TJ Rear Axle Options.....Confusion

Airdoc

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2009
Location
Charlotte
Well.....my "Budget/Recycled" TJ project is taking some turns...possibly as I read more about the weak D35 Rear on it.

I've got a 97 TJ 4.0 with 3.07's (D30/D35)...I just bought a set of TJ 4cyl 4.10's (D30/D35), but thinking.....How much could I find a better rear end for?

Dana 44 from a TJ with 4.10 Gears......or

8.8 with 4.10 Gears already adapted to fit a TJ (I don't weld and doing all work in my garage)

Locker not needed (at this point...just looking for tougher rear axles - and against making a Super 35 out of the D35)

Who's got some experience of costing..or heck...got one sitting around?

Thanks in advance!!!
 
wait till you are ready to lock it to replace it and just rock the d35 open and on 33s or less for now. it will be just fine, you already have a spare set of shafts anyway. just know that you need to respect its limitations and have a good time. when you are ready to go to 35s, pick up an 8. 8 or a d44, used $5/600 prob, lock it up and take it to the next level. are you new to wheeling in general?
 
kcarroll said:
wait till you are ready to lock it to replace it and just rock the d35 open and on 33s or less for now. it will be just fine, you already have a spare set of shafts anyway. just know that you need to respect its limitations and have a good time. when you are ready to go to 35s, pick up an 8. 8 or a d44, used $5/600 prob, lock it up and take it to the next level. are you new to wheeling in general?
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Totally new, but have that sort of...."buy it once" mentality......as I envision getting hooked....and don't like to spend money on something twice.

thinking of 35's.....I dunno.....D30/D35 open on 35's....I dunno....might not work.

I know...start out from basics...but I'm gonna have the whole jeep torn apart anyway...so....

What's the chance of finding a 4.10 geared D44?..open or locked?
 
Airdoc said:
What's the chance of finding a 4.10 geared D44?..open or locked?
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Pretty good. I have a Rodeo 44 with 4.10's that's 58" wide. Put some wheel spacers/adapters(6 lug pattern to 5 on 4.5" pattern) on and it's a good match for the TJ. Also will require new brackets like an 8.8. Has disk brakes to boot.
 
you can get the 8.8 for cheap. Problem would be the fabrication to get it under the TJ, but you can find people to help with that, or pay someone.

Honestly, for me, if you wheel it alot, its not worth it to go and constantly worry about the 35 holding up to the 33" tires, much less 35's. Do it now and lose the worry.
 
Macdaddy4738 said:
you can get the 8.8 for cheap. Problem would be the fabrication to get it under the TJ, but you can find people to help with that, or pay someone.
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Got any recommendations on folks to do the fab work?
 
foreman1063 said:
Pretty good. I have a Rodeo 44 with 4.10's that's 58" wide. Put some wheel spacers/adapters(6 lug pattern to 5 on 4.5" pattern) on and it's a good match for the TJ. Also will require new brackets like an 8.8. Has disk brakes to boot.
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Rodeo 44?....I'm guessing I haven't read about that one....sounds like the adaptors etc...might just sum up to a much more expensive option ...or??
 
Airdoc said:
Got any recommendations on folks to do the fab work?
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A while back when I was talking about one, willness33 sent me a PM saying he'd help me if I ever got one.

Maybe shoot him a PM and see what he says, he is in Stanley I believe..
 
keep checking Craigslist and junkyards. I bought my D44 from a guy on Craigslist for $800.00. Bolted it in and changed gears. I have 1050.00 in it now with a spool and Yukon 4.56 gears. Done it all myself.
 
I did some shopping on Car-parts.com and found an 8.8 with 67,000 miles and limited slip 4.10 for $200 I searched the web and found a supplier who had the brackets in stock for $250.00 I spent another 150.00 putting new brakes and oil in the axle. When it was all said and done I have an 8,8 with very low miles under my TJ for around $600.00.

I am sure you can find someone in the Charlotte area to weld the brackets on for a couple hundred bucks so for less then 800 you can have a stronger axle then D44 and you won't have to worry about gear changes.

