D44 or Ford Explorer 8.8

[Joe]

I went with the Dana 44 because I found one for a good price with 4.88 already, but I was looking into swapping in a 8.8 or a 9". Look around you never know when a 44 will pop-up. Here in Ca. there has been 3 or 4 44 found at pick a part price range from $50 to $100. Just look.

 

[motorcityxj]

you can buy a C clip eliminator, and truss the rear, if you do this then i think in every way the 8.8 is superior to the d44. Then width difference is not worth mentioning, i mean seriously how man guys on here run stock rims, and tires ? If you don't then a fraction of an inch divided by two (the difference spilt on each side) is really a dana lovers shortcomming. The dana guys have their head in the sand if they want to make that an issue. I want a d44 up front, but the 8.8 wins no contest.

 

[motorcityxj]

here is some stuff i posted the last time the 8.8 swap came up, read up before you decide.

heres some links, decide for yourself though, i think a 8.8 is almost as strong as a 9" but with better pinion angle, stronger than a d44 by allot, and if you weld the axle tubes and truss it it will in some areas approach the strength of a d60.

8.8 in 95 wrangler: http://www.jedi.com/obiwan/jeep/ford88.html
8.8 in a TJ: http://www.geocities.com/yj3qtr_ton/88swap.html
another 8.8 YJ: http://www.offroad.com/jeep/tech/axle/Ford8.8/97.html

8.8 tj: http://www.stuoffroad.com/otherwrit...e/8.8axle-1.htm
8.8 TJ: http://www.dpgoffroad.com/tech/8.8.htm


Best one explaining axle axles tubes and axle diameter etc:
http://members.cox.net/rough-riders....8/ford8_8.html

8.8 xj: http://www.bc4x4.com/tech/2003/xj88/

Fixing the weak link in the Ford 8.8 Axle Housing.
http://www.4x4wire.com/jeep/tech/axle/ford8_8/

Just specs:
http://www.4x4help.com/axle/aspecs/ford88.htm

shaving an 8.8:
http://www.code4x4.com/projects/axle_88/axle_88.html

8.8 axle tag codes:
http://members.cox.net/quanno/ford88.html


enjoy. aperwork

 

[Redcbr007]

I would have to agree with ryan about the carrier bearing. But, I have an 8.8 in my XJ and never had problems with it (then again, its a trailer rig that get 30/miles a month if that ) . Running 35's w/ detroit and havnt had ANY problems yet. Dont listen to anything about the c-clip blah blah blah crap, Ive yet to see someone break a c-clip before. Even if they break an axle, the axle isnt going to fall off,! Its still held on by the caliper braket, etc..


They're both good axles, but I like the 8.8 simply because they're very common, strong (they say ita a little stronger then the 44, yet to see the specs though), have disk brakes, cheaper then the 44, and are 31 spline (96+)


My 2 cents

-Red

 

[BrettM]

and are 31 spline (96+)




-Red

My understanding is that ALL explorer 8.8s are 31 spline, even before 96. It's in '96 that they got disc brakes.

yes? no?

what do I care, I have a Toyota 8" that's just as strong and a good inch better clearance underneath (better clearance than a D35 )

 

[motorcityxj]

My understanding is that ALL explorer 8.8s are 31 spline, even before 96. It's in '96 that they got disc brakes.

yes? no?

what do I care, I have a Toyota 8" that's just as strong and a good inch better clearance underneath (better clearance than a D35 )

yep yer right BrettM, one of the links i just posted talked about that "myth". I forgot which one off the top of my head though, its in there if someone doesn't believe. :wave1:

 

[XJ91]

8.8 PROS
same bolt pattern
no carrier breaks
disc brakes standard
big beefy axles/tubes
fairly cheap (300 range)
easily available (how many millions?)

CONS

Fabbing required
C-Clips (debatable)
slightly narrower
limited locker choices (for now)

John

Disc brakes standard on 1995+ Exploders

 

[MC-92]

So what is a good year for 'yota axles ? How do they compare in width?

 

[BrettM]

well since this is a D44 vs 8.8 thread I won't get too into it, but do a little searching. I'm running an '88 in my MJ, which can handle a little narrower of an axle, Safari Ary just put a newer one which is a little wider in his XJ. Search for posts with "Toyota" in it using my name and "Safari Ary"

 

[MC-92]

Thanks.......

