axle suggestion

[in4aride]

my next project is going to be some axles....
i am very content with 35's...everything is a blast and fun
not sure if i should just build axles capable of 35's locked ...
or sy screw it and biuld some that can handle 37's locked...

like everyone else..i will be budgeted...
so opinions on which way to go would be nice and suggested axles/parts would be great...i read the axle guide in mod tech... but wanted your opinions.....


thanks

[JEONLYEP]

I love my HP Dana 44 and Ford 9 inch combo. I got the axles cheap.... But building them wasn't cheap. Then again, I had to redo everything from the brakes seals and bearings both front and rear. (which is why the housing were cheap)

Anyway. I've beat on my set up pretty hard with 35's. After I got Cromoly's and superjoints I've had no problems. I'm not sure (yet) how they'll hold up to 37s.

[Jawa]

Well, if you're budgeted I'd think you don't want to head down the path of building axles that can handle 37s. My understanding is that you could handle your 35s locked up on your stock axles if you beef 'em up a bit. That'd be your most budget friendly option.

Heck, I'm just swapping D44s under my rig and I'm looking at big $$$. For all the money I've already put into those D44s already I could've really built up my stock axles. :dunno:

[Hypoid]

Meh! Run what ya got and bide your time. There are always axles popping up on CL and various boards.

http://denver.craigslist.org/pts/1051806765.html ;)

The whole time Kittrell was building his D-44, he was driving around on a (gasp!) stock axle with (I think) 4.10s. He couldn't use 4 wheel drive, but he could drive to work.

FWIW, In my junkyard escapades, I have seen more Grand Cherokees with rear disc brakes than I have seen XJs with rear D-44s. So I guess this is a vote for the 8.25".

[Kiefer316]

Meh! Run what ya got and bide your time. There are always axles popping up on CL and various boards.

http://denver.craigslist.org/pts/1051806765.html ;)

The whole time Kittrell was building his D-44, he was driving around on a (gasp!) stock axle with (I think) 4.10s. He couldn't use 4 wheel drive, but he could drive to work.

FWIW, In my junkyard escapades, I have seen more Grand Cherokees with rear disc brakes than I have seen XJs with rear D-44s. So I guess this is a vote for the 8.25".


WOW what a time to post up his old axles haha!!!

I would say stick with the 30 and go 8.8! gear them both and be good! maybe put a locker in each but thats up to you thats what i plan on doing until i can save alot of money to get a 44/9 combo!

[in4aride]

hahaha my old axles on CL...

[Jawa]

Oh!!! I noticed the orange axle but didn't put two and two together... :doh: You had a 14 bolt?

[in4aride]

ya...i did....little does she know the carrier and all is blown apart....but hey whatever...

[Led]

keep the 30 up front and put a 8.8 or a 44 in the rear. ran that set up(alloyed) in truggy for 3 years or so on 37s you start building bigger axles it gets real expensive real quick. a 44 front stock is no stronger than a 30. lock them then alloy than joints

[in4aride]

it did good locked with the 37's?

[YELLAHEEP]

keep the 30 up front and put a 8.8 or a 44 in the rear. ran that set up(alloyed) in truggy for 3 years or so on 37s you start building bigger axles it gets real expensive real quick. a 44 front stock is no stronger than a 30. lock them then alloy than joints

X2. The only benefit to running a front 44 is the larger gear set over a D30.

Other than that, I'd wheeled on D30/D44 combo with 35's and locked front/rear for years. Broke a couple of front D30 297 shafts but it's actually nice to have a "fuse" that's as easy to repair/replace as those are - keeps your gears/locker fairly well protected from damage when the shafts let go first. Keeping a spare set of shafts with the unit bearings on 'em in your rig makes trail repairs of the D30 about a 15 minute deal.

[Jawa]

My guess is that the truggy's light weight is what allowed it to run 37s on a D30 - that and the alloy shafts. Led - even with alloys and CTMs/Longfields/etc. you wouldn't suggest running 37s on a D30, would you? Just curious, 'cause I've seen plenty of "35s is the max you can do for a D30" threads. Heck, there are plenty of people who say you can't go bigger than 35s on a D44. :dunno:

[in4aride]

hmm well looks like ill be makin a trip to the junkyard soon for an 8.8 then...
would a 29 spline 8.25 with alloys locked hold up to 37's or no way?

i like my 35's...but if i can.why not go to37's?...any downside?

