Oizarod115 Posted October 25, 2007 Share Posted October 25, 2007 yeah i wouldn't ever try to claim one is stronger than the other. basically when it comes to the two its MJ44 first... if you can't get that then whichever is closest/cheapest/easiest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pingpong Posted October 25, 2007 Share Posted October 25, 2007 Having rear disk are nice. But there not necessary i wouldnt go out of my way just to get them. I run a dana 44 its stronger that the 8.8 and you can find one that will bolt right into your MJ. I wouldn't pay the premium a D44 commands(at least in my area) to have a bolt in axle :eek: Even if you can t weld.. setting the perches in position and tacking in place.. then driving to the muffler shop, or competent welder to pay at the most 50 bucks.. you still come out cheaper then you would if you paid the 3-400 bucks a d44 goes for, and you would have disc brakes ;) As for which is stonger.. we can debate this issue :brows: I have seen an xj break a shaft in a 44 on 33's.. while i wailed on my 8.8 on 35's, but everyone's experience is different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOMJ87 Posted October 26, 2007 Share Posted October 26, 2007 I was waiting for that PONG. And so it starts.... :popcorn: Cole Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarence Posted October 26, 2007 Share Posted October 26, 2007 ok i guess yall have a point ford does make some bad a** axles. But around here you can pick up a 44 cheeper than a 8.8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87manche Posted October 26, 2007 Share Posted October 26, 2007 Yeah I think I'll just stick with the 35 for now. Redo the drums and keep a eye out for a 44. I have a isuzu 44 but it has 6 lugs and I like my stock bullet holes. another reason the 8.8 is popular, it keeps the same wheel pattern ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarence Posted October 26, 2007 Share Posted October 26, 2007 the 8.8 is getting to be a little to popular thou. Every body is looking for them b/c they know how easy and cheep it is and its a hell of a lot better than those weak old dana 35s. I guess if you need that extra braking power its alot better than finding a 35 or 44 disk brake conversion that stuff is outragious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pingpong Posted October 26, 2007 Share Posted October 26, 2007 I guess if you need that extra braking power its alot better than finding a 35 or 44 disk brake conversion that stuff is outragious. Actually most disc brake conversion are based on either the explorer setup or chevy 1/2 and 3/4 ton stuff :eek: So be cheap and pull an explorer rear and modify it so you can get brakes for a d44 ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarence Posted October 26, 2007 Share Posted October 26, 2007 Does the 8.8 have a removable center section like the ford 9 in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oizarod115 Posted October 26, 2007 Share Posted October 26, 2007 Does the 8.8 have a removable center section like the ford 9 in? don't think so that would make it the obvious winner if it did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pingpong Posted October 26, 2007 Share Posted October 26, 2007 NO it don't. It is plug welded to the tibes.. which is why most Tech articles list that as one of the must. It is strongly adviseable to weld the tubes to the pumpkin. This MUST be done with High Nickel rods, and should only be done by accomplished welders Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rokhound Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 here is a pic of my 8.8 with the tubes welded and one of my locker in the 8.8 I say go with the 8.8 but then again there cheap around here I can go to Wrench-N-Go and get them all day long for like $100 some may have disk some may not but all will have 31 splin Right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarence Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 here is a pic of my 8.8 with the tubes welded and one of my locker in the 8.8 I say go with the 8.8 but then again there cheap around here I can go to Wrench-N-Go and get them all day long for like $100 some may have disk some may not but all will have 31 splin Right? I'm not an expert on anything ford. But I'm pretty sure there not all 31 spline.. I think that the rangers is a 27 spline or something like that. BUT I COULD BE WRONG like i said I'm not an expert on anything for or axles either for that matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rokhound Posted October 27, 2007 Share Posted October 27, 2007 Sorry yes your right I met to add Explore rear end in there my bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akamcbird Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 what does it take to convert the comanche d44 to disks i was under the impression that there were other model (grand) d44s to pillage the parts from for a bolt in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
