I went to the JY today for a seat belt latch and found a Dana 44 on an XJ! They want $300 for it, good deal? I know i'll need the front axle ring and pinion also, can i just switch the ring and pinion or should i get the whole front axle too? I should grab the rear driveshaft too right? I've never done an axle swap but i'm not a newb when it comes to fixing vehicles.
I've got an 88, 4.0L, 5spd, Dana 30 front, Dana 35c rear.

 

u dont need a new drive shaft unless u get a sye then just get a front ds....aslong as its the same gears u will be fine

 

If your Cherokee has the 3.07 rear ratio that is stock on manuals, and the 44 should be 4.10s I think. If you check this and it is true. Get the front axle also, you don't want to remove the gears and the carrier from one axle and then go though the hassle of installing them in an axle that is basically the same as the one you are taking them out of, just makes it easier, cheaper, and faster.
Congrats on the find!

 

X2, i would try to get the front axle also if your gears dont match the 44.


and although there may be a few, i have personally never seen a 5spd with a factory d44. ive only seen autos with the 3.55's and the occasional 4.10. so odds are it wont have the 3.07's

 

Yes $300 is a good deal. Scotty's Jeep-Truck & 4x4 in Fontana wanted $700 with a trade in of my Dana 35 for a XJ D44. I bought one used from someone that needed the cash for $500. I still think $500 was a bit much but that was what I found at the time. Now I'm totally rebuilding it with gears and a True-Trac. I'd like to do a G2 disk brake conversion as well.

 

mine is 355 i want another 44 for my other jeep but i found 4 but im nit paying 400 bucks when i only paid 75 for the one i have

 

thanks for the quick replys! I'm going to have to get it soon, not many people wheel their XJ's around here, don't think the axles will be going anywhere quickly, i hope! Only running 31's right now, but with a 44 i might want to go bigger...

 

Question.

Why would he have to get the entire front axle, couldn't he just swap
the gears in the axle he has to match the dana 44? or no?

 

Well its just like this most likily 2 out every 10 people know how to really swap and set gears,

 

I took automotive in school and we had to set up gears, and i have a friend that knows how to if i need help. I'm thinking of just getting the front axles gears

 

If you know how to set up gears fine. I hope you've done lots of them it isn't easy to get it right and if they are already set up with the carrier it is easier to just swap axles and then sell yours. OH, if you are going to pull the gears make sure you get the carrier also, the you'll need it if the R & P is 4.10 the break on the carrier is 3.73 and up & 3.55 and down.

 

yes, grab the rear drive shaft. there is a difference in length between the d35 and d44 shafts.

 

get gears aND carrier and all shims bearing races you should be good to go just did mine that way found 410s out of 4 banger xj 100 bucks for both sets at the u pull it yard

 

Yes, he could. But as pointed out, most of the people on this forum lack the experience to properly set up gears within spec.

 

im going to assume you have never messed with and or installed a ring and pinion... you cant just drop a different carrier into another housing and expect the backlash and gear pattern to be dead on, if you do that and it does work then go to the nearest quickie mart and buy a lottery ticket

iirc the dana 44s were included with some of the xjs with tow packages which came with 373s, check the numbers on the ring gear thatll tell you.
and yes if you dont know how to do a ring and pinion yourself or dont have the coin to have it done id get the front axle too and sell your old ones.

if you do have the money to have them done then it sounds like time to regear