the ultamate front axle??

[cal]

field testes?

 

[Goatman]

ok I see now. I have a question could you have just unlocked both sides and shifted to 2wd to get home? Or was the deformation so bad it effected the bearings?

One time I unlocked the hub and drove out in 3 wheel drive, this was on the Rubicon. The other time the spindle expanded and broke the hub nut, so it had to be fixed.



As far as why bother getting a D44? I got a D44 when I was running 33's and went to 35's. I didn't think I would go to 37's, we all know how that goes. The real pisser is that I had a front Ford D60 that I wanted to use, but it was so big and heavy, and looked hard to make it fit, and I still wanted to go fast, so I sold it and spent the money on chromo shafts and CTM's for the D44. While running 35's I never broke it, but when I went to 37's I've broken it more than I ever broke my original D30.

 

[vintagespeed]

Too bad it hasn't been field tested

Yeah, i agree. Too bad you can't buy disc brake conversion kits for Volvo portals at 4WP....

Custom does take time, as does good work. :laugh3:

 

[vetteboy]

As usual, I agree. The "ultimate front axle" changes with the ebb & flow of your favorite group of wheelers. This idea is influenced as much by imagination as geographic location.

Isn't it funny how this works?

I was just discussing this same thing with some of my co-wheelers the other day. It's almost like we're a "class" of sorts that all graduate together. We all started out about 4 years ago on 30/31" tires, 3" lift, then went up to 33s and 35s but still mostly stock hardware, started breaking more stuff, upgrading, wanting to run harder trails...now nearly everyone that I started wheelin with is on 37s or bigger, or has plans to be soon.

This board is funny, I've found. It seems like there's a tidal ebb and flow of D44 recommendations here. There are threads when someone will ask about a D44 and get jumped on cuz it's a stupid idea, and there are threads where everyone's all for it. Personally, I think FarmerMatt summed it up pretty good, in saying that it's an axle that falls into a big gray area. It's not beefy enough for big hardcore stuff, it's too much for 33's or less, and in the range that's left, there's mixed results as to how long it'll last, even with upgraded hardware. Sure, it'll "last" if you're "careful", if you "don't get stupid with it", if you "run light tires"...but I don't find that fun. An internal mental governor that says "hey, don't go above 2500 rpm on this obstacle or you'll blow up, better take it easy" really ruins my experience, much like a broken shaft does.

So I've got my front 60, which totally defies the entire concept of weight reduction, but is also a small fortress of axledom:

and it'll do what I want it to do for now. If I decide later on that the weight is really that much of a detriment, and is really what's holding me back from having the rig perform the way I want it to, then maybe I'll spring for a 609 or something.

Which, while I'm thinking about it...I've only blown up two ring & pinion sets in my life, both 3.55 ratio in ford 9" rears. YMMV.

 

[cracker]

Custom does take time, as does good work. :laugh3:

With that logic, Sintax's rig should be the perfect rig, if it ever gets done :laugh:

 

[GSequoia]

...take time, as does good work.

So your rig should be done in a couple days.

:illegalflipoffsmilie:

 

[vintagespeed]

With that logic, Sintax's rig should be the perfect rig, if it ever gets done :laugh:

someone needs a Midol today.

Scott's rig has been "done" for well over a year (as far as my involvement goes) and is sitting in his driveway. We just installed the front ARB he bought a few weeks ago, so that's progress. I think he finished up his brakes 100% so all he's gotta do is rebuild his spindles and the front will be done. He still needs to install the new rear pig tho.

It's called "priorities" mang, some of us have more to deal with in life than just being the "most improved" web wheeler on Naxja.

 

[vintagespeed]

So your rig should be done in a couple days.

:illegalflipoffsmilie:

It would've been done a couple months ago if the laser cutter had done what the laser cutter was hired to do.

So I guess that's a "maybe"? But only if the laser cutter finds the caliper brackets I ordered back in September, sends me the 4ea I ordered instead of 2ea, and ships them to me next day air??

It is the season for miracles.

-jb

 

[cracker]

I wasn't implying your involvement on Scotts rig, just the fact it is takin a while

It's called "priorities" mang, some of us have more to deal with in life than just being the "most improved" web wheeler on Naxja.

I think you need to be a member to get that title

:illegalflipoffsmilie:

 

[GSequoia]

for all around use ( West coast dunes and rocks ) for the money that is???

is it the venerable HP D60 ( king pin or otherwise )
or the HP D44 ( strength is not always the first priority )
the HP D30 ( we have it, it works )
the latest wave of custom 609's ( alot of money for what gains?? )
the 44/9 setups ( dont really know much on them )
the 44/60 combos
or the bad talked but in expensive HP D50 from the F250
or the newer dodge LP D60 ( easy and cheap to find )
how about the rare and massively strong Corp 14 bolt front axle?
what about a totally custom housing of my own design with D60 outers
or a 14 bolt with 60 outers ?? you get the picture......

throwing these Q's out before i start throwing money to the four winds, those of you that know me know i will save on fab work since i do all of my own and dont need to buy brackets or pay for re-tubeing ect...


let the debate begin

P.S. i live to build the ultimate axle that will be Budget Built and Bullet Proof and i want your honest opinions, not what billy said if you get my meaning, your thoughts and reasoning.

Thanks

You need a welded TTB Dana 28 Troy. Weld the beams up to be a poor mans portal.

Use the UNBREAKABLE Ford automatic locking hubs for extra luxury.

