X.J.Dana 44 front

[PEEJ]

Did I read somewhere that some X.J. Wagoneers came with a front Dana 44? If so,How rare are they,What years,ect.

[nitroxsteve]

I think all xj had d30 up front.

[dscowell]

It's a D44 rear.  It was in the tow package between 87-90.  

[Eagle]

Early XJs built in Venezuela (for their domestic market) had D44 front axles.

[Incommando]

XJ Wagoneer was just a tarted up Cherokee. No mechanical differences and no D44 front ever in the domestic XJ line. FSJ Grand Wagoneers/Wagoneers had D44 fronts but that is a whole nother kettle of fish

[reece146]

Early XJs built in Venezuela (for their domestic market) had D44 front axles.

 

Also, if I recall correctly they were basically just the D30/D44 hybrid found in the TJ Rubicons (i.e. nothing special). There was a rumour they were high pinion but someone on one of the forums took a picture of one and it was low pinion. 

 

I may have faulty memory on that though - been over ten years.

[Eagle]

More like 20+ years. The XJ has been out of production for 13 years.

[benjy_26]

IN THEORY, since the XJ's and many MJ's used Aisin sourced trannys, it could be possible to run a 'Yota t-case with a passenger drop and then get a narrow track Waggy D44 under the front if you were so inclined. Me? I'll stick to smaller tires and HPD30's.

[joester1908]

I have a TJ Dana 44 front axle. YES it is the same from the Cs out.

The difference is the size of the ring and pinion. D44 is bigger. D44 has larger 30 spline axle shafts, while D30 is 27. But the U joint is the same, and is also the weak link. I have heavy duty Spicer U joints and Chromoly axle shafts. 

But it is low pinion. I wish it was HP. The reason they were LP (so I've heard) is for front drive shaft clearance? 

[Incommando]

Four Wheeler and some other sources rate the LP TJ hybrid below the HP D30 with big u joints. Both use the same spline count outer stub shaft and unit bearings. The LP D44 loses any ring gear size advantage to the less stress that a HP design endures according to conventional wisdom. A HP D44 would of course be stronger but the LP D44 is at best a tie. As the u-joint/yoke area is the most common failure point and is the same in both axles that is a draw for sure. Breaking a shaft at the diff is far more rare especially when unlocked. For those looking to upgrade their front axle a TJ Hybrid is only a deal if it is cheaper than upgrading a HP30 to big-joint shafts (not chromo just junkyard stock), adding a locker, a cheap truss, and if you need 4.10 gears IMHO. Well, and Four Wheeler's

[Incommando]

IN THEORY, since the XJ's and many MJ's used Aisin sourced trannys, it could be possible to run a 'Yota t-case with a passenger drop and then get a narrow track Waggy D44 under the front if you were so inclined. Me? I'll stick to smaller tires and HPD30's.

Just as the front of the Jeep version of the AW4 has the AMC bolt pattern that only fits the AMC block the rear has the NP round pattern that does not match the Yoder pattern. If you want to go pass. drop in an auto XJ/MJ you can get a cheap $50 spacer that allows you to bolt the darn good Dana 300 t-case to the AW4. I did this to put an AW4 into a CJ as they are pass. drop from the factory as was the D60 I swapped in. Otherwise doing the $100 junkyard shaft upgrade ( or starting with the later HP30 front) makes the HP D30 as good as a LP D44 per the magazine ratings. Then throw on a $100 truss.....

 

For someone considering a D60 front swap getting the usually considerably cheaper gm/dodge pass side version and doing the swap to the much stronger iron D300 can offer a considerable money savings over the very pricey Ford driver's drop HP D60. I waited until I found a good deal and wound up with $600 in the pass. drop D60, spacer, and D300 for the CJ. Even though I saved $200 on the usual price of the axle paying the usual $600 price still would make it less than 1/2 the cost of what a driver's drop D60 goes for around here.

[Eagle]

Four Wheeler and some other sources rate the LP TJ hybrid below the HP D30 with big u joints. Both use the same spline count outer stub shaft and unit bearings. The LP D44 loses any ring gear size advantage to the less stress that a HP design endures according to conventional wisdom. A HP D44 would of course be stronger but the LP D44 is at best a tie. As the u-joint/yoke area is the most common failure point and is the same in both axles that is a draw for sure. Breaking a shaft at the diff is far more rare especially when unlocked. For those looking to upgrade their front axle a TJ Hybrid is only a deal if it is cheaper than upgrading a HP30 to big-joint shafts (not chromo just junkyard stock), adding a locker, a cheap truss, and if you need 4.10 gears IMHO. Well, and Four Wheeler's

One other advantage to the LP Dana 44 is that you can go deeper with gearing. With the Dana 30, the lowest factory ratio was 4.56, and the lowest available from the aftermarket is 4.88. Beyond that, the pinion would get too small.

[benjy_26]

 

IN THEORY, since the XJ's and many MJ's used Aisin sourced trannys, it could be possible to run a 'Yota t-case with a passenger drop and then get a narrow track Waggy D44 under the front if you were so inclined. Me? I'll stick to smaller tires and HPD30's.

Just as the front of the Jeep version of the AW4 has the AMC bolt pattern that only fits the AMC block the rear has the NP round pattern that does not match the Yoder pattern. If you want to go pass. drop in an auto XJ/MJ you can get a cheap $50 spacer that allows you to bolt the darn good Dana 300 t-case to the AW4. I did this to put an AW4 into a CJ as they are pass. drop from the factory as was the D60 I swapped in. Otherwise doing the $100 junkyard shaft upgrade ( or starting with the later HP30 front) makes the HP D30 as good as a LP D44 per the magazine ratings. Then throw on a $100 truss.....

For someone considering a D60 front swap getting the usually considerably cheaper gm/dodge pass side version and doing the swap to the much stronger iron D300 can offer a considerable money savings over the very pricey Ford driver's drop HP D60. I waited until I found a good deal and wound up with $600 in the pass. drop D60, spacer, and D300 for the CJ. Even though I saved $200 on the usual price of the axle paying the usual $600 price still would make it less than 1/2 the cost of what a driver's drop D60 goes for around here.

Sorry, I didnt consider the auto tranny. I was thinking of the AX15. With a change in tailhousing and main shaft off of a R151, you can bolt on the gear driven Yota cases (and open up a wolrd of cheap doublers!).

[joester1908]

I've seen a few D30 ring/pinions grenade once you lock them up on 35s or so. I just happened in to the TJ D44 and jumped on it. Works good for me. But there are definitely stronger axles out there. I have had good luck with the D44 so far, knock on wood lol

[Incommando]

 

 

IN THEORY, since the XJ's and many MJ's used Aisin sourced trannys, it could be possible to run a 'Yota t-case with a passenger drop and then get a narrow track Waggy D44 under the front if you were so inclined. Me? I'll stick to smaller tires and HPD30's.

Just as the front of the Jeep version of the AW4 has the AMC bolt pattern that only fits the AMC block the rear has the NP round pattern that does not match the Yoder pattern. If you want to go pass. drop in an auto XJ/MJ you can get a cheap $50 spacer that allows you to bolt the darn good Dana 300 t-case to the AW4. I did this to put an AW4 into a CJ as they are pass. drop from the factory as was the D60 I swapped in. Otherwise doing the $100 junkyard shaft upgrade ( or starting with the later HP30 front) makes the HP D30 as good as a LP D44 per the magazine ratings. Then throw on a $100 truss.....

