Phoenix of Fury

He's the one who told me my axle is bent... :rotf: I guess I came down harder on that log than I thought. Thanks for the advice, it serves as reinforcement for what he told me. Not that I doubted him, but this is the first time I have used them. I didn't realize the Waggy 44 was 6-lug, I thought the reason they were popular was because they had the same bolt pattern, similar to the Ford 8.8. Looks like it'll just be easiest to see what I can do with a replacement D30.

So I took my Comanche to the shop to have my 4.88 gears installed, along with my lockers (Truetrac front, detroit rear.) I had acquired a Comanche D44, so I'm not polishing the turd of my 35. Well today, I get the dreaded call from the shop. They tell me my axle tube is bent, on the long side next to the disconnect :doh: . Normally, it may be no big deal to replace the axle, but I have a "custom" steering and track bar setup, and the shop I had it done at in Colorado is now no longer in business. They can be seen here. Basically, at this point, I am seeing two options. One, I can have the front housing replaced. They believe, depending on what they find in their axle pile (still awaiting word from them) that they can possibly move the knuckles (And thus the steering, brakes, other assorted outer parts) to a new axle housing. They think I may be able to get a non-disco axle with the larger U-joints this way as well. However, the problem we're looking at is the over the axle trackbar bracket. Because it is welded to the axle, they don't think they can cut it off and move it over, and so I'm looking at having to find a new track bar solution. I'm pretty commited to my track bar because of what I paid to have it done, but I can suck this up if need be :dunno: . My roommate brought up option #2. They found the bent axletube before they put the gears in, so no work has been done as of yet. He said that I may want to look into getting a front Waggy 44, and just having them put it under the jeep. Remove all the old brackets, put the new stuff on. See what I can do about trading my set of D30 4.88 gears and truetrac locker for 44 versions of the same. However, then I don't know about the driveshaft (would I need a new one for the new axle?). I also don't know what I could do to save the steering and track bar (possibly buy a high steer arm and bolt the custom steering to that?) Any advice? Appreciate the help. :???:

Here's hoping for that '06 winter weather again :cheers:

How "essentially" bolt-on is it? I don't really have the tools for any sort of fabrication work. Last time someone told me I could just swap over the stuff from my 35 to my 44, but I don't think that works. Yep, I know. I got an MJ 44, perches where they're supposed to be... on the bottom! Unfortunately, I was too excited about finding an MJ 44 for $250 locally to notice the brakes were non-existant until I got it home.

I am trying to get set up with disks for my Dana 44 rear, MJ style. Called up TSM today, and they told me that there are two different Dana 44s, depending on the year. Now, I thought that all Dana 44s that came behind the MJ/XJ were the same, but I was told that they have two different backing plates, and the bolt spacing is the difference. Can anyone provide the two different possible measurements, if this is indeed true? Are the any other differences I need to potentially be aware of? I do not know the year of my axle, just want to make sure I won't have any more problems.

I guess I'm special :D . I have an '86 AND vent windows 8) So do I. I didn't know they came without them either, nice when you're cruising down the highway and need that wind in your face, because your A/C is broken.

Do you mind me asking how much you payed for them, just trying to get an idea so that if I decide to have them build me a set I know how much it'll set me back. PM'd you. I'd love to go up on the 20th, but I've got a wedding to attend.

Crazy. I live in Lakewood, and didn't even know about that place. What a loss though.

I'm pretty booked this weekend, but if you still need help next weekend I'm game. It took me and my roommate about 4 hours to do the front lift on mine with new control arms and springs.

I'm having trouble starting my Comanche after it sits for around 24 hours or so. After I get it started the first time, it will start again with no problems for the next day or so. But after it sits for over a day, it takes a long, long time to start. I've killed the battery once trying to get it to turn over. I'm not sure if it's a CPS problem, because of the fact that it starts with no hesitation after it has already started once. Is it a possible fuel pump on it's way out?

Colorado is a great place to live, if you can deal with the weather. Not sure how things are in Grand Junction, as it's a decent haul from Denver, but there's always something fun going on in the air around here. Congratulations though, prehaps you'll just have to visit and see for yourself at some point!

