Rubicon Axles in my 2000 XJ?

JeepinAudiophile · Mar 29, 2004

I have access to a pair of axles out of a totalled rubicon... how much work would it take to put these in my XJ? Other than the spring perches in the rear and adding a compressor for the lockers... what wouldm i have to do to the front? Is it direct fit...? I know other areas of jeeps, but sadly the drivetrain and suspension information are where i lack the most...

sintax · Mar 29, 2004

Front should bolt right up, rear would just require chopping the buckets and arm mounts off and welding up some leaf spring plates.

You may want to think about leaving the axle setup as is and moving to a coil rear suspension. May be cool....honestly do not know what would be involved. I'd look into Tera's Grand up kit if it still exists to get some ideas if you want to go this path.

-Scott

BrettM · Mar 29, 2004

it would still be a major project to convert the rear to coils, especially who admits they don't know much about suspension. even if you were converting to rear coils, you would probably want to start from scratch anyway.

XJ_Matt · Mar 29, 2004

I know that some TJ owners have swapped to high pinion D30 frnt axle from early XJ's with no problems. So i was going to do the same, just with the Rubicon's D44 front. You can bolt the D44 front axle from the rubicon right into your XJ, but for the rear you could get a coil sprung conversion or cut and weld to make it work with your leafs. I would definitely go for it! Get some pics

hoto: of the install if you can.

ZachMan · Mar 29, 2004

Unless your getting a really good deal, the only reason I would do the swap is for the lockers. The LP d44 isn't much stronger than a HP D44. You can find rear XJ D44s all over.

BrettM · Mar 29, 2004

i agree with Zach, the 4.10s and selectable lockers would be nice for running 33s or smaller.

if you're going bigger than 33s you will still need to regear the axles, which takes away some of the benefit, factor that in as well.

Nay · Mar 29, 2004

ZachMan said:
Unless your getting a really good deal, the only reason I would do the swap is for the lockers. The LP d44 isn't much stronger than a HP D44. You can find rear XJ D44s all over.

I think you meant that a low pinion D44 isn't much stronger than a high pinion D30. May be true in terms of the ring & pinion, but the 44 is stronger in every other way. I wouldn't necessarily mess with it unless you are planning 35"+ tires as the high pinion D30 is fine for 33" tires and will have far better clearance than a low pinion 44.

It would be an excellent score for the rear with little extra work.

Nay

sintax · Mar 30, 2004

Nay said:
but the 44 is stronger in every other way. Nay

That may hold true if we were talking about a REAL D44, we all know the rubicon D44 is a D30 with a D44 pumpkin...

-Scott

Nay · Mar 30, 2004

sintax said:
That may hold true if we were talking about a REAL D44, we all know the rubicon D44 is a D30 with a D44 pumpkin...

-Scott

Apparently "we" all didn't know that :gee:

Worthless in that case. Lost clearance and added weight in the one area that the high pinion D30 is fine: R&P strength.

Nay

Jeff-97XJ · Mar 30, 2004

1- Wouldn't the differential be on the wrong side if installed on the front of an XJ? In a TJ the diff is on the passenger side, in the XJ it is on the drivers side.

2- Spring perches would have to be changed in the rear axle.

3- You wouldn't need a compressor. The Rubicon has Eaton ElectTrac electric lockers, not ARB air lockers.

If you are handy and can get it to work, it would be a much better setup then a stock D-30 in my opinion.

Jeff-97XJ

sarvermr · Mar 30, 2004

Jeff-97XJ said:
1- Wouldn't the differential be on the wrong side if installed on the front of an XJ? In a TJ the diff is on the passenger side, in the XJ it is on the drivers side.

2- Spring perches would have to be changed in the rear axle.

3- You wouldn't need a compressor. The Rubicon has Eaton ElectTrac electric lockers, not ARB air lockers.

If you are handy and can get it to work, it would be a much better setup then a stock D-30 in my opinion.

Jeff-97XJ

1 out of 3 isn't bad.

1) wrong. both drivers drop. direct swap

2) yes

3) wrong again. air lockers but not ARB.

dennisuello · Mar 30, 2004

Jeff-97XJ said:
The Rubicon has Eaton ElectTrac electric lockers, not ARB air lockers.

they are made by Tochigi Fuji Sanjyo

sarvermr · Mar 30, 2004

dennisuello said:
Tochigi Fuji Sanjyo

bless you.

JeepinAudiophile · Mar 30, 2004

Well well, thank you for all the quick responses. So the rubicon d44 isn't a real d44? I don't plan on running bigger tires than maybe 31's, and at most a 3.5" lift. But where this will help me is towing. I tow a 4,200 lb., 24' travel trailer- I am saving up for an avenger supercharger setup. I ordered my banks torque tube headers today, and their muffler too- as well as a magna flow hi-flow cat. So i am affraid of twisting an axle when i am on the road somewhere and getting caught off guard. And as for the price on the axles... let's just say it hard to pass up for just about any cost of fabricating it to fit... my friend's dad owns a parts yard, and they got a rubicon that had been totalled 9 days after it was driven off the lot. The axles are in pristine condition, and he said i could have the rims and tires with them.

basalt51 · Mar 30, 2004

how much?

JeepinAudiophile · Mar 30, 2004

$500 for both (ducks, waiting for flying tools)

sintax · Mar 30, 2004

Jeff-97XJ said:
1- Wouldn't the differential be on the wrong side if installed on the front of an XJ? In a TJ the diff is on the passenger side, in the XJ it is on the drivers side.

2- Spring perches would have to be changed in the rear axle.

3- You wouldn't need a compressor. The Rubicon has Eaton ElectTrac electric lockers, not ARB air lockers.

If you are handy and can get it to work, it would be a much better setup then a stock D-30 in my opinion.

Jeff-97XJ

holy miss-information batman... :twak:

ZachMan · Mar 30, 2004

Stay with your stock axles if your staying with 31s. Heck even with 35s a LP D30 and a 29 spline 8.25 are still ok.

sarvermr · Mar 30, 2004

your crazy if you don't buy those axles. they'd be perfect for 31's.

if you're really keepin 31's....

front:
low pinion d44, 4.10's, air locker vs hp d30, open, 3.55's ----> i'd take the 44.

rear:
d44, 4.10's, air locker vs 8.25 or d35, open, 3.55's -----> well duh. d44 wins again

for the price, i'd say those axles are perfect for your plans of 31's and 3.5" lift.

to put in ARB's and 4.10's in your stock axles you're looking at at least $1800 just in parts. its a no brainer.

matthew

not to mention the rubi wheels and tires that are going for around $800 alone.

hjeepxj · Mar 30, 2004

Holy CRAP! For 500$ for both, I'd buy them in a second!

So if you dont want them.

Rubicon Axles in my 2000 XJ?

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