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71 D44 Stubborn Diff Cover Bolts

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by V8willysCJ5, May 17, 2020.

  1. May 17, 2020
    V8willysCJ5

    V8willysCJ5 New Member

    Mequon, WI
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    Guess what I scored this weekend?
    Have a fee stubborn diff cover bolts, any suggestions to break free or tools to use in case they round off?
     

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  2. May 17, 2020
    Jeepsterjim

    Jeepsterjim Member

    Lincoln, CA
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    Apply some PB, gently tap bolts with hammer, warm bolts up, use a six point socket. repeat.
     
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  3. May 17, 2020
    Lockman

    Lockman OK.....Now I Get It . 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Silver Hill,...
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    Soak em , for a couple days , with Liquid Wrench . It's got the 3.73 gears
     
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  4. May 17, 2020
    V8willysCJ5

    V8willysCJ5 New Member

    Mequon, WI
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    been soaking, just anxious to see inside. As the tag indicates, it appears so 3.73; desirable? Run of mill? My current set has 5.38 which I’ve enjoyed off road.

    Turning yoke and putting some resistance on hubs may tell me there is a locker in them as well... but we’ll see.
     
  5. May 17, 2020
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Desirable. 3.73 was standard in 1971. The ratio is more common than the optional 4.88 ratio, but these flanged offset axles are not plentiful. No locker unless the PO installed it. Good chance it's LSD/posi from the factory; a Dana TracLock. A very popular option. Someone with the parts book can tell from the Jeep Corp part number on the tag, 994175.
     
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  6. May 17, 2020
    oldtime

    oldtime oldtime

    St. Charles,...
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    Well I could not find that number in the books.
    Besides that the tag seems to indicate a manufacturered date of 1973.
    The part number itself suggests it was first available around or after 1970.
     
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  7. May 23, 2020
    V8willysCJ5

    V8willysCJ5 New Member

    Mequon, WI
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    Finally got some fresh air inside that diff. Does it look like anything special? Looks like an open diff to me, but as a mentioned before, both hubs do want to spin...
     

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  8. May 23, 2020
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Dana TracLock limited slip. Does the other wheel turn in the same or the opposite direction when you spin it?
     
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  9. May 23, 2020
    V8willysCJ5

    V8willysCJ5 New Member

    Mequon, WI
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    The same... what do you see that is leading you to your response?
     
  10. May 23, 2020
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    It's different from an open. It's clearly a TracLock. The clutches are in the squared-off end of the case, opposite from the ring gear. If it were open, the other wheel would turn in the opposite direction.

    This is an open -

    [​IMG]
     
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  11. May 23, 2020
    Lockman

    Lockman OK.....Now I Get It . 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    It's like Posi- Traction. I put one in mine & it's good for my needs.
     
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  12. May 24, 2020
    Muzikp

    Muzikp Active Member

    Sacramento Ca.
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    Definitely a Trac-loc. Not as good as a Powr-lok off-road but better than open (y) If you have it out and apart replace those clutches.
     
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  13. May 24, 2020
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
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    Same D44 Trac-loc set-up I had in my 70 flanged 44 - as Tim said, the square case and opening is unique. When on jack stands, both tires spun together, but offroad it was essentially an open differential....in other words, its probably better than open, but not by much. You can try to work the break pedal a bit to help it reduce wheel spin, but when clutching and working the gas, you start to run out feet (thus I ended up with a hand throttle). OEM drive shaft parking drum doesn't help reduce single side wheel spin like it would on rear mounted brakes. I don't know if you can bind up the clutch packs to make it tighter and limit the slip - I eventually swapped mine out for a locker. But its still a great find for an axle and any traction device is nice.
     
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  14. May 24, 2020
    Jeepsterjim

    Jeepsterjim Member

    Lincoln, CA
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    As mentioned above, do put in a new clutch pack. Not on the trac lok but if there are different clutch packs offered for the trac lok, put the strongest pack in. this will give you the most traction off road. Power Locks offer this option. Drawback to a stronger clutch pack is your diff's road manners will be a little harsher. More like a detroit.
     
