axles question

[blown XJ]

so im thinking about buying a metric ton cherokee dana 44 are these worth the money and the guy is throwing a dana 30 front without the CAD in it both for 200 bucks the rear is broke the pinion is broke how much are the gears? is this a worthy swap tight college buget.. is the cherokee 44 the same as any other rear appication 44?? thank you for your help in advance

ps any one have a set of 3.55 fot the cherokee 44?

 

[redrooster]

You might be better off installing aftermarket alloy shafts in your current housing if you are just looking to add strength.
Gears are $200 minimum without installation labor, plus your $200 purchase price. Lookup Superior Axle.

 

[blown XJ]

yea well this is a good deal for a front and rear axle do you know if it is the same as all other dana 44??

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

THat is a great price, and the XJ rear D44 is of the same strength and design as most rear D44 axles, heavier than a TJ D44.

Here are some gears for $139 new, and some great prices on other D44 parts.

 

[blown XJ]

so i should go for it bounty hunter?

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

Hells ya. That front D30, using larger 760x ujoints, is probably the strongest OEM D30 available.

You can put a new ring and pinion in using the stock shims, and adjust from there. Any competent mechanic should be able to do it with a minimal amount of labor. Easier than setting up gears from scratch.

 

[redrooster]

Made in China gears will likely not be anywhere close with the factory shims. Besides, you don't see many broken pinion D44's especially with 3.54 gears. Kinda leads me to believe that either someone has been in there or something locked up. Who knows? I'm not saying don't do it, just be cautious. It's not hard to throw more money in an axle than you can get back out of it.

 

[blown XJ]

the 44 had a detroit locker in it and the guy was drunk when he broke it also broke the ring gear and both axles on the front of his dana 30 that night too

 

[redrooster]

"Had" or currently "has" a Detroit? If it still has it then get it for sure.
I'm thinking that if you can get drunk and destroy a ring and pinion and two axle shafts at the same time, you might want to make him an offer on the driveshafts. They must be bombproof.
The ring gear probably broke first then jammed the pinion. Dude probably didn't let up and sheared the pinion off. Makes more sense. Like I said, you don't see many 3.54 pinions shear.

 

[blown XJ]

it had a detroit in it he took that out and put it in another 44 he had. i was looking at getting a locker or a spool for it which would be better for a rig that is wheeled hard on the weekends and is driven alot on the street i can live with the handleing woes

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

Go with the spool, no on-road quirks like an auto locker, drives a lot better than a Detroit and you don't have to worry about engagement offroad.