Yukon Gear Replacement Yoke For Dana 30 / 44 / and 50 w/ 26 Spline and a 1330 U/Joint Size

A Dana 44 that weeps gear oil from the pinion seal no matter how many seals go in, a CJ or Scout that clunks every time the clutch comes out, or a yoke with wallowed-out U-joint bores after a broken joint are the usual reasons to replace the pinion yoke. The Yukon YY D44-1330-26S is a new 26-spline yoke for Dana 30, Dana 44 and Dana 50 axles, machined for a 1330-series U-joint and built in the strap style, where two bolted straps hold the joint caps in place.

What the pinion yoke does on a Dana 30, 44 or 50

The yoke slides onto the 26 splines at the nose of the pinion gear and the pinion nut clamps it against the front pinion bearing. The rear U-joint of the driveshaft sits in the yoke ears, so all of the torque going to the ring gear passes through those splines. The round hub behind the ears is the running surface for the pinion seal. On a front Dana 30 or 44 that sits low and catches mud, water and grit, that hub gets scored, and a scored hub leaks even with a brand-new seal.

Yukon's dimensions for this yoke: outside snap ring design, 3.625 inch snap ring span, 1.062 inch cap diameter, 3.000 inch tall and a 1.552 inch hub diameter. The 3.625 inch span is what separates a 1330 from a 1310, which uses the same 1.062 inch cap on a narrower 3.219 inch span.

Symptoms of a worn Dana pinion yoke

• Gear oil on the front of the housing or slung onto the driveshaft, coming back after a new pinion seal
• A groove you can feel with a fingernail on the yoke hub where the seal lip rides
• A clunk on takeoff, on shifts or when the front axle engages, from slop in the splines
• Vibration that rises with road speed from a bent ear or bores that no longer hold the caps tight
• Strap bolts that keep backing out or caps that show fretting marks in the ears

How to confirm the yoke is the problem

With the vehicle in neutral and parked safely, twist the driveshaft back and forth at the axle. Movement between the yoke and the pinion is spline wear; movement inside the cross is a bad U-joint. Then drop the shaft and look at the seal surface on the hub. If there is a groove, a seal alone will not fix the leak. Lift up and down on the yoke too. Play there means the pinion bearings or preload are gone, and that job is better done with a full bearing service like the Dana 44 disconnect front master overhaul kit or the matching kit for your axle.

Fitment

Yukon's chart for this yoke lists 26-spline Dana 30, 44 and 50 axles, front and rear, including:

• Dana 30 front: Jeep CJ5, CJ6, CJ7 and Scrambler, Wagoneer and Commando, 1997-2006 TJ Wrangler, 1996-2001 Cherokee, 1993-1998 Grand Cherokee, 1980-1988 AMC Eagle, early Bronco and Scout II
• Dana 30 rear: CJ5 and CJ6, 1967-1968 Jeep Commando, 1986-1989 Aerostar and Volvo 140, 160 and 240 series
• Dana 44 front: Chevrolet and GMC K10 through K30 and Blazer through 1980, Dodge W100 through W250, Ramcharger and 1994-2002 Ram, Ford F-100 through F-350 and Bronco including the IFS axles, Jeep J10, Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, and Scout II
• Dana 44 rear: CJ, TJ Wrangler, XJ Cherokee and Comanche, Scout 800 and Scout II, Isuzu Rodeo, early Ford pickups and vans, plus some 1984-1985 and 1992-1994 Camaros
• Dana 50 front: 1980-1998 Ford F-250 and F-350 IFS, 1998-2002 F-250 and F-350 straight axle and 2000-2005 Excursion

The same vehicle list appears on Yukon's chart for the 1310 version, so the chart confirms the axle and spline, not which joint your driveshaft uses. Match three things: 26 pinion splines, a 1330 joint on your driveshaft, and straps rather than U-bolts. If your shaft uses U-bolts, the 1330 U-bolt version is the one to buy; for a 1310 shaft see the 26-spline 1310 U-bolt yoke. Yukon also warns that the 2003-2006 TJ Rubicon uses a 3.750 inch tall 1330 yoke, so measure height before ordering for that model. Send us your year and VIN if you want a second check, or browse more axle parts in hard parts.

Install notes

• Mark the driveshaft and yoke before removal so phasing goes back the same.
• Measure pinion turning torque before you remove the nut. Crush sleeve axles such as the TJ and XJ Dana 30 need preload reset to the factory specification, not just the nut run back down.
• Fit a new pinion seal and nut, lube the seal lip and hub, and never hammer the yoke onto the pinion.
• Yukon sells the strap kit separately (YY STR-004); use new straps and bolts, as old ones stretch.
• Inspect the U-joint while it is out. A U-joint press kit makes changing it straightforward.
• Refill with 75W-90 gear oil, or what your axle specifies, and add friction modifier for a clutch-type limited slip.

Is this yoke strap style or U-bolt style?

Strap style. The U-joint caps sit in the ears and are held by two bolted straps. Yukon sells the strap kit, YY STR-004, separately. If your driveshaft is held by U-bolts, choose the U-bolt version instead.

How can I tell if my driveshaft uses a 1310 or 1330 joint?

Both have a 1.062 inch cap, so measure the overall width of the cross across the snap rings. A 1330 is about 3.625 inches and a 1310 is about 3.219 inches.

Will this fit a 2003-2006 TJ Wrangler Rubicon?

Yukon notes that the 2003-2006 Rubicon uses a taller 3.750 inch 1330 yoke. This yoke is 3.000 inches tall, so measure your original yoke height before ordering.

Do I need to replace the pinion seal too?

Yes. The seal rides on the yoke hub, and an old seal worn to the shape of a grooved hub will not seal on a new one. Replace the seal and the pinion nut with the yoke.

Does this fit a Dana 30 front with a crush sleeve?

Yukon lists the 1997-2006 TJ Wrangler, 1996-2001 Cherokee and 1993-1998 Grand Cherokee Dana 30 crush sleeve fronts. Preload has to be set correctly when you reinstall the nut on these axles.