88whitemanche Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 What's going on guys I saw this Craigslist ad a few days ago and wondered if I should pick it up? http://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/cto/4134729103.html I know its comanche GOLD but What I don't like is that the guy already added spring perches for a yj.... I mean If I do grab this axle I do plan on regearing it to 4.88s and regear my cherokee front axle to swap over to the comanche and add the Comanches 4.11 gears to the cherokee. Obviously welding new perches for the cherokee.... What do you guys think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xjrev10 Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 Decent price if it was ready to go. "Some assembly required" would require a significant cheaper price. I paid $125 for a junkyard fresh one this spring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88whitemanche Posted October 23, 2013 Author Share Posted October 23, 2013 You know that's what I was thinking because it's $130 for a full axle in the junkyard pulled myself but obviously Comanches in the junkyards are a needle in a haystack and I'd be shock to even find one with a dana 44....thanks ill pass on this one then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xjrev10 Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 You can get a XJ one which is the same axle. They are not as rare as folks on the interwebs think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88whitemanche Posted October 23, 2013 Author Share Posted October 23, 2013 I've been searching for over 2years now and have yet to find one...I've seen them on the wj grand Cherokees and some Isuzu rodeos but none on an xj....yet...I'm pretty sure I'll find one soon enough Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Automan2164 Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 The thing that makes me super leery of that axle is it is apart to such a degree. If I were to buy an axle like that, I would have the bearings and seals replaced, which will require gear setup, which is costly if you are incapable of doing so yourself. You don't know why it's apart other than 'It's easier to move'. I would assume the worst... Gears aren't matched, or pieced together... Inherent problems before taking out and apart... Unless you were in the $100-150 category, something you would be willing to flush and forget if need be... I would pass. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 3.31 gears? car-part.com may be of help in locating one. I paid $89 for the 44 I picked up last week. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xjrev10 Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 The thing that makes me super leery of that axle is it is apart to such a degree. If I were to buy an axle like that, I would have the bearings and seals replaced, which will require gear setup, which is costly if you are incapable of doing so yourself. You don't know why it's apart other than 'It's easier to move'. I would assume the worst... Gears aren't matched, or pieced together... Inherent problems before taking out and apart... Unless you were in the $100-150 category, something you would be willing to flush and forget if need be... I would pass. Rob Good point Rob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yxmj Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 3.31 gears? 3.31 is old school....CJ's used to have them.....you can still get a set for 44's http://www.summitracing.com/int/search/part-type/ring-and-pinion-gears/axle-model/dana-44/ring-and-pinion-ratio/3-31-1 And I am sure someone makes a set for a D30 (if that is what you are running) IMHO.....before you walk away shoot him a low-ball offer and see what he comes back with...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 I think 3.31s were the ratio offered in MJs with the super economy package. but I wasn't aware you could get them with the 44. :dunno: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incommando Posted October 25, 2013 Share Posted October 25, 2013 3.31's In an MJ meaning that it came with the optional heavy duty rear axle AND the super economy package? I don't think so. There is really no way to show what this axle came from without running down the numbers. Maybe the guy was told it was from an MJ and is going by that? As YJ's did not come with 3.31 gears that I can find this axle makes no sense. Both front AND the rear of a YJ would have to be re-geared to the pretty crappy 3.31's for this story to be true. And is it un-assembled because the pieces really do not go together? Is it some CJ/YJ/MJ combo that cannot be assembled to work together? Did he try to assemble it only to find this out and now he is trying to unload it? The B.S. line that completely disassembling the axle makes it easier to move would be enough by itself to make me pass this by... 88whitemancheIsuzu D4's are great but have the wrong built pattern. Grand D44's have an aluminum center section and other differences from the regular D44 and are not well regarded. Many consider them no better than the D35 and certainly worse than an 8.25/ From another post: "IMHO the MJ D44 is generally drastically overpriced and is only valuable to a restorer and not worthwhile for a 'wheeler. For less than $100 you can have a nearly as strong XJ 8.25 that just needs a $20 perch swap. For $150 you can have an arguably stronger 8.8 with factory disc brakes including a parking brake. Get one with an LSD and add an extra clutch disc for near locker-like performance with less of a decrease in road manners." By far the cheapest and easiest route to junk a junk D35 is an XJ 8.25. You can match your exiting 4.10 gear ratio with some searching ( it is much eaier to find 3.55's) and it is nearly bolt in if you can weld or know someone who can. If you get a newer 8.25 with the 29-spline shafts most folks consider it a toss up as far as strength with a D44. It may be a little more expensive to go with the an Explorer 8.8 but a 4.10/4.11 gear ratio is more common then in the 8.25 and you wind up with an even stronger axle with disc brakes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexia Posted October 25, 2013 Share Posted October 25, 2013 The problem with swapping to a Chrysler 8.25 is that there is less aftermarket parts support and those parts end up being 10% to 30% more expensive than comparable Dana 44 parts. The extra cost of buying a Dana 44 can end up being equaled in the extra cost for Chrysler 8.25 parts. Axle taken apart in that advertisement means I would skip it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incommando Posted October 25, 2013 Share Posted October 25, 2013 The problem with swapping to a Chrysler 8.25 is that there is less aftermarket parts support and those parts end up being 10% to 30% more expensive than comparable Dana 44 parts. The extra cost of buying a Dana 44 can end up being equaled in the extra cost for Chrysler 8.25 parts. Axle taken apart in that advertisement means I would skip it. While your point is very valid a 10 second web search showed the difference for a lunch-box locker to be as little as $30 and the same brand of ring & pinions resulted in a $20 difference. I don't think you can buy the MJ or XJ D44 for $50 more than an 8.25 unless you are very very lucky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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