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  15. May 25, 2020
    jeepdaddy2000

    jeepdaddy2000 Active Member

    Eagle Point oregon
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    Inspect the trac lok carefully. They are notorious for grenading. Clutch keepers fail and fall out, clutch packs disintegrate, center pins wallow out the hole and fall out of the carrier.
     
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  16. May 25, 2020
    CHUGALUG

    CHUGALUG Member

    Silverton, OR
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    I have this same rear end in my 48 I built it up with an Eaton E-Locker and G2 5.38 gears awesome off road and normal behavior on the road when wet or slick.
     
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  17. May 25, 2020
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    Just a comment after all the negative comments above ... in my experience, the TracLock works well for general use. It is well behaved on pavement, and will routinely spin both rear tires (still spins both my big rear tires on my CJ-6 on pavement with a bit too much gas pedal - up against the chocks and I thought I'll just drive over them). This axle was used behind the 304 '72-75, and behind the 360 and 401 in Wagoneers and J10s before 1980 without being problematic. They do wear out, and can be freshened with new plates. (The way the preload works on assembly, I suspect they can't be assembled with a bunch of additional preload, like the PowrLock). These TracLocks are susceptible to breakage from impact load, breaking either spider gears (BTDT) or cases as I understand. However, you can break any component with sufficient abuse, and I think this unit would be fine for most owners.

    Also, I would not minimize how much any LSD helps you on the trail, compared to an open axle. A very popular option, for good reason.
     
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  18. May 25, 2020
    Lockman

    Lockman OK.....Now I Get It . 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    I agree entirely with Tim. Some members want to do only Rock crawling & build their rigs accordingly . The TracLock is a good positraction option for some of us . That was good find for you . Your already good to go.
    After discovering that mine was open & knowing what I wanted from her, I installed a TracLock. And......Btw , one cannot load up a TracLock with additional clutch's. But I don't think that's a problem at all . I'm very pleased with it & it was the right decision for me. I also chose it , 'cuz it was similar to the GM Positraction that I am familiar with . I know guys with track / street cars that have over 200 K miles on their Posi's. I've already had it on ice / snow & some sandy , gravely trail hills & I never had to engage my front's :cool:
    Plus , like Tim referred too , & as pictured below, it provides a lot of torque out of the Hole .:)
    Got Posi.JPG Oh..... I'm running 31 X10.50 Tires, too.
     
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  19. May 25, 2020
    Jeepsterjim

    Jeepsterjim Member

    Lincoln, CA
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    Hmmmm, don't think Lockman is running 4 banger:shock:
     
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  20. May 28, 2020
    jeepdaddy2000

    jeepdaddy2000 Active Member

    Eagle Point oregon
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    I disagree with some of the positive assessments of the trac lok. Not talking about the traction side, but the reliability. I worked for years in a local 4X4 shop (waaaaaay back in the day) and saw quite a few of them come through. I almost never saw a tight unit. Most had come in over other differential issues. The TL's in most cases were the cause of the issues with the problems I describe above. The unfortunate problem with broken keepers and clutches floating around in the diff housing is ingesting them into the gears, causing all kinds of expensive damage. If the unit is tight and has no slop in the clutch ear pockets and pin hole, then by all means run it. I would personally never keep one longer than necessary, especially in the rear. My LS options would be a Powr Lok (strong and rebuildable) or a tru trac.

    On a personal note, I had a stock TL in the rear of my 71 and the center pin fell out and split the casing not long after I purchased it in 84. In many ways I should be thankful, as it caused me to replace it with a Gleason Torsen which was THE best traction unit ever. That eventually gave up after being transplanted into the rear of my 70 Waggy (still have a Gleason in the rear of the CJ).
     
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