 

[Redcbr007]

Disc brakes standard on 1995+ Exploders

Yup, true

sorry, my bad

-Red

 

[Redcbr007]

My understanding is that ALL explorer 8.8s are 31 spline, even before 96. It's in '96 that they got disc brakes.

yes? no?

what do I care, I have a Toyota 8" that's just as strong and a good inch better clearance underneath (better clearance than a D35 )

I was talking about 8.8's not just explorers
Ford Rangers have 8.8s but only have 28 spline



-Red

 

[mattk]

Someone said that the advantage of no C-clips was debatable. Tell that to the guy I had to give a ride to when his axleshaft snapped and his wheel fell out. If you munch a D44, you can usually remove a few strategic parts and drive home in front wheel drive. That's better than being stuck on the mountain in the rain because your wheel keeps falling out. I say all other things being equal, take the 44. All of those other things like stock disc brakes are nice, but they won't get you home.
mattk

 

[GI-John]

What was the situation that caused the shaft to break? Did the caliper fail to hold the tire/shaft in?

Tire size, type of obstacle, conditions, and driving style all contribute to failure. I just haven't found hard evidence that the 8.8 c-clip is so unreliable that one should not consider it as an option.


Hence........"debatable"

 

[basalt51]

Someone said that the advantage of no C-clips was debatable. Tell that to the guy I had to give a ride to when his axleshaft snapped and his wheel fell out. If you munch a D44, you can usually remove a few strategic parts and drive home in front wheel drive. That's better than being stuck on the mountain in the rain because your wheel keeps falling out. I say all other things being equal, take the 44. All of those other things like stock disc brakes are nice, but they won't get you home.
mattk

The argument was the disc brakes would hold the wheel on. If you don't have discs then it doesn't apply. That said, I wouldn't want to rely on the calipers for very long.


You can get NEW, COMPLETE, ZERO MILE 8.8s for $450 around here. I think not having to rebuild the axle is worth it alone.

 

[mattk]

To be fair, the situation I was talking about involved a D-35. Admittedly a weaker shaft with drum brakes. But the point is the same. Given a similar strength housing and shafts which the 44 and 8.8 essentially are, even with the disk brakes on the 8.8, I would take the 44. Shafts break. It is a bit of a repair to replace a shaft on the trail and that is if you have a spare and the splined piece hasn't fused itself to the carrier. Disc brakes look cool and are a little better in the mud but I wouldn't trust them to hold the wheel on either.
The bottom line with any part is not what looks cool or what your buddies like but what will get you home. I run a D60 with explorer discs and 35 spline shafts and a Detroit. It was all cheaper than you might think.
mattk

 

[MassbayXJ]

Saturday we had a Rodeo come in that had broken/bent the axle somewhere and the only thing holding the wheel on was the caliper. I don't know how long they drove like that but the pads, rotor and caliper were smoked. From what i have heard, Many later Rodeos have 5 linked Dana 44's. That is what it looked like. Older Rodeos and troopers have what looks like a Ford 9" or a Toymota rearend.

 

[watson]

Well even though I said I'd go with a Dana 44. I thought I'd post this up here. I ran across while looking for something else.

Sounds like a good buy if anyone is in the TN area.

http://bb.tennesseeoffroad.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=8;t=004965

 

[CRASH]

Someone said that the advantage of no C-clips was debatable. Tell that to the guy I had to give a ride to when his axleshaft snapped and his wheel fell out. If you munch a D44, you can usually remove a few strategic parts and drive home in front wheel drive. That's better than being stuck on the mountain in the rain because your wheel keeps falling out. I say all other things being equal, take the 44. All of those other things like stock disc brakes are nice, but they won't get you home.
mattk

This is very dependant on where the shaft breaks.

IT IS NEVER A GOOD IDEA TO DRIVE ANY DISTANCE ON A BROKEN SEMI-FLOAT AXLE SHAFT.

You are relying on a single tapered bearing, in single sheer, to hold about 1k in weight and many tons in deflective loads. Not a good idea, and you run the risk of permanently destroying the axle tubes and brakes, not to mention risking your life.

If you break an axle, change the fawker out right NOW.

CRASH

 

[4WDXPRT]

Back in 2000 I drove my Red 89 back from Tellico, NC to Richmond, VA (500 miles) on a broken drivers side 1984 Dana 35 (twisted off right at the splines)...luckily that year was a non C-Clip version.

It was Sunday and I had just broken on Upper School Bus and there was no way in hell I could find a new shaft as everything was closed...

Needless to say I bought a Dana 44 housing on eBay for $130 that next week and had my friend Paul Cleary (Thanks Paul!) build me one great axle. The only thing I've done to it is replace a drivers side wheel bearing but I've towed some heavy trailors while moving in the past few years.

I've found that it's hard to find spare shafts for this axle but most people have custom shafts built and utilize the OEMs as spares. So if you break a D44 XJ axle don't expect to find one at Napa or CarQuest.