Dana 44 in TJ question

The D44 differential has a shape like an apple. It is very obvious once you see one.

Looking under used Jeeps is highly recommended. Besides looking for the axle type, look for sighs of abuse. Most sellers will clean and polish the shiny stuff till it sparkles, but it is hard to hide bashed in skid plates and general under carriage carnage. Case in point is a good friend that keeps the top part of his Jeep sparkling. There is hardly a scratch on it, but if you look at the under carriage it tells the story of a wild man. There isn't a square inch that isn't smashed, scratched, bent or re-welded.

Depending upon your needs you can pass on the nice looking beater, or use your knowledge to get a better price.

Dean

Aye, that's good advice. Thanks!

H.

Thanks Jim! Exactly what I was looking for.

Regards, H.

Just because the skid plates are dented does not mean the vehicle is abused, indeed it only means it is loved. ;-)

It is good to look underneath, but finding a couple of dents is not an indicator of one that should be thrown back.

Agreed, any Jeep that is driven like a real Jeep, (ie off road) will get a few dents on the under carriage. But my bud's goes WELL beyond a few dents. Besides 99.99% of Jeep owners don't have a clue. You could probably negotiate $500 off a cream puff for a dent in the transfer case skid plate. ;-) You could tell the seller "You know I like your Jeep, but I'm a little concerned about the hidden damage. How about we cut $500 from the price and call it good.."

The worst thing they could say is no, besides if you don't ask you won't get anything.

Dean

My CJ is covered with sakid plates. I have them on all four spring perches, the rear diff, the gas tank, the trans/tcase, and even on the oil pan. The front diff doesn't need a skid plate because it is protected by the drag link. Anyway, every skid plate I own is bent, and I have no hesitation at all in presenting my Jeep as one that anybody should be willing to purchase. I have no hesitation that it will take me out and bring me back.

Nobody is getting a dime from me for the dents and scrapes that I worked so hard to accumulate.:-) My Jeep has a couple of dents in the body that weren't there when I bought it, but that's life on the trail ...

I leaned a good lesson from a friend many years ago about negotiating. Always ask for a discount off the "best" price. Always ask for first class service at discount prices. Always ask for more. You never get what you don't ask for and the worst thing they'll say is no. He was the only person I've known that would go to used car lots to haggle prices, for fun. He'd have no intention of buying the car, he just wanted to negotiate price, service, extras, interest rate, etc with the salesmen. More than one person in our group would take him along when they bought cars so he could handle the "negotiations."

Most Americans are uncomfortable when it comes to negotiating. So more times than not my friend got what he was asking for simply because he asked. Couple Americans dislike of negotiating with most peoples lack of knowledge about vehicles and a dent can save you money, if you ask.

Dean

So what do you tell newbie to look for that indicates an abused vehicle.

Dean

THAT is a very good question, and I would love to hear the answer to that one.

Regards, H.

Noise and cracked or broken frame parts. Dents alone is not evidence of abuse, at least in a Jeep. Dents on the bottom of my BMW woiuld be cause for alarm, dents on the bottom of a Jeep are merely a sign that the vehicle has gone offroad, and going offroad is not in itself abusive. It can be abusive, but doesn't have to be.

A vehicle that has been abused will rattle and creak(?) and shift poorly. If the seller has kept it clean and sparkly, he has probably kept it full of oil and been reasonably cautious while offroading. If the seller allows it to become very dirty, he has probably not change the oil, and been overly rough with his equipment.