Disadvantages of a TJ D44 front?

[Ray H]

An 06 and older Rubicon D44 will bolt into an XJ. It has the same bolt pattern, the same brackets and its the same width. It uses the same style hubs with the same outers.
The advantages are that theRubi D44 has a larger ring and pinion, 30 spline inners (vs. D30, 27 spline) axleshafts and you can go with a deeper gear set if you need to.
The disadvantages are that its a low pinion which means you may have driveshaft angle and length issues and since the housing is bigger, you will lose a bit of ground clearance.

 

[BlueGerbil]

Thanks, Ray, for the information. That was what I was looking for.

What would be necessary to upgrade the D44 to 30spline outers? And perhaps CTMs?

 

[balloo93]

I realize you mention cost as a factor, but you might want to look in to the manual hub conversion for the D44 and that would put aftermarket stub shafts on the outter (ie WARN kit).

If I found a Rubi D44 for the right price I woudl swap it in. Truss it a little and start saving up for the hub conversion.

The idea of going 5.38 and 35s is an attractive idea.

 

[BlueGerbil]

Yes, costs are a concern NOW, but later upgrading is OK. I see also the VANCO brake upgrade and a Crane Diffcover in the future.

I think I´ll keep my 4.56 ratio so I can still use the jeep on the german autobahn.

 

[AZXJ]

Since you will reuse your stock D30 knuckles on the Rubi D44 housing you can run the alloy USA 30 spline stubs and Unit bearings. Throw in some Alloy super joints and you will have a fairly stout setup for up to 37in tires..


Dave

 

[XJMarty]

I was thinking about he rubi front too, but according to our situation here in europe, I still doubt it is a wise idea. The chances you will bent the housing are still relativelly high, with 35s and agressive driving. When I bent my D30, I can change the housing in a week for a few bucks. If you bent a 44 you will scratch your head and the replacement will be much more difficult and expensive ...

 

[jragan]

My understanding is the ujoints are the same size. I might be wrong on this however am pretty sure. As far as I am concerned this is going to be the breaking\weak point of the axle. So where is the benefit except for the fact you can say you have a d44 in the front?

 

[Kejtar]

TJ's didnt come with a D44 only the Rubicon's.

isn't Rubi a variation of a TJ? Like there is also X, Sport, Sahara, SE and so on...

 

[CartsXJ]

Was the HP44 an option in Europe as it was in South America?

What I would do is, pick up the Rubicon D44, truss it with a TNT or custom truss. Find a wrecked WJ and get the knuckles and steering, call up JKS and get their conversion parts, get a set of Ford Sporttrac rotors and bolt it in with your choice of gears and lockers. This would get you a D44 gears, 30 spline inners, cross-over steering and bigger brakes.

 

[CartsXJ]

repeat

 

[ROBZ95Xj]

dont bother with the 30 spline upgrade on the 30, just get a set of alloy shafts

 

[xj92]

If you're going with a LP axle anyways, why not just get a waggy front and weld the brackets on? Much much cheaper I would think.

 

[corbinafly]

I still don't understand why anyone would want to replace a high pinion d30 with a low pinion d44 out of a tj. For up to 35s or so, if you run chromoly shafts and ctms in the d30 with a heavy/stiff diff cover you're probably just as strong if not stronger than a low pinion tj d44 setup similarly since the ring/pinion will probably be the weak point. And you loose ground clearance and drive shaft clearance. If you wheel hard enough, you're gonna be changing a lot of ujoints straps/ubolts at that low pinion from grinding on rocks.

Just my $.02.

 

[Ray H]

I still don't understand why anyone would want to replace a high pinion d30 with a low pinion d44 out of a tj. For up to 35s or so, if you run chromoly shafts and ctms in the d30 with a heavy/stiff diff cover you're probably just as strong if not stronger than a low pinion tj d44 setup similarly since the ring/pinion will probably be the weak point. And you loose ground clearance and drive shaft clearance. If you wheel hard enough, you're gonna be changing a lot of ujoints straps/ubolts at that low pinion from grinding on rocks.

Just my $.02.

Gearing would be the only reason I would do it. If I wanted to run anything deeper than 4.56s, I would think a 4.88 LP D44 R&P would have a substantial strength advantage over a 4.88 HP D30. The R&P is the only thing about a D30 that cant be upgraded to the same strength as a D44.
I know, the HP is stronger than a LP, but when you get into the lower gearing (such as 4.56 & 4.88s) I think the D30 loses much of that strength.

 

[Hawk]

4340 shafts in the 30 is what I plan on doing. For the money I've spent on my 30, I could have a 44 in it with almost all the same stuff, but if I break a 44 shaft, it's a little harder to find a new one than a set of 30 shafts. Also the reason I won't go with the 30 spline D30 kit. It may be stronger, but it's harder to find replacement parts.

 

[Hawk]

and I'm only on 33x13.5 rubber. But ARB front and Ected rear.

 

[mustangconv85]

for anyone that is looking for a rubi dana 44 here you go http://www.ok4wd.com/index.php/catalog/product/rock_equipment_dana_44_front_housing_for_jeeps/

 

[Kejtar]

for anyone that is looking for a rubi dana 44 here you go http://www.ok4wd.com/index.php/catalog/product/rock_equipment_dana_44_front_housing_for_jeeps/

that's a lot of money for an empty housing with D30 outers.....

 

[corbinafly]

that's a lot of money for an empty housing with D30 outers.....

x2