huntingman2706217

Ive already got a ford 9in and D44 front from a 76 ford... the front axle could be the 1/2in thick tube but i havent taken it apart yet... otherwise all ive bought for it so far was the install kit ($100)... the 9in ive already stripped to bare metal... welded on ruffstuff simple axle swap($125) spring perches (have not welded on shock tabs yet)... got 5.13 gears used but never installed and disc brake brackets ($45) that still need to be welded on. Also have a used never installed FULL spool (full time locker for those who dont know what a spool is)($75) otherwise the 9in is tore down to just the tube... ive got no money in the axles themselves as i bought the whole truck and parted it out keeping the axles and making my money back... so my total cost in the D44 and 9in so far is $345 but i still gotta buy alot like front 5.13's, install cost for gears front and rear, front perches, rear rebuild kit, front locker, front carrier...

I cam across a set of waggy D44 axles today on CL for only $500... both are on a YJ now and are built for leaf springs (im doing coils in front). Both have 5.13 gears and mini spools (not as strong as full spools, full spools must remove gears to install(im pretty sure)). anyways the waggy one is drivers drop has disc brakes (so does the D44) and is street ready... the rear D44 has the disc brake conversion already... and is street ready... so for these axles im looking at just getting them under the jeep... maybe add a full spool rear later and real locker up front later...
total cost in this would be $500+ mounting plates... and now control arms(since the fords are radius arms and i have them and there easy to mod onto a cherokee)...

now i could buy the D44's and sell off all my stuff that i have for the ford axles and make my money back... except for the rear spring perch kit... have to sell the whole axle to a cherokee guy to get that back...

i just dont know what to do? which would yall do? oh yeah and one of the front D44 axles has a chromoly shaft but just on one side...

huntingman2706217

oh and the ford D44 has warn hubs that need to be replaced... another $150...

Irongrave

go with the waggy 44s, at least thats what I would do

huntingman2706217

well after no response for awhile here i went to pirate... and did some research between the two... yes the waggy axles are going to be cheaper to get under my jeep... but there not better... everyone compares the 9in to a D60... and the fords D44 stronger then the waggy D44... also i forgot the waggy D44's are more narrow... i need to stay with full widths as i plan to run 37's with about 4in of lift... the farther from the body without looking stupid the better...

huntingman2706217

also the waggy front axle is LP and my D44 is HP

troy fritz

Go with the Waggys.I'm not big on putting other manufacturers stuff on my rig.Keep it Jeep since thats what it is!

rweaver138

I think you've answered your own quesiton, I'd go full width. Especially if the Ford Dana is an HP. Why build up an LP when you have the option to build up an HP? Like you said the Waggy axles are not better, the Ford axles are. I think the decision is easy

OnlyInMyXJ22

$95 plus shipping

I'd keep the Ford axles, but I might just be bias since that's what I have.

huntingman2706217

thanks for the link... i missed a pair on pirate for like $60 shipped a couple months ago... someone beat me to them... lol... i gotta get this 9 finished before i start buying for the 44... lol... heck im ready to get back on this project period...

OnlyInMyXJ22

Yeah, Bronco Graveyard carries lots of stuff for pretty decent prices. I bought most everything from them for my set of axles.

RkyMtnH

There's your answer. HP is stronger than a LP. Since you already have the 9",which is also stronger than a 44 rear, I wouldn't bother with it. Does sound a little tempting. (I voted before reading your posts)

xjmarc

Use the Ford, I did and haven't looked back. You can use the radius arms with a bit of fab and get a ton of articulation.

leo3000

easy solution.. narrow the jeep!!

huntingman2706217

the jeep will be narrowed some also or tubbed out... lol... whatever it takes ones its together sitting over the tires... ill go from there to make it happen... lol