azjeepfreak Posted October 28, 2007 Author Share Posted October 28, 2007 Be careful getting a D44 from a grand. This is the whole reason I asked this question in the 1st place. (little did I know that this thread would have a life of it's own)I'm replacing the dana 44A from my grand. The "A" stands for "Aluminum". Might as well stand for "@$$" for all it's worth. One of Chrysler's many attempts at fast, cheap production. It's strength sucks, and no one makes any parts for it. Aussie-Locker used to make a locker for it but no longer. The housing is shaped different from the cast iron 44, so you can't get a diff guard or any gaskets for it. Believe me, I've tried :wall: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akamcbird Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 i guess i wasn't clear...i have a stock d44 under my 90 comanche and was thinking that the grands disk brakes would bolt onto it. is this not so? is there an option for bolt on disks from the jy? if not how much work does it take to modify some other setup and from what should i get the parts from? just interested in the brake setups because that is the only thing i feel that was sub standard on these trucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pingpong Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 Jeff.. on here should have more info on that, I am just not sure. I know anything can be made to work with a welder, and a plasma cutter though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarence Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 is there a front d44 that you can swap into a commanche. or any good axle. i know that currie enterprise built a comanche with a ford 8in front but I'm sure it was heavily modified. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejndssn Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 http://jeep.off-road.com/jeep/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=257819 here is a write up on there web site it seem pretty easy to do the question would do one want to go thru the hassle (some say hassle & some say work of art) :hmm: the choice is your's. even i the d35 with read disk then you can see what it takes to get the job done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 is there a front d44 that you can swap into a commanche. or any good axle. i know that currie enterprise built a comanche with a ford 8in front but I'm sure it was heavily modified. The Dana 30 is a pretty good axle. It just needs bigger U-joints and has been known to handle 33s or even 35s if the driver can be gentle with the application of the skinny pedal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87manche Posted October 30, 2007 Share Posted October 30, 2007 crown vic brakes supposedly work on a D44, never seen, just heard, but I read it on the Internet so it has to be true right? FWIW, you can still find 8.8's cheap, they might just have drum brakes though. Everyone is looking for the disk braked ones, so they just pass right on by the drum brake stuff, but it's still a 31 spline ford 8.8. regarding the D30, it's not THAT bad. Mine has taken some serious skinny pedal abuse with 34" bias ply swampers. A wheel tire combo on my rig probalby weighs in at 90 lbs or so, they're freakin heavy. Mine was from a 97 XJ, so it does have the larger 297X spicer joints in it. The front axle just doesn't see the kinds of loads the rear does when you're climbing stuff. As long as you're not stupid with the skinny pedal when the wheels are turned full lock you can make a D30 work well. Don't bother polishing it with chrome shafts and such though, then you'll really expose the ring gear as the weakness. The popular swap is grand waggy D44's, but then you'll have to do something in the rear that matches the grand wag bolt pattern up front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pingpong Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 I wailed o9n my D30.. and I think everyone here who has seen a video of me wheeliing knows... that I believe gas is on the right if I can't walk up it. MY d30 with yukon shafts held up to 35's with many full throttle attacks on many obstacles... it finally broke on the short side by the splines..but the made good on it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CWLONGSHOT Posted November 4, 2007 Share Posted November 4, 2007 I'm coming in late...but will throw in my opinions. THE 8.8: As for as strength, (31 Spl) I have to give the nod to the 8.8. Its all about the housing here guys, its flat out BEEF! As for it having the dreaded "C: Clips. Don't give it another thought, you likely NEVER BREAK THEM!!! As to the offset pumpkin. again, FORGET ABOUT IT!!! Guys in TJ/YJs have been running them for YEARS!!! They have 14-16" Drive Shafts and don't have any issues. Its NEVER going to be a problem in a MJ/XJ. The width is less, 5/8" per side to be exact. As long as you run aft mkt rims its likely a moot point. Its likely got Disc brakes. Readily available/COMMON w/ 4:10 gears. Its usually cheaper to and easier to acquire. THE 44: Yea its got a weaker housing, but its got good sized bearings, good sized axle shafts as well as good spline counts. No "C" Clips "BUKU" aftermarket stuff out there for the D44. Pumpkin centered and its also the CORRECT width!! Speaking about the pumpkin. Its smaller than the 8.8. This is a good thing if are running a 33" or smaller tire. The 44's, seem WAY expensive. If you can get of reasonable, go for it. SUMARY: I have a 8.8 in my TJ. Its a GREAT axle. I have a D44 in my MJ, its a GREAT axle. Either one will be a great asset to your rig. If you find a D44 for a good price grab it. If not go for the 8.8. After all the above, I prefer the 44. My single biggest reason for preferring the 44 over the 8.8 is the sheer size of the 8.8. Its a GREAT rock finder if you don't run big 35's or 36" tires. CW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A-man930 Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 Here's a few more questions... -What about a 44 from a Scout? Exactly how much WIDER is it than stock? I know the bolt pattern is 5on5-1/2... -The Waggy 44 front, what is its width? -And for the D30, anyone seen one of these in action? http://www.tntcustoms.com/webv5/truss_d30.asp does this adress the common problems/concerns? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pingpong Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 NOt sure how much wider the scout d44 is. I also don't recall off the top of my head what the width is a a waggy d44. As for if that truss is worth it.... thats your call. for a 150 it can't hurt, if you have an axle you have to keep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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