Does anyone know if the Dana 44 3.73 gears from a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee will fit without any modifications into a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4WD V8 5.2L with trailer tow package? My 1996 jeep has a stock dana 44 with 3.73 gears that need to be replaced. My junkyard has a 2002 dana 44 with 3.73 gears 26,000 miles cheaper to swap rear ends than rebuild. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I think the 02 has a diffrent carrier.

That d44 is a weak aluminum unit, better off swapping in a d35

unless of course you like swapping it every year or so....

the ring and pinion is the same for 96 -2001.actually only some 01s.they switched ring gear bolts from 3/8 to 7/16,so if you wanted to use the gears only it wouldnt fit.obviously the entire axle is different so thats out of the question.i dont know if the differential cases are the same size or not,i know the carrier bearings are the same but som of the 02s have vari lock so that case is different.i dont know if that fits your housing.and just so we are all clear on the terminology,the differential case is the part that holds the spider gears and has the ring gear bolted to it. the carrier is the center part of the housing.anyways if you can manage to get some of these junkyard parts to work,yo still have to set up the ring and pinion so by the time you are done it probably would be easier just to buy a new gear set and be done with it.

the ring and pinion is the same for 96 -2001.actually only some 01s.they switched ring gear bolts from 3/8 to 7/16,so if you wanted to use the gears only it wouldnt fit.obviously the entire axle is different so thats out of the question.i dont know if the differential cases are the same size or not,i know the carrier bearings are the same but som of the 02s have vari lock so that case is different.i dont know if that fits your housing.and just so we are all clear on the terminology,the differential case is the part that holds the spider gears and has the ring gear bolted to it. the carrier is the center part of the housing.anyways if you can manage to get some of these junkyard parts to work,yo still have to set up the ring and pinion so by the time you are done it probably would be easier just to buy a new gear set and be done with it.

Thanks! That is what I needed to know! I'm in the process of purchasing a new gear set!