xjallseasons

I am looking to buy a D44 from a cherokee and it doesnt come with brakes. It seems a bit high in price at $475, but have always wanted one. Can I put my 8.25 drums on it? I know I shouldnt do this and probably move to disc's but I thought I would ask!

salad

Nope.

I wouldn't pay that much for a brakeless XJ D44, especially when a 29-spline C8.25 is nearly identical in strength.

Desertfox1023

$475 is way high for one without brakes but I don't know what kind of availability you have in your area. Supply and demand...

As for brakes, don't waste more money by trying to put drums back on it.

Go to the Junk Yard and get the parts to do the Disc Conversion from an 8.8
Mine cost me less than $100 in parts (including the new bearings) to do. My thread has some pic's.

Parsnip

Or just straight up get an 8.8 and swap it in for all of 160$, be as strong as a Dana 60 with the Dana 30 price

Desertfox1023

Haha, yeah right.

After you ditch the C-Clips & Weld the axle tubes to the housing so you don't spin one.

8.8 is a great axle and would be great axle swap for you but it is no D60.

Parsnip

Same torque rating as a d60, and I have an 88 in my heep. Welding the tubes or just trussing i, either way. IRO makes a decent kit for like 150$ that comes with the truss, shock tabs and perches

xjallseasons

Availability here is slim. The one I found is in NM about a 6 hrs drive. You never see them here in Phoenix. This one does have brakes but no drums. I guess I will stick with my 8.25 since 1. it works 2. it has brakes 3. it has a locker 4. it has an updated diff cover 5. I wont need to buy new u-bolts 6. I dont have to do any work to it. I havent broken an axle in it and dont plan to. I just thought it was a nice find. Thanks for talking me out of it!!!

Desertfox1023

YES, is it a 29spl?

If it is then I'd take that $475 and spend half on a disc brake conversion.

xjallseasons

Its a 96 so I really dont know, unless I take the axle out and count. I did find another D44 in Vegas that has disc's and 488 gears but is open. I would need to get spring mounts and shocks mounts for it. It also comes with a D44 front from a 78 Scout complete with brakes for $300. Not a bad deal, even though I only need the rear axle and wont need the 488's as I am going with 456.

Where can I get discs for the 8,25 if I decide not to do the d44 rear?

salad

Disc brakes for an 8.25 can come off of a ZJ D35 (or possible D44a), or KJ 8.24 at your local JY. There's also a guy selling kits on here.

Desertfox1023

Something doesn't seem right about this? For $300 you get a d44 F&R both with disc's & 4.88's.... I think the scout d44 is a passenger drop also.

Rock Toy

............................. COT..............MOT
Dana 60, 61-SF..........1500............ 5500
Dana 60, 61-HD-FF.....1500.............6000

Ford [31 spline] rear....1360.............5100

You're right that a Ford 8.8 is a great axle and while it is stronger than the D/44, the torque ratings on both D/60 rear axles are higher than the 8.8, plus the Ford carrier is weaker.

xjallseasons

It is passenger drop and a bit wider according to a friend. The Scout axle did not have gears or a locker and the d44 only had gears with no spring perches or shock mounts. Its a really great deal, but I will hold off for now. I would have to get all new gears for my d30 and the d44 as well as lockers and the stuff I mentioned above. Its not in my budget and I have not ever broken an axle so I haven't much to worry about. With summer coming up, I will use the axle money and have my ac serviced and maybe buy some 4.56 gears with my 33" tires.

bubbarules1958

Salad. I pulled a 44 out of an 89 xj. You know of any easy disc swaps I can pull from the JY?

salad

I think Crown Vic backing plates may work

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1045256

Or if you can weld, ZJ style like for the 8.25 can do the trick too.

http://www.billavista.com/Tech/Artic...ion/index.html