[Stang5lgt]

I have 80 F250 back in Iowa with 39s and Dana 44 up front and Dana 60 rear. Never had problem all the years I wheeled it. I have seen people run 37s with Dana 30. I would not be scared.

[in4aride]

i think with enough money dumped int things you can do whatever you want...
hmmm.....
well looks like my list for thing to do to jeepy just got wuite a bit longer...sigh.....crap.....time for second job lol...

[YELLAHEEP]

8.25's aren't bad in the 29 spline version but the biggest complaint is the size of the diff housing and that dammed enormous casting flange at the diff cover that grabs everything....... D44's and IIRC the 8.8's have a smooth belly housing.

Personally, I think 37's are just too big for a full bodied XJ. You end up either having to put too much lift on to clear the tires/suspension flex, or cut so deep into the body to clear the tires that you end up doing a ton of welding/fabbing. 37's just don't work well on rigs that you have to drive daily either - noisy, heavy, hard to balance. It would suck to have to drive the Truggy every day.

[in4aride]

It would suck to have to drive the Truggy every day.
ha maybe to you! i would love to drive that thing...
im used to my DD being a streetbike in 110+ vegas weather...i can do uncomfortable...
but i do se what your saying...there would be a lot of trimming to do....
but are 35's large enough for trails like carnage/indy?

[Jawa]

X2. The only benefit to running a front 44 is the larger gear set over a D30.


...and 30 spline inners, selectable hubs, ability to upgrade to 33 or 35 spline shafts, more aftermarket options...

I guess I just feel the need to justify the waggy D44 sititng in my garage. :laugh3: :D

[JEONLYEP]

I think that Troy and maybe LED (I know BOB could, but he's not around here much) can tell you about a red XJ on 33s going up Carnage........ But that was a few years back. The trail may have changed some.......

[YELLAHEEP]

I think that Troy and maybe LED (I know BOB could, but he's not around here much) can tell you about a red XJ on 33s going up Carnage........ But that was a few years back. The trail may have changed some.......

LOL! Yeah, more like dragged, pushed, pulled up Carnage........ He was running an 8.25 then too...... I can still hear all the hollering "DIFF!!!" "Yep, you're on your diff again!" "Back up! Diff again!"........ :D

[in4aride]

hahaha sounds like a hirrible experience!
but is 35's locked F/R enough to manage those trails?

[xj-grin]

keep the 30 up front and put a 8.8 or a 44 in the rear. ran that set up(alloyed) in truggy for 3 years or so on 37s you start building bigger axles it gets real expensive real quick. a 44 front stock is no stronger than a 30. lock them then alloy than joints

werd. lock what you got, learn to drive with less skinny pedal, and upgrade as it breaks. Gives you time to save up for your goodies and have fun while you save.

[in4aride]

hahaha ya gettin off of that skinny pedal has ben hard but im gettin there....
thinkin about lincoln lockin the 8.25 til i build an 8.8
no point in building something im not gonna keep


ps you said werd....that made me laugh

[YELLAHEEP]

thinkin about lincoln lockin the 8.25 til i build an 8.8
no point in building something im not gonna keep



Do it. Look at the way Dutch did his a while back, that seemed to work pretty good for him.

[xj-grin]

hahaha ya gettin off of that skinny pedal has ben hard but im gettin there....
thinkin about lincoln lockin the 8.25 til i build an 8.8
no point in building something im not gonna keep


ps you said werd....that made me laugh

I'm old, I say "werd" and remember when there was no chance of flav being on VH1. :gag: I would say not to lincoln a daily cause it will eat tires, but I don't think you're that worried about rubber... It does blow on ice though.

[in4aride]

ya the tires im not worried about...ill just poke my sidewalls and get new one for free :) and i had dutch's old 8 and a quarter that was locked...it wasnt too bad on ice just have to be smart about the driving conditions...

[YELLAHEEP]

i had dutch's old 8 and a quarter that was locked....


Yeah! I thought you did...... WTH happened with it? It isn't the orange one in the ad is it? Go repo it......... :D

[ColoradoRaptor]

is 35's locked F/R enough to manage those trails?

YES!!

