Dana 44 front axleshaft interchange question?

[Joe J-Truck]

Does anyone know if the D44 front axleshafts in a '80 and later wt fsj (driver's side pumpkin) will interchange and swap in place of axle shafts in the front D44 of earlier wt fsj's 74-79 (pass. side pumpkin)??? I'm pretty sure they are both 30 spline, but is the length the same or different?

[barillms]

I'm almost positive the shafts in these years are the same length even though the pumpkins are on different sides. Check with riverbeast or one of the other tech moderators for sure.

[Bob Barry]

The differ by about an inch in length. Sorry.

[River Beast]

Bob is right... the W/T axles are longer... so the inner axle shafts will not work.. the stub shafts are all interchangable (From U-joint out)

[Joe J-Truck]

Well, that sucks, but at least I know. Thanks fellas!

[mobyjeep]

I need a little clarification. I know the WT axles have longer inner shafts, but are the inner shafts the same length on a '74-79 right hand drop wt axle and an '80 left hand drop wt axle. If not the same which year is longer?

Thanks

[scotty]

no,the narrow trac inners are not the same between pass and driver side drop. it does seem that they would be,but due to the way the diff is spaced,the shafts are different lengths.

if i remember it correctly the short side on the driver side diff is shorter,long side is longer. but i may have that backwards smile.gif it has been quite some time since i comapred the two...