I definatly would not try 35's with D35 I put 35x12.5's on mine over the winter and the first time out this spring I exploded the spiders. D35 sucks for rock crawling if you plan on stayin the mud you might be alright with the D35 for a while.
 
jds97Wrangler said:
I did some shopping on Car-parts.com and found an 8.8 with 67,000 miles and limited slip 4.10 for $200 I searched the web and found a supplier who had the brackets in stock for $250.00 I spent another 150.00 putting new brakes and oil in the axle. When it was all said and done I have an 8,8 with very low miles under my TJ for around $600.00.
I am sure you can find someone in the Charlotte area to weld the brackets on for a couple hundred bucks so for less then 800 you can have a stronger axle then D44 and you won't have to worry about gear changes.
I definatly would not try 35's with D35 I put 35x12.5's on mine over the winter and the first time out this spring I exploded the spiders. D35 sucks for rock crawling if you plan on stayin the mud you might be alright with the D35 for a while.
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Wow...that's a heckuva deal...Time to look for a welder....were you able to integrate the e-brake mechanism?

Thanks,
 
Airdoc said:
Wow...that's a heckuva deal...Time to look for a welder....were you able to integrate the e-brake mechanism?
Thanks,
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Yes I was able use my original cables from my TJ and and a couple cable clamps. I also used my original divider block and two passanger side brake hoses from the explorer to connect the brakes. If I get a chance I will take a couple of pics tomorrow and post how I did the ebrake and the brake lines.
 
OK...here's a ques....looking at some 3.73 Dana 44 with LSD's....how much would it cost to make this into a 4.10?

This might be the easiest "bolt-on".

thanks again
 
hold out for the d44, it is leaps and bounds ahead of the 8.8. the 8.8 swap is way over rated in my book; the pinion bearings are tiny, its c-clip, stock carrier is as weak as the d35, stock LS sucks balls, it dosent exactly bolt in and the list goes on.
a stock TJ D44 is an awesome bolt in swap with lots of potential for chromo shafts, discs, etc.
 
Metto said:
hold out for the d44, it is leaps and bounds ahead of the 8.8. the 8.8 swap is way over rated in my book; the pinion bearings are tiny, its c-clip, stock carrier is as weak as the d35, stock LS sucks balls, it dosent exactly bolt in and the list goes on.
a stock TJ D44 is an awesome bolt in swap with lots of potential for chromo shafts, discs, etc.
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Decisions....the "bolt-in" hunt has begun...gotta find a Non-Rubi - Standard TJ Dana 44.

Thanks,
 
foreman1063 said:
What's wrong with using a Rubi 44?
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Nothing really..I'm just doing a budget build and not looking for one with Air Locker or have to get adaptor for driveshaft etc....unless I get the super deal...got one for me?:)
 
Thanks for the link...I'm kinda waiting on the "deal"...I just missed a TJ Non-Rubi D44 with LSD, 4.10 gears and Disc brakes for $900...that would have been perfect....uggh.
 
The Rubicon 44 is weaker than the 8.8.

The C-Clip is really a non issue since your running the stock 4.0 (I would doubt anything you do to the 8.8, even on 35's will damage it to the point where you regret having an axle with C-clips, IF you stick with the 4.0)

You could get the 44 and put all the super whatever in, but then your reaching some major dollars.

If you REALLY want a 44, id talk to some Scout guys. Their units are almost a bolt in axle, and are MUCH stronger than the Rubicon 44.
 
Macdaddy4738 said:
The Rubicon 44 is weaker than the 8.8.
The C-Clip is really a non issue since your running the stock 4.0 (I would doubt anything you do to the 8.8, even on 35's will damage it to the point where you regret having an axle with C-clips, IF you stick with the 4.0)
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please elaborate on this, as i have worked on many, many TJ D44s and 8.8s in jeeps, explorers, f150s, and broncos. the c clips are not only a bad design, but a total PITA with an arb, detroit, auburn or any other carrier. also a whore with the stock trac lock. also, the bearings in a 8.8 are totally undersized for the axle. if you really want i can post a picture comparison between the 2
 
From everything Ive read, the 8.8 seems to win out every time, compared to the 44 that comes out of the TJ.

This is comparing it to the TJ 44, not any other 44 axle. For the price, I would think the 8.8 is a better option, on top of that, they are much easier to find than a 44 out of a TJ. Yeah C-clips suck, but unless you go crazy on it, I wouldnt think they would matter because breaking a shaft on 33's with the 8.8 cant be that easy.
 
Macdaddy4738 said:
Yeah C-clips suck, but unless you go crazy on it, I wouldnt think they would matter because breaking a shaft on 33's with the 8.8 cant be that easy.
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A bud of mine has run a locked 8.8 for 3-4 years, wheeling at least once a month behind a potent I6 stroker on 33" Swampers with ZERO damage reported.

OTOH, he's a Ferd fanboy, and may be replacing them monthly... just ashamed to admit it?

:popcorn:
 
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