For someone considering a D60 front swap getting the usually considerably cheaper gm/dodge pass side version and doing the swap to the much stronger iron D300 can offer a considerable money savings over the very pricey Ford driver's drop HP D60. I waited until I found a good deal and wound up with $600 in the pass. drop D60, spacer, and D300 for the CJ. Even though I saved $200 on the usual price of the axle paying the usual $600 price still would make it less than 1/2 the cost of what a driver's drop D60 goes for around here.

Sorry, I didnt consider the auto tranny. I was thinking of the AX15. With a change in tailhousing and main shaft off of a R151, you can bolt on the gear driven Yota cases (and open up a wolrd of cheap doublers!).

 

And I forgot the Aisen sticks, just the Aisen Warner sourced AW4. 

[benjy_26]

 

 

 

IN THEORY, since the XJ's and many MJ's used Aisin sourced trannys, it could be possible to run a 'Yota t-case with a passenger drop and then get a narrow track Waggy D44 under the front if you were so inclined. Me? I'll stick to smaller tires and HPD30's.

 

Just as the front of the Jeep version of the AW4 has the AMC bolt pattern that only fits the AMC block the rear has the NP round pattern that does not match the Yoder pattern. If you want to go pass. drop in an auto XJ/MJ you can get a cheap $50 spacer that allows you to bolt the darn good Dana 300 t-case to the AW4. I did this to put an AW4 into a CJ as they are pass. drop from the factory as was the D60 I swapped in. Otherwise doing the $100 junkyard shaft upgrade ( or starting with the later HP30 front) makes the HP D30 as good as a LP D44 per the magazine ratings. Then throw on a $100 truss.....

For someone considering a D60 front swap getting the usually considerably cheaper gm/dodge pass side version and doing the swap to the much stronger iron D300 can offer a considerable money savings over the very pricey Ford driver's drop HP D60. I waited until I found a good deal and wound up with $600 in the pass. drop D60, spacer, and D300 for the CJ. Even though I saved $200 on the usual price of the axle paying the usual $600 price still would make it less than 1/2 the cost of what a driver's drop D60 goes for around here.

Sorry, I didnt consider the auto tranny. I was thinking of the AX15. With a change in tailhousing and main shaft off of a R151, you can bolt on the gear driven Yota cases (and open up a wolrd of cheap doublers!).

And I forgot the Aisen sticks, just the Aisen Warner sourced AW4.

lol Two heads, man. :)

[xjrev10]

 

IN THEORY, since the XJ's and many MJ's used Aisin sourced trannys, it could be possible to run a 'Yota t-case with a passenger drop and then get a narrow track Waggy D44 under the front if you were so inclined. Me? I'll stick to smaller tires and HPD30's.

Just as the front of the Jeep version of the AW4 has the AMC bolt pattern that only fits the AMC block the rear has the NP round pattern that does not match the Yoder pattern. If you want to go pass. drop in an auto XJ/MJ you can get a cheap $50 spacer that allows you to bolt the darn good Dana 300 t-case to the AW4. I did this to put an AW4 into a CJ as they are pass. drop from the factory as was the D60 I swapped in. Otherwise doing the $100 junkyard shaft upgrade ( or starting with the later HP30 front) makes the HP D30 as good as a LP D44 per the magazine ratings. Then throw on a $100 truss.....

For someone considering a D60 front swap getting the usually considerably cheaper gm/dodge pass side version and doing the swap to the much stronger iron D300 can offer a considerable money savings over the very pricey Ford driver's drop HP D60. I waited until I found a good deal and wound up with $600 in the pass. drop D60, spacer, and D300 for the CJ. Even though I saved $200 on the usual price of the axle paying the usual $600 price still would make it less than 1/2 the cost of what a driver's drop D60 goes for around here.

Link to said spacer?

[benjy_26]

Here's one:

http://www.stak4x4.com/Dana_300/d300_aw4.htm

[Incommando]

Here's one:

http://www.stak4x4.com/Dana_300/d300_aw4.htm

Bought my last one for $50 shipped from a guy who makes them and sells them on Pirate. Not sure what Stak wants for them.