I've spent the last few weeks blowing money, gathering parts. Here's my haul. JKS adjustable front bumpstops. I like the look, and the fact that they're adjustable from .75 to 4 inches. I'm not sure if I will install them myself though, it involves drilling and tapping the middle of the coil bucket, and I don't know if I want to get involved with that. New gears and lockers! 4.88 and a Detroit Truetrac up front... And 4.88 and a Detroit in the back. Some of you may be gasping at this point. No, I am not polishing my 35, the gears are for an MJ Dana 44 that I recently acquired, sans brakes. Hopefully I'll be getting the gears installed in the next few weeks, throw the new axle in the back, and then go to town!

Thanks for all the info. This is what I've got, I believe it's just the backing plates left... I'm not sure, I can change pads and take rotors off disks, but I am clueless when it comes to drums.

Sounds like I may as well do it right the first time. So if I were to attempt to procure all the parts for this brake setup, what would I need? Drums, shoes, wheel cylinders?

I was lucky enough to score a stock Comanche rear Dana 44 recently. Seeing as I left my truck spring under when I lifted it, I'm thinking it should be relatively easy to bolt this axle in. I am going to take it to have the gears redone, along with my fronts at the same time. The one major issue with the axle is the brakes are long gone. I heard that the Dana 35 brakes I currently have will bolt up with no problems. Is this true, or do I need to look at replacing the Dana 44 brakes before I swap the axle?

Well shoot, that's what I needed it for. That's the best wheeling there is in Colorado. This isn't necessarily a daily driver, but I do need to drive it to and from trails, and so spools are out. I am putting a Detroit in my rear D44. What would be a good match up front? An E-locker of some type?

I've read good things, and I've read bad things. I'm thinking about putting on in my Dana 30 front. Am I going to have any problems with the disconnect? I've got the axle permanently locked and engaged.

That Avenger supercharger for the 2.5L looks enticing. I have a feeling it might blow up my transmission though.

My '86 4x4 doesn't have them at all. Its possible it wasn't originally 4WD, but if it wasn't, someone did a heck of a job on the conversion.

Posi-lock to fix the 4wd.

Here we go: A view of the scenery First mud pit: The Pinzgauer put a small hole in his tank. It was leaking pretty good though. After over half an hour of trying to figure out what to do. a latex glove was wrapped around a screw, screwed into the hole, and caulked in with JB Weld. It held well enough to get him home. Pictures at the rock shown in the video. By the way, I did end up making it up!

Genuine, Precision, Yukon... does it make a difference? Looking to regear my axles to 4.88 to get the power back. I've heard "Yukon is the best, stick with them", but they're also the most expensive. Perhaps just heresy? If they're installed correctly, does it make a difference? Has anyone had any bad experiences with one brand over another? Strangely enough, information regarding this seems to be hard to find.

You need rock sliders?? I have a set I'll cut you a deal on. Came off my 86 MJ. And who has hubs for 40 a pc?? I just stuck my new 31x10.50-15 mudders on and I amd dyin to test em out so c'mon people lets git this show on the road pronto k?? Dang it will be 13' of snow b4 we get the trip done!! :brows: Are the sliders for a long bed? If so I am very interested, name the price. doesnt matter either way, but are they bolt on or weld on? If i can get sliders id be up for chinamans on theither thurstday, friday or sunday of the 18th weekend. 8) I got my sliders custom done at Phat Jeeps in Rollinsville. They're rather sturdy, I doubt I'll see any problems with them. I'm going up to Slaughterhouse with a group on Sunday early afternoonish. If anyone is interested in going with us, shoot me a PM and I can get you the details.

Just give me a date about 2 weeks out, and I'm good to go.

It's been a while coming. I finally got out wheeling for the first time, here's the pictures. I removed my fenders and cut my flares; no pictures of the cut per se, but you can see the removal of the flares in the pictures. Wheeled in a group of 5 - my Comanche, my roommates XJ, a Pinzgauer, a typical Wrangler, and a newer Tacoma. A picture of the cut fender. I'm planning on putting the flares back on and raising them to the body line, as soon as I figure out exactly how I want to secure them. I was plesantly surprised by the flex. Before the next trip, I definitely need to get extended bump stops though. Any suggestions? And the rest of the pictures: