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zj rear ?
- Thread starter xray
- Start date
CW
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
should be close enough on the width, but the aluminum d44 is crap so I wouldn't do it.
RCP Phx
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Phoenix,Az
It still has to be modified for the axle flange,I have yet to finish mine but its right on top of the list for my Cheromanche completion!
sweetjeep
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Massachusetts
RCP Phx said:
Yeah, you can drop it right in once you change the spring perches (maybe the shock mount, but I don't know).
But more to the point, RCP: What's your Cheromanche? Real or fake?
Big Red
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Roscoe, IL 61073
Spend the time on dropping in a 95'+ explorer 8.8 in there and then you'll have something, plus the nice disc brakes.
Troy
Troy
- Location
- Port Orchard, WA
http://www.jedi.com/obiwan/jeep/ford88.html great write up on an 8.8 install in a YJ, which is the same for an XJ, because Ben did an SOA at the same time...
RCP Phx
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Phoenix,Az
sweetjeep said:
Im not exactly sure what your asking,but Im doing the truck type conversion to my 95 2dr!Heres a pic of a 4dr!
aluminum zj rear ?
I have heard several times that the ZJ rear is crap. My question is why? It is aluminum, great for weight savings right? Of course aluminum would be weaker, but they put 5.9 v-8s with 345 ft-lbs of torque in zjs, so it can't be that bad. what kind of strength are we looking at compared to the dana 35? also, how does this rear end affect locking differential choice? we couldn't just put a detroit in there?
on that note, Four Wheeler just published an axle strength article. The torque input rating for the 31 spline 8.8 was rated nearly twice that of the dana 35. some people already knew that i'm sure, but to see it in numbers makes an impression for some reason.
I have heard several times that the ZJ rear is crap. My question is why? It is aluminum, great for weight savings right? Of course aluminum would be weaker, but they put 5.9 v-8s with 345 ft-lbs of torque in zjs, so it can't be that bad. what kind of strength are we looking at compared to the dana 35? also, how does this rear end affect locking differential choice? we couldn't just put a detroit in there?
on that note, Four Wheeler just published an axle strength article. The torque input rating for the 31 spline 8.8 was rated nearly twice that of the dana 35. some people already knew that i'm sure, but to see it in numbers makes an impression for some reason.
sweetjeep
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Massachusetts
Re: aluminum zj rear ?
Good question Papa. I don't know the answer either. All I know is that when you look for aftermarket parts for the aluminum Dana 44 you are SOL. Few gearing choices and fewer lockers. I suspect there are casting changes due to the aluminum. But you're right, you'd think it would be a better choice.
Good question Papa. I don't know the answer either. All I know is that when you look for aftermarket parts for the aluminum Dana 44 you are SOL. Few gearing choices and fewer lockers. I suspect there are casting changes due to the aluminum. But you're right, you'd think it would be a better choice.
markdupont
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- North Easton, MA
Re: aluminum zj rear ?
Welcome to the ZJ world… I’ve been wheeling my aluminum 44 for several years without incident however, there are some down sides to the 44… A) other then Track-Loc, there are no lockers available (Aussie Locker under development) B) Aluminum is soft therefore, keeping sufficient amounts of metal under the pumpkin is a problem… this leads to the cover peeling back and allowing juice to spill as well as the machined threads stretching… the upside is weight savings when adding larger tires & steelies and aftermarket bumpers & winches.
To be honest, I get by very well with a Lock-Right in the front 30 and Track-Loc in the rear and have no desire to swap in an 8.8 or 9 until the aluminum 44 grenades…
PapaPump said:
Welcome to the ZJ world… I’ve been wheeling my aluminum 44 for several years without incident however, there are some down sides to the 44… A) other then Track-Loc, there are no lockers available (Aussie Locker under development) B) Aluminum is soft therefore, keeping sufficient amounts of metal under the pumpkin is a problem… this leads to the cover peeling back and allowing juice to spill as well as the machined threads stretching… the upside is weight savings when adding larger tires & steelies and aftermarket bumpers & winches.
To be honest, I get by very well with a Lock-Right in the front 30 and Track-Loc in the rear and have no desire to swap in an 8.8 or 9 until the aluminum 44 grenades…
crazyoffroader
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Seattle, WA
not all zj d44's are aluminum. a buddy of mine has a disc d44 out of a '94 Limited. They're out there, but theyre not cheap, I found one at a local junk yard (cast iron, disc) for $350 without rotors or calipers.
markdupont
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- North Easton, MA
crazyoffroader said:
hum, this is a first... after all these years I thought the only iron rear was a 35, cool, time to hit the Want Adverstier for throw-aways!
CW
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
I have never heard of a cast d44 in a zj. Are you sure it's not a d35 with disks? I know those were made.
crazyoffroader
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Seattle, WA
I'm almost positive that it's a D44, but I'll have to check tonight.
Ronbo
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- San Marcos, CA
Re: aluminum zj rear ?
I've heard a few that howl like mad, ear-ringing loud in the back seat, but never seen one grenade. Not sure what is attributable to the 'aluminum' construction. I've never seen one apart.
A friend had his AL44 completely rebuilt under warrantee at 30k, still made some noise. Chrysler replaced the entire axle, two years later and this one is doing the same thing.
Might work fine for a buggy if you skid plate/truss it a little ??
PapaPump said:
I've heard a few that howl like mad, ear-ringing loud in the back seat, but never seen one grenade. Not sure what is attributable to the 'aluminum' construction. I've never seen one apart.
A friend had his AL44 completely rebuilt under warrantee at 30k, still made some noise. Chrysler replaced the entire axle, two years later and this one is doing the same thing.
Might work fine for a buggy if you skid plate/truss it a little ??
CW
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
They are used on the Vipers also. It is not so much a strength issue as it is a reliability issue along with the fact that gears and lockers are hard to come by. The trash-lock doesn't take abuse very well and the housing is weeker than a typical d44.
JohnnysXJ
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Fort Collins CO
I agree on the Ford 8.8....its much stronger....the aluminum case on the ZJ D44 will not take ANY trail abuse for long....the case will crack, as well as the cover peeling (this I saw being hauled out of the Roosevelt Natl Forest the hardway)
crazyoffroader
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Seattle, WA
Just checked, it IS a Cast Iron D44, with disc brakes, and that these came in (at least) the '93-'98 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited with a 5.2. It may have come in other models/years/options, but these are the ones that I know about for a fact.crazyoffroader said:
