Yukon Gear Replacement Yoke For Dana 30 / 44 / 50 / and 300 w/ 26 Spline and a 1310 U/Joint...

If your Jeep CJ, K5 Blazer, early Bronco, Dodge W-series or Scout still runs the common 1310 driveshaft held on with U-bolts, and the pinion yoke on the Dana axle is leaking, loose on its splines or damaged from a joint that came apart, this is the direct replacement. The Yukon YY D44-1310-26U is a new 26-spline pinion yoke for Dana 30, 44 and 50 axles, sized for a 1310-series U-joint and built in the U-bolt style.

How a U-bolt pinion yoke works on a Dana axle

On a U-bolt yoke the two bearing caps of the U-joint sit in shallow saddles across the top of the yoke ears, and a pair of U-bolts wraps around the caps and threads into the yoke. The yoke itself rides on the 26-spline pinion shaft and the pinion nut pulls it tight against the front bearing, so the yoke is also part of what holds pinion bearing preload. The smooth neck behind the ears is where the pinion seal lip runs.

Yukon's numbers for this part: 3.219 inch snap ring span, 1.062 inch cap diameter, outside snap ring design, 3.000 inch tall and a 1.552 inch hub diameter. That 3.219 inch span is the 1310 size. The 1330 and 1350 joints both measure about 3.62 inches wide, so a 1310 cross will not sit in a yoke cut for either of them.

Signs the yoke needs replacing

• A pinion seal that leaks again within weeks of being replaced, usually from a worn track on the yoke neck
• U-bolts that will not stay tight, or caps that have hammered the saddles out of shape
• Clunk when you take off, shift between drive and reverse or lock the hubs in, from wear in the splines
• A vibration that comes on with speed after a U-joint failure bent or nicked the yoke ears
• Rust pitting on the seal surface from a truck or Jeep that sat for years

Checking before you order

Put the vehicle in neutral with the wheels chocked and rotate the driveshaft back and forth by hand at the axle. Free play between the yoke and the pinion means worn splines; play inside the joint means the U-joint is the problem, not the yoke. Remove the U-bolts, slide the shaft off and inspect the seal neck and the saddles. Finally, try to move the yoke up and down. If the pinion moves, the bearings or preload are gone, and you should plan on a bearing job with a kit like the Dana 30 front master overhaul kit rather than just a yoke and seal.

Fitment by vehicle

Yukon's chart for this yoke lists the following 26-spline Dana applications:

• Jeep: CJ5 (1960-1983), CJ6, CJ7 (1976-1986), Scrambler, Commando, J10, Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, Comanche, 1986-1993 XJ Cherokee Dana 44 rear, 1996-2001 Cherokee Dana 30 front, 1993-1998 Grand Cherokee Dana 30 front and 1997-2006 TJ Wrangler front and rear
• Chevrolet and GMC: K10 through K30 and K5 Blazer through 1980, Suburbans, 1967-1968 C10 and C1500 and 1967-1972 G-series vans with the Dana 44 rear, and some 1984-1985 and 1992-1994 Camaros
• Dodge: W100 through W250 pickups, Ramcharger and the 1994-2002 Ram 1500 and 2500 Dana 44 front
• Ford: Bronco from 1966, F-100 through F-350 including the Dana 44 and Dana 50 IFS fronts, 1998-2002 F-250 and F-350 Dana 50 straight axle, 2000-2005 Excursion, early Econoline vans and 1986-1989 Aerostar
• International Scout 800 and Scout II, AMC Eagle, 1993-1997 Isuzu Rodeo and Volvo 140 and 240 series Dana 30 rears

The listing title also names the Dana 300. Yukon's chart is written around axle applications, so if you are replacing a transfer case output yoke, compare spline count, span and height against your old yoke first. For any vehicle, three things decide fit: 26 splines on the pinion, a 1310 joint on the driveshaft, and U-bolts rather than straps. A driveshaft with a 1330 joint needs the 1330 U-bolt yoke, and a strap-retained 1330 shaft takes the 1330 strap yoke. Send us your year and VIN if you would like us to check, or see more driveline and axle parts in hard parts.

Install tips

• Paint a line across the driveshaft and yoke before you pull it so the phasing stays correct.
• Record pinion rotating torque before loosening the nut. On crush sleeve axles like the TJ and XJ Dana 30 front, set preload back to the factory figure.
• Replace the pinion seal and nut, oil the seal lip, and draw the yoke on with the nut rather than driving it on with a hammer.
• The U-bolt set is sold separately per Yukon. Use new U-bolts and nuts, tighten them evenly and do not overtighten, which can distort the bearing caps.
• If the U-joint is worn, change it now; the ball joint and U-joint press kit handles the caps without damage.
• Top off with 75W-90 gear oil or the grade your axle calls for, with friction modifier on a limited slip.

What is the difference between this and a strap-style yoke?

A U-bolt yoke holds the U-joint caps in open saddles with two U-bolts. A strap yoke uses bolted straps across the caps. The driveshaft hardware must match, so check how your old yoke holds the joint.

How do I confirm my driveshaft has a 1310 joint?

Measure across the outside snap rings of the cross. A 1310 is about 3.219 inches wide with 1.062 inch caps. A 1330 has the same cap size but measures about 3.625 inches.

Are the U-bolts included?

No. Yukon lists the U-bolt set as sold separately. Old U-bolts stretch and should not be reused on a new yoke.

Will this fit a Dana 300 transfer case?

The title names the Dana 300, but the manufacturer fitment chart covers axle applications. Compare spline count, U-joint span and yoke height with your old transfer case yoke before ordering, or send us your measurements.

My axle has a crush sleeve. Can I just swap the yoke?

You can, but the pinion nut sets bearing preload on crush sleeve axles. Measure turning torque before you start and reset preload to the factory specification when the new yoke goes on.