Hey all, just picked up a nice 51 CJ-3a, and had a few questions regarding the rear 44. I've looked and looked on the web, and have yet to find any good info/impressions on the two-piece shaft design.

My question is how well do these shafts hold up to wheeling/lockers etc?
Do they 'spin a hub' as easily as the AMC 20's do?
Does anyone make a one-piece kit like they do for the 20?

I am running the Iron Duke 4 banger, T-18, currently 31's soon to be TSL 33's, and a locker in the near future. I like the 5.38's, and am pretty tight on cash, so I'm not looking to do a swap anytime soon, unless I come across a 70-71 CJ5 rear 44.

Basically, is this two piece design relatively strong for a light weight rig, low power, 33's, and a locker? Any info would be appreciated.

when you say 2 piece, do you mean full floater with hubs? my dana 41 was a taper, so i am not sure what you are describing.

if it is a FF, you could get some flanges to replace the hubs. they are way stronger, the only downfall being with flanges you cannot "disconnect" a wheel and limp it home if you break an axle

Matt he means two piece axle where the flange that the wheel bolts to is separate from the axleshaft. The flange is attached to the axle via a keyway and a nut on the end of the shaft. No hubs, no full floater.

These axles do not have the notoreity for spinning the flange like AMC 20's do. To what extent they are stronger I don't honestly know. I believe Superior makes a one-piece, forged axleshaft to replace these.