Front DANA 44 off a Rubicon TJ

[BobCSmith]

I've been told a front DANA 44 housing off a Rubicon TJ is an exact match to the XJ, and all mounting hardware is the same, is this true?
Can the brakes, hubs, etc. be switched over easliy? So I can keep the same 5-4.5 bolt pattern?

 

[Georgia Mike]

A TJ axle will in fact bolt up to the XJ without a hitch. That being said,that TJ 44 isn't all that it's cracked up to be. It's sort of a hybrid axle. Parts of the 44 and parts of a 30. It uses the 30's knuckles and hub bearing setup,the 44's center section,and 297 axle shafts. Take that info for what it's worth to you,but I personally wouldn't pay through the nose for one. And one other thing,you will need some sort of air supply with a ridiculously low PSI pressure regulator. I think the air locker in those operate @ around 10-15 PSI(I could be wrong about that,but I read specs on it and the PSI values they gave were pretty low).

 

[dennisuello]

Rubi 44 has Dana 30 knuckles and 5x4.5 pattern already. The only difference between low pinion Dana 30 and Rubi 44 is the center section.

 

[Georgia Mike]

Plus it's a low pinion 44 :laugh: Jeep had a good idea,they just dropped the ball on the details

 

[BobCSmith]

Plus it's a low pinion 44 :laugh: Jeep had a good idea,they just dropped the ball on the details

I'm not looking at the lockers/gears etc. just the housing or housing and axles.
I can get a new housing for about $450.
Innner Outer axels (L&R) for about $250

We were changing gears & installing a new locker in our 30 anyway.

Would it then be an ok investment?

 

[Dazz]

I'm not looking at the lockers/gears etc. just the housing or housing and axles.
I can get a new housing for about $450.
Innner Outer axels (L&R) for about $250

We were changing gears & installing a new locker in our 30 anyway.

Would it then be an ok investment?

If you're going to spend all that time& money on the TJ D44, why not locate a used Ford HP or 80's Waggy LP front 44 instead.

 

[BobCSmith]

If you're going to spend all that time& money on the TJ D44, why not locate a used Ford HP or 80's Waggy LP front 44 instead.

I can't explain why right now but if we are going to do this, we need to do this rather quickly (completed in less than 25 days) with as little time as possible searching for axles and modifications the DANA 44. Thats why, since it seemed like it would everthing would be a direct bolt on, this would be the best alternative at this time to move this Cherokee up to a DANA 44 instead of upgrading the existing DANA 30. Gears, locker, and labor is being given to us.

 

[CRASH]

It all bolts in. The calipers and rotors may be different between the 30 and the 44, depending on the vintage of the 30 in question.

CRASH

 

[XJJPR]

Crash is right there as others. Just realize that the low pinion is going to create problems if the jeep is lifted much over 2". Front drive line angle is going to suck so be prepared to spend 800 or so on hubs for street driving and banging the DS on all the rocks on the trial.

mark

 

[GPRSDLYT]

is the tj44 30 or 27 spline? i would assume 30 but with the hybrid stuff i hear, makes me wonder.

 

[XJJPR]

is the tj44 30 or 27 spline? i would assume 30 but with the hybrid stuff i hear, makes me wonder.

30 spline

 

[BobCSmith]

I know it's not the perfect solution as compared to jumping up to a true DANA 44, would a better option just be to beef up the orginal DANA 30 axel.
This is a 91' XJ

 

[sintax]

Dont the D44 rubicon axles use some sort of special Ring and Pinion gear as well? It honestly does seem like a lot of work + money for a glorified D30 axle.

-Scott

 

[BillR]

I don't think a Rubie 44 is much of an upgrade at all over a HP Dana 30. The R&P is not the weak point. You still have the same hubs, axle tubes, u-joints, and knuckles as a Dana 30 AND you have a LP axle. The HP Dana 30 I swapped in was a HUGE help in the vibration area. I don't think I'd go back to a LP axle with a 5"-6" lift.
It's not worth the trouble, IMO.
Now if we're talking about a narrowed Ford 44, THAT'S an upgrade! Thick tubes, potential for high-steer, manual hubs and HP all in one.

 

[XJJPR]

What locker are you installing?

If it is an ARB you might want to look at the 30/30 ARB. Gives you 30 spline ales for your Dana 30. I've been running it and works great! I like the added ground clearance of the 30 and you using all you stock parts for everything else. Axles are then upgraded so no need for 44 stuff.

mark

 

[BobCSmith]

Detroit Truetrac if it's a 30, Electrac if we went to 44

 

[vintagespeed]

The h/p D30 is probably just as strong as the l/p D44 and with Warn inners/stubs & a good hub conversion on the D30 it'll cost you less and building the Rubi 44 and you'll have as strong an axle with better clearance and h/p. What was the question again?