 

[Mr.OverKill]

I hope the 44 isn't a bad route to go, I'm about to put one in, I'm tired of the 30 breakin on 33's.

I can't justify re-gearing the 30

gears and install kit $200
Installation ...........$300
New Unit Bearings ..$200
Truss ...................$150

grand total $800

Versus a D44
Axle.....................200
Gears and kit.........200
Truss/bracet kit.....350
Brakes...................90
mini spool...............60
tubes...................100
hubs....................200
Axles....................300
install...................200 (gear guy charges less if you bring bare axle)
Bearings.................30
ball joints..............100

grand total...........1830



Oh holy crap I hadn't added it all up before, i don't have an extra 1000 dollars.

Damnit to hell I am tired of this crappy 30 and it looks like I'm stuck with it.

Anyone want a HP d-44 de-tubed diff?

send it to me, i can use it. but first what do you want for it??

 

[wrecked]

I think I missed what size tire you were running?

About every other trip I see a guy with a knuckle hanging off a D44 because the balljoints let go after a sidehill stop with 38s or so. Kinda makes me laugh now. Then there's the guy I helped fix a few months ago who broke a spindle off his 44...running 38" SXs I think.

With the amount of money you just described, having stupid un-upgradeable things break like I just mentioned has got to be a pain in the ass. Really makes me wonder why you wouldn't just go with a 60 the first time around, and lose all the weak links of a D44 in the process with stock hardware and easy-to-find parts.

I haven;t totally decided yet. I know that I can run most the trails in my area on a 35. But there's always that part of me that wants to run the 38.5 SX's for when I run other places too. Reading through this thread it makes me want to trade out the axle for a 60, but then in real life situations in my area I find that the 44 should be good enough. I suppose I could keep searching craigslist until I find a good 60 for a fair price and then decide which to do.

-Kevin

 

[vetteboy]

It's a bitch, ain't it?

I was on 33s forever and then I started going down some new stuff with guys in the 37-40 range, and it just went downhill from there when I found a local deal on my 39.5s w/beadlock wheels.

I have a little philosophy when it comes to this stuff:

Cheap, big, reliable. Pick two.

It's an expensive game with absolutely no monetary return on your investment any way you look at it. I've stopped keeping receipts, I've given up trying to figure out how much I have in this stupid thing. I don't even know why I get such a pleasure out of running the trails and terrain that I'm going for. All I know is I'm building this vehicle to be able to do what I want to do, and if a gigantic D60 is what it takes, well, I guess I've got that covered at least.

 

[cal]

You mean I can't sell my XJ on ebay and get my money back plus compensation for my time?

*cry*

There goes my retirement plan.

 

[xDUMPTRUCKx]

It's a bitch, ain't it?

I was on 33s forever and then I started going down some new stuff with guys in the 37-40 range, and it just went downhill from there when I found a local deal on my 39.5s w/beadlock wheels.

I have a little philosophy when it comes to this stuff:

Cheap, big, reliable. Pick two.

It's an expensive game with absolutely no monetary return on your investment any way you look at it. I've stopped keeping receipts, I've given up trying to figure out how much I have in this stupid thing. I don't even know why I get such a pleasure out of running the trails and terrain that I'm going for. All I know is I'm building this vehicle to be able to do what I want to do, and if a gigantic D60 is what it takes, well, I guess I've got that covered at least.

i ruined the begining stages off wheeling for myself by reading too much naxja.


i didnt touch a trail till i had 36s and was locked front and rear.....the only thing i ever broke on the 30 was a ring and pinion and it was my fault cause i didnt install something right.....

 

[Goatman]

i ruined the begining stages off wheeling for myself by reading too much naxja.


i didnt touch a trail till i had 36s and was locked front and rear.....the only thing i ever broke on the 30 was a ring and pinion and it was my fault cause i didnt install something right.....

Everybody should wheel stock, that's how we learn to drive and pick lines..........and it's too much fun seeing where you can take your stock rig.

I've had fun on every trail I've run, no matter what stage of build up my rig was on. Building them bigger is more about keeping up with your friends than it is about having fun.

 

[vetteboy]

Everybody should wheel stock, that's how we learn to drive and pick lines..........and it's too much fun seeing where you can take your stock rig.

I've had fun on every trail I've run, no matter what stage of build up my rig was on. Building them bigger is more about keeping up with your friends than it is about having fun.

Totally.

Mine was 2wd only when stock. I still took it out and did stuff, like puddle jumping and driving over curbs.

I've had nothing but good times with the thing since I've owned it. It's a combination of friendship, experiences, campfires, stories, and the nice feeling of knowing that you just drove over something stupid and did it with style and panache (or in some cases, brute force and determination).

So I guess the answer to the original question, is that the ultimate axle is the one that causes the least resistance to having those good times.

 

[xDUMPTRUCKx]

well i did "wheel" my old 1st car an 86 xj with the 2.5 and a 4 speed....

it got more airtime than the channel 2 news team.

 

[88rockxj]

question for the d44 guys breaking hubs

8 lug or 5 ? i herd the 5 lug external locking hubs flex more then the 8 lug which is inside the rotor causing more breakage?

 

[vintagespeed]

question for the d44 guys breaking hubs

8 lug or 5 ? i herd the 5 lug external locking hubs flex more then the 8 lug which is inside the rotor causing more breakage?

I can't say whether this is true or not. I do know that the spindles & knuckles on a 3/4T D44 are much larger than the 1/2T stuff.