[ColoradoRaptor]

keep the 30 up front and put a 8.8 or a 44 in the rear. ran that set up(alloyed) in truggy for 3 years or so on 37s you start building bigger axles it gets real expensive real quick. a 44 front stock is no stronger than a 30. lock them then alloy than joints

X4!!

[Stang5lgt]

...and 30 spline inners, selectable hubs, ability to upgrade to 33 or 35 spline shafts, more aftermarket options...

I guess I just feel the need to justify the waggy D44 sititng in my garage. :laugh3: :D
If you wanna be cheap you can take the outer knuckles from a 44 and weld them to Dana 30 tubes. And use the D44 stub shafts.
Or you can get this.
http://extremeaxlesales.com/jeepheavydutyflattopdana3044rubiconknucklesright.a spx
Or get the Warn hub kit.
Or just upgrade to alloy shafts.
Options for the D30 HP are endless. That is why I decided to stick with mine.
And I would take a HP 30 over a LP 44 any day.
The rear is where it is at. If you would had rear locker on Moab hill you would have kicked its a$$. And if I would have had transmission bolt I would have too. :gee:

[ColoradoRaptor]

And if I would have had transmission bolt I would have too. :gee: :huh:

[in4aride]

i blew out the welds on the 27 slpine...didnt know ow to install carrier....so now i have a welded up like crazy 29 sline carrier and extra shafts...but i think imma just weld up the 29 spline i have in now and keep my extra shafts with me

[Rockken]

I'm old, I say "werd" and remember when there was no chance of flav being on VH1. :gag: I would say not to lincoln a daily cause it will eat tires, but I don't think you're that worried about rubber... It does blow on ice though.

I love driving my dodge truck, which has a Detroit in the rear, on snow and ice. It's a lot of fun, you just have to get used to it. It actually runs straight as an arrow on straight aways spinning the tires in two wheel drive. With the posi, I used to have the fish tailing problem spinning the tires on straight aways in two wheel drive.

[xj-grin]

I love driving my dodge truck, which has a Detroit in the rear, on snow and ice. It's a lot of fun, you just have to get used to it. It actually runs straight as an arrow on straight aways spinning the tires in two wheel drive. With the posi, I used to have the fish tailing problem spinning the tires on straight aways in two wheel drive.

Oh, I agree - I love my auto-locked rear in the snow too. That isn't the same as a spool though (i.e. lincoln locked), as both your detroit and my aussie unlock under non-torque conditions and around corners.... Mike seems not to mind the chirping or sliding though, and his tires are cheap for him to replace, so more power to the cheap lincoln-locker!

[Caged94XJ]

in4aride here is my .02... I just finished building my 44/9 combo on 35s and it will fit 37s. First listen to Led, Troy and the guys that have been there done that. I have seen some guys get there junk through stuff a bigger built rig had a hard time with. It really comes down to knowing your rig and learning to drive. If you do an 8.8 in the rear and build up your front 30 and learn to drive YOUR rig you should have no issues on 35s. Troy is right about the full bodied XJ, you want big tires under them you need to cut or bump stop in a big way. Led has run darn near every XJ setup know to man. Listen to him... He is a great source of what an XJ will and will not do setup a certain way. In regards to a spool... Tuggy has one in the back and so does my rig. The road manners lack a lot. If I would have done it again I would have done something like a Detroit or a selectable. But it does sound BA when you turn, it doesn't matter how fast you are going it sounds like you are doing a burn out. Plus it hurts my turning ratius. Stump runs an 8.8 and has never had an issue with it. Jeff runs a 30/44 on 35s and ask him about what he has wheeled. I guess my point is bigger tires are great, but don't mean anything if you can't drive your rig. Listen to guys like Led, Troy, Jeff, Ken, and others and just build a nice 30/8.8 or 30/44 on 35s and you will be fine.

[Led]

hmm well looks like ill be makin a trip to the junkyard soon for an 8.8 then...
would a 29 spline 8.25 with alloys locked hold up to 37's or no way?

i like my 35's...but if i can.why not go to37's?...any downside?

Dude stay away from the 37s for now. all the trails you mentioned can be done on 35s. get locked F&R learn to drive it like that and say goodbye to your body pannels and wallet.

[in4aride]

haha sounds about fair...
after our talk tonight i think i need to build as i go and learn to drive with each thing i chage/upgrade...
thanks for the advice...i got a lot of work/money spending ahead of me