axle swap in a 99 xj please help

Jeepenmadness

Active Member
Joined
Aug 30, 2008
Location
Autryville ,NC
I found a 1988 cherokee for 300.00 and I think they came with dana 44 rear. How much work is involed in the swap...thanks steven

Are they the same 5.55 lug
 
Jeepenmadness said:
I found a 1988 cherokee for 300.00 and I think they came with dana 44 rear. How much work is involed in the swap...thanks steven
Are they the same 5.55 lug
Click to expand...

only some of them came with a 44, check before you swap. Make sure the 88 is an XJ, not a full-size Wagoneer or Grand Cherokee or whatever they called 'em (lug pattern is 6 on 5.5"). Lug pattern you need is 5 on 4.5".
Swap should be fairly straight forward. Ditch the rear sway bar, hope the brake line fittings and P-brake cable ends are the same, might need the rear driveshaft shortened. Use new U-bolts, if different axle tube diameter, you'll need the D44 spring plates. I think your 99 has an 8.25, which means no ABS, no worries there. If it had a D35, you'd be stuck with the ABS light on.
 
everything should be straight forward. I'd use the driveshaft from the 88 if you can get it, just to make sure the length is right. Not all XJ's came with the d44, like renegade said, check before, because it could be a d35. Check the gear ratio as well, if its different from your from axle, youre going to need to regear so you can use 4x4
 
Every D44 I have found in an XJ was from an 87. They are supose to be available in 88's and other years but I have personally never seen one in anything but an 87.
 
If you have an 8.25 in your 99 right now I wouldn't bother with swapping in the 44. Its not really any stronger. The only upside to the 44 is aftermarket support.
 
The XJ D44's are in vehicles with the Metric Ton package that was offered from 87-89.

It's pretty rare to find one w/ a 44 rear. Don't assume that just b/c it's the right year that it's got a 44.
 
The only reason I want to swap is the 8.25 has little to none after market support. I want a lunchbox locker for it and aussie locker is the only one with the 29 spline shafts unless there's one I missed. Thanks guys for the input...
 
Jeepenmadness said:
The only reason I want to swap is the 8.25 has little to none after market support. I want a lunchbox locker for it and aussie locker is the only one with the 29 spline shafts unless there's one I missed. Thanks guys for the input...
Click to expand...

I run a Powertrax NoSlip locker...p/n 92-0382-2905 in my 99XJ. I love the NoSlip in my CJ AMC20, but to be honest, its a little clunky in my XJ. I also had to grind a C-clip to get it all back together.
 
I ran the powertrax in my 29 spline 8.25 Worked awesome. Didn't have to do any grinding or anything like that. It held up for several years wheeling on 36" tires too.
 
kilby said:
The XJ D44's are in vehicles with the Metric Ton package that was offered from 87-89.
It's pretty rare to find one w/ a 44 rear. Don't assume that just b/c it's the right year that it's got a 44.
Click to expand...

Metric ton package was for mj's nto xj's.
 
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