch ring gear, a 24-spline pinion and 10 ring gear bolts. If you have stepped up from stock tires to around 35s and the Rubicon now feels flat, this is the front set to pair with a 4.56 rear.
In the front axle the pinion sits above the axle centerline to give the front driveshaft a better angle, so the ring gear is driven on its other face. That is why the JK Rubicon front Dana 44 uses a reverse cut ring and pinion, which Revolution Gear confirms for both JK and JL front Dana 44s. The short pinion design and smaller 8.50 inch ring gear also make it a different part from the JK rear Dana 44 set, which uses an 8.89 inch ring. Moving from the factory Rubicon ratio to 4.56 multiplies torque at the front wheels to match the rear, so the two axles turn at the same speed in 4WD.
Make sure it is a Rubicon front. Revolution Gear notes that only the Rubicon JK has a Dana 44 in front; Sport, Sahara and X models have a Dana 30, which needs a different set such as the Yukon JK Dana 30 reverse short pinion 4.56 set. Then confirm the rear will be 4.56 too; the matching rear set is the Yukon JK Dana 44 rear 4.56. If you are chasing a noise rather than regearing, rule out front wheel bearings and U-joints, which make noise that changes when steering, before opening the differential.
Yukon lists this set for the Dana 44 reverse rotation front axle on 2007-2017 Jeep Wrangler JK Rubicon and Unlimited Rubicon 4WD models, 24-spline pinion. It does not fit the JK rear Dana 44, a non-Rubicon JK front Dana 30, the 2018-on JL or JT front Dana 44, or older TJ axles. A 2018 JK Rubicon is not on Yukon's chart for this part, so send us your VIN if you have one, and confirm the axle tag on any Jeep that has had its axles swapped. Related gear sets and axle parts are on our hard parts page.
Do not reuse bearings with new gears. The JK Rubicon front Dana 44 master overhaul kit carries the bearings, races, seals and crush sleeve for this axle, and the Revolution JK Rubicon front master install kit is another option. Revolution Gear's setup chart gives the D44JK a 0.042 in starting pinion depth, 22-35 in-lb pinion bearing preload, 0.006-0.010 in backlash, 80 ft-lb on the bearing caps and 75 or 135 ft-lb on the ring gear bolts depending on bolt size. Read the contact pattern on the correct faces; on a reverse cut set the drive and coast sides are opposite what a rear axle shows, which catches out people used to setting up rears. The front locker must be removed and reinstalled with the carrier, so check its wiring and actuator while it is out. Fill with 75W-90 gear oil, break the gears in gently with no towing, change the oil early, and program the new ratio and tire size into the Jeep.
| Brand | Yukon Gear & Axle |
| Part number | YG D44RS-456RUB |
| Fits | Yukon Gear Replacement Ring & Pinion Gear Set For Dana 44 Short Pinion Rev. Rotation / 4.56 |
| Type | Final Drive Gears |
| 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.
Front. It is the reverse rotation, short pinion Dana 44 front set with an 8.50 inch ring gear. The JK rear uses a different 8.89 inch ring gear set.
No. Non-Rubicon JKs have a Dana 30 front axle. You need a Dana 30 JK reverse short pinion 4.56 set instead.
Yes. Running different ratios front and rear makes the axles fight each other in 4WD and damages the transfer case and driveline. Install a 4.56 rear set at the same time.
4.56 is a common step for JK Rubicons on roughly 35 inch tires. Bigger tires or heavier builds often go deeper, so match the ratio to your tire size and use.
A master overhaul or install kit for the JK Rubicon front Dana 44, gear oil, marking compound, thread locker and a dial indicator. The front locker carrier is reused.
Yukon's chart lists 2007-2017. Send us your VIN for a 2018 JK so we can confirm the front axle before it ships.
