TJ Dana 44 Gearing Questions

joeylead

New member
I cam across a good deal on a stock TJ D44 from an 05. it has 3.73 gears and the Trac loc and disk brakes. When i eventually go to regear the axle to 4.88's, will i need to replace the carrier? The reason i am asking, i am considering just getting a powertrax locker in it for now until i can get the funds for the regear. But i am not going to waste money on one if i have to replace the carrier. Actually i would probably get a dertroit locker in that situation anyway.
 
thanks for the info, id rather buy a detroit locker than have a new case and lunchbox locker.

well the guy is asking 900. the axle has 50k on it but has been sitting for a while. it was for sale a while ago, but the seller had decided to keep it or something along those lines. at that time i had time to work on my jeep. now i dont as i will be working 7 days a week starting in 2 weeks so i am less hot for it. but it is ptobably still worth 800 to me. In my area (long island NY) these axles are impossible to find.

i was originally going to do an 8.8 swap, hell i even have an axle sitting at the house. but a d44 swap would be less problematic since i dont weld. and since it already has disk brakes it is a good deal. i compared this to buying an axle from east coast gear supply. if i paid 900 for it, then 750 for a regear and 700 for the locker i am at about the same cost as the 8.8. I am running 35's so either axle would be ok strengthwise even though the 8.8 is a little stronger. And im keeping my jeep all jeep...lol.

the bigger downside fron getting this is that my jeep is an odd 3.55 ratio so i need to find a 3.73 front or regear right away. but i wold like to find a hi pinion 30 for the front anyway.
 

I remember reading your build up a while back and fro that my original plan was to run the 8.8 i bought and keep the stock gears since they match my jeep. but then i got the 35's, and well the 3.55's arent cutting it...lol. in terms of a direct cost comparison:

an 8.8 to my door from ecgs: geared, lockrite, tabs welded on, new brakes, parking brake cables, complete bolt on: 2061, 2400 with a dteroit locker.
dana 44, 900 for axle, 645 for a detroit (my guy likes to only use detroits) and 70 for the install: 2295, and still would not incluide the cost of all new brake parts.

so the cost is about the same, i mean, ill get the 44 for more like 800, could save about another 150 if i get a new open carrier and use a lockrite. so that would make it a little cheaper.

the other part, if i get a rear from ecgs, then the front is is onlt 50 to ship, so i can get a HP dana 30, geared and with a locrite for 1250 to my door, then use my axles and outers. Locally, it would cost me 1500 to get my axle geared and locked and it would be the low pinion anyway.

Or i just take the winter, strip down my 8.8 have a buddy weld the brackets on and be dont with it...lol. but that would be 175 for the axle, 250 for the brackets (or 325 for the artec truss) 200 for all new brake hardware, adapter flange, ebrake cables... looking at 8-900 and still need the eventual regear and locking.
 
Don't forget that if your welding guy isn't spot on, you will most likely end up needing adjustable control arms in order to change the angle of the pinion. Also, if you plan on eventually going to a slip yoke eliminator then you should decide that before you weld up the axle (since you'll need the pinion angle a few degrees off).
 
If i go with an axle from ecgs and dont have the sye yet they sort of weld the brackets in the midpoint between not having a sye and having a sye. but when you have a stock rear and do a sye, then what, do you just adjust the angle with the adjustable uppers? i do plan to get an sye at some point. i might just wait until after the winter, my second job over the next 2 months is where i get a bulk of my jeep funds from. id like to do it all at the same time. but i am eager to at least get the jeep rolling with a better rear. with the 35's and dana 35, man im afraid to do anything except really easy things with the jeep. im fying to pound it on some east coast rocks...lol.
 
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