D44 from Waggy with vacuum disco

[Bounty__Hunter]

Anybody been inside the diff of one of these axles? I bought it thinking the vacuum disconnect may be similar in design to my D30, but it's nowhere close. The vacuum disconnect enters through the diff cover and appears to be on the drivers side of the diff.

I haven't pulled the diff cover yet and wondered how it works.

 

[redrooster]

Don't know. Do you think it requires the same amount of vacuum to operate? If not, I'm sure you can make it work with a cable somehow.

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

I'll tear into it soon enough, but it should make for a good selectable locker after installing the spool. Funky diff cover though, should turn some heads.

 

[jps4jeep]

Is that the waggy D44 where the hubs are those chrome mini moons? (the auto hubs?)

If so, there is a company I think called "The Wagon Shop" they sell a conversion kit to switch them over to manual hubs. I will look for a like!

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

Yes, that's what the hubs look like. I'm not necessarily interested in locking hubs, unless these I have are notoriously weak. I'd rather have the vacuum disco so I can run a spool and disconnect from inside the jeep.

But if these hubs are weak, I may consider lockouts.

 

[Junkpile]

Do those axles have hubs or solid drive flanges?

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

It's got a big hub with a chrome cap, that's all I can see. I haven't torn into it yet, and not very familiar with locking hubs and hub types.

 

[jeepin916]

its got a big hub but there a drive flange inside. warn makes the lock out hubs for them, i got a set but its not the premimums that i want. not sure if im gunna install them yet...

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

Is the drive flange on this D44 a strong reliable setup?

 

[Junkpile]

I can't remember how they are setup but I do believe they have drive flanges similar to those found on D30s in the Qtrac CJs. Going to hubs is going to cost some strength and there really is no need if you plan to keep the vac.disco. That's cool that you're gonna spool it up and use the vacuum disconnect. Those stub shafts and u-joints are gonna hate your ass, but it should be a good setup.

Are you still going to use the Scout II rear, or are you going to throw the AMC 20 from the Waggy in there too?

 

[jeepinstien]

The disconnect is similar to d30. It has 2 splined shafts with a doughnut that slides to join the 2 shafts together. The fork from the vacuum switch fits into the doughnut.
I took out the vacuum switch and positioned the doughnut to mate the shafts.
Then I welded a piece of 3/8 hex wrench (hardened) accross the groove where the fork would sit. I also trashed the auto hubs and went to manual.
Hope this helps.

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

I'm gonna use a D44 rear, probably a scout. Don't have the HDAMC20 from the Waggy, just got the front axle for the width, strength, vacuum disco, and can be geared to 5.38 :twisted:

I'll probably keep the hubs the way they are unless there is a strong reason to change. My 2.5L won't be too hard on the spooled axles, but I'll try my best :lol: 5.38 should help the 2.5L push 'em.