Incommando

If you find a junkyard MJ with the same tranny/transfer case/rear axle as what you will swap in then you can use that one. Otherwise having your current shaft shortened is usually the most cost effective route. There is a sticky in one of the categories that tells the length of the various combos.

My '15 JKU runs pretty well for what it is

'74-'79 are the best FSJ pass. drop fronts.

this

I ran 245/75/16's MT/R's on a stocker with no issues at all. At 30.5x9.6 they are roughly equal to a 30x9.5x15.

End of train-wreck thread derailment.

Yes or no: they are smaller than the vast majority of D44 rears. You obviously believe that smaller tubes = weaker as well. So the smaller tubes on this axle means it is weaker, as well. It is funny that to order spring perches for the MJ D44 that you have to order them for a D35 and not a D44...That is a head scratcher for sure.

So the tubes aren't smaller? Yes/no/you don't know. Same with the goofs whose opinions are cited in that article: they may or may not know the XJ/MJ is differentThe XJ/MJ dana 44 tubes are larger by about 3/10 of an inch...does that answer your question? Larger than what? Not a standard D44 rear that is for sure. So we have established that smaller tubes is bad M'kay and the XJ/MJ D44 has smaller than average D44 tubes M'kay and he doesn't know enough to separate it from the majority of D44 rears. BTW: that list has been discredited on Pirate and elsewhere. Again, it is just Crappa's opinion. And again again he doesn't even know enough to differentiate the two versions of the 8.25.

So the tubes aren't smaller? Yes/no/you don't know. Same with the goofs whose opinions are cited in that article: they may or may not know the XJ/MJ is different. I have for sure called Crappa out for lying on IFSJA. Notice he doesn't even cite the differences in the 8.25? He rates it low for "lack of gear ratios" and BS. Bottom line: the MJ/XJ D44 is like the TJ version not like the others. Read the "smallish tubes" part again.

They are rare. Like the MJ version they have D35 sized axle tubes and are rumored to be thinner walled as well. Compared to the average D44 either of these things alone make them weaker. The D44 is no easier to adapt then an 8.25. A 29 spline 8.25 gives up nothing to the D44 in question in strength but costs a quarter of what some are willing to pay for that particular Dana.

No there is not a rear that that stuff matches up on. Only an MJ axle bolts in. To do any swap right you will have to buy spring perches and shock mounts and do some welding. Besides strength the Ford has the same bolt pattern and gives you rear disc brakes. It is about 1/2" narrower per side.

No the spring perches are different widths. They are close but not the same. The shock mounts are different. You would have to cut off the XJ ones and weld on new ones. Driveshaft: uses the same ujoint but they 44 has a longer pinion so the shaft may be too long now. An XJ 44 is kind of a rare rear to be doing this too. As the XJ/MJ 44 is weaker to start with and it is not bolt in why not start with and 8.25 or Ford 8.8? Just a thought. Unfortunately bolting in an XJ axle is not a cheap easy route to a SOA. BTW: going SOA will give you at least 5.5" of lift and probably more

Closed knuckle? Who swapped that in? Look for 87-back GM axles if you want the whole thing. They are pass drop. If you are not on www.ifsja.org you should check them out

T&M was who I was thinking of. Sorry http://www.t-mfab.com/store-3/cherokee-xj-comanchee-mj-parts/

Hit or miss for me. I am maybe 50/50 on getting the right part. They never got me the correct door jamb switch despite 3 tries.

TnT fab I believe

http://www.ironrockoffroad.com/10117.html http://www.ironrockoffroad.com/11114.html Just examples of dozens of options

Get an adjustable track bar with enough adjustment for your lift. XJ sway bar with extended links to equal your lift. Quick disconnect or not. Up to you.

I am pretty sure they used the 3500 tranny from the TJ until 05 when they switched to the NSG370 6-speed

Just get later big-joint XJ or TJ shafts. The 297 u-joint is measurably stronger than the 260's that came stock

Power window regulators,especially the rears, are failure prone and hard to find for those so they might be worth saving for re-sell

Some '02 & '03 4-bangers used a D35 rear :( . I have those rims on my MJ. I don't like them lol

Lifted mine and it sits level

Of course they can be used up front

Yes they can. I put 120,000 miles on a set. Many others have as well.