my D44 update

[Rob D]

Finally got a little more done on my 44 frontend.
Got the coil buckets welded onto it and got the tie rod welded up.

Also got one end of the drag link done, but will wait until I put the axle under the jeep to finish it so I make sure I get the length right.

I'm still trying to figure out my sway bar links/reinforceing tab placement. If I set the link mounts the way they look to go, then the reinforcing tab would have to go right thru the coils. It aint gonna work like that! I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get to it (after the axle is under the jeep).

 

[JOSEJALAPENO]

Lookin great Rob! I cant wait to see it under the rig!

 

[CRASH]

Potentially helpful suggestion: depending how tall your front is, with that stepped-up passenger side high steer arm, your drag link may contact your oil pan. Mine has 1/4" clearance at full bump, and I have flat high steer arms. I run a 12" short body bilstein and it also has 1/4" shaft showing at fll bump.

 

[Rob D]

Potentially helpful suggestion: depending how tall your front is, with that stepped-up passenger side high steer arm, your drag link may contact your oil pan. Mine has 1/4" clearance at full bump, and I have flat high steer arms. I run a 12" short body bilstein and it also has 1/4" shaft showing at fll bump.

Thanks for the tip. I run a lot of bump stop to keep the tires out of my stock (slightly trimmed) flairs. But, yeah, that is something I'll be looking closely at when I get it under the jeep.

 

[Rob D]

Finally got this axle put under my XJ. As of right now almost everything is hooked up except the shocks and the sway bar. Plus I still have to bleed the brakes. The new axle is 1.25" wider per side than the d30 but my tires still manage to just touch the lca when turned to the stops. Better than the d30 that hit short of the stops. I did a full cycle of the suspension before installing the springs and didn't find any issues between the new steering or track bar locations. I'm gettin antsy to get it done and give it a test drive to see how it will handle. I will still need to have my front drive shaft cut down before I'll have 4 wheel drive again. But it's gettin closer. :yelclap:

 

[blondejoncherokee]

that thing is sick.

 

[XJensen]

Good to hear Rob. Its got to feel good to be this close on a long project

 

[Rob D]

A couple of pic's of the mostly completed project. As of now the only issues I have are the camber on the left side is off 2 degrees. I'll need to get an offset ball joint so I don't wear out my new tires too quickly. And the brake pedal has a lot of travel before it starts to stop the jeep. Once you push far enough it stops okay. So, I haven't decided if it's just because the chevy calipers have such large pistons compared to the jeep calipers, or if I need a lot more bleeding.

The old out and the new, well at least sorta in...

Finally in place and setting on the tires.

Drag link and track bar line up well. Can't even see the track bar behind the drag link.

My daily driver, and it still fits in my garage...barely.

 

[Rob D]

Got the parts on order thru NAPA to fix the chamber issue, a 1 degree insert for the ball joint and a 1 degree shim for the spindle. That should put me exactly the same as the right side, which will be about .3 degrees like this / \ . Lets hope it works out as well in practice as it does in therory.

 

[JOSEJALAPENO]

I cant wait to see this Rob. She changed so much from last time i saw the rig.