I have Dana 44 axles on front and rear. Any body use diff axles they like more then Dana 44's My rear axle I got from a guy was welded and I don't want the rear end locked in pos and my rear end is making noise now when I start driving. I was thinking about cutting the welds and rebuilding the rear end but didn't know if anybody else prefered a diff rear end. I have a 6.5 lift and 35" tires so I need something tough. Maybe Dana 60???

 

There is always going to be something better than what you have... It is all a matter of how much money you want to put in to it. I personally would trust the d44s with 35s.

 

Dana 60 is a bit of an overkill unless you plan on going monster lift with 37 or larger tires. The D44 is a damn near perfect option option for the XJ. I have a D44 in the garage out of a MJ that is waiting for spring perch relocation and a regear.

 

I was talking to Jon from Tennessee Offroad and he said to buy a Dana 44 will cost a fortune. I love offroading but i'm not rich lol

I was hoping to stay with the 44. It has been a really good rear end but I was thinking grinding the welds down and stuff but that just seems like a ton of work. I drive my cherokee around town and stuff (daily+offroader) lol

I don't want my jeep to be a monster truck lol I like the way it sits right now and this is prolly the biggest i'll have it. It will do some serious offroading the way it sits now so all I need is a rear end and my T-case back from Tennessee offroad

 

you could rebuild the 44 or get a 60 under it. i just purchased a rear 14 bolt and a front 60. going in this winter.but im going to run 38's or bigger. a dana 44 is a strong axle you can run 35s all day long with it.

 

I Love my C8.25 & D30! I may one day do a D44 in the front but not unless I get it cheap. The 8.25 is under appreciated and with a little work I think it can be a match for any D44 or 8.8 IMO. I'm going to run 35"x16"x15 tires on my D30 & C8.25.

 

HOLY....

 

you have the best d44 front and back on a XJ can hold up to most any thing
and can be upgraded for more strength if needed

going to a d60 is not needed unless you are doing some very extreme off road stuff

you cant grind the weld to un lock the rear you will need to swap the diff

to one that has not been welded
I would suggest a locker for a replacement

 

35" are the biggest tires I plan on putting on my cherokee. I'm gonna go tuesday and pick up new gears for my rear end and try that. If worst comes to worst where I can't get the gears out I'll have to fork out about $3500 for a new rear end. Why the heck do axles have to be so much?
If I have to change the axle I want to get the same exact width axles. Wish me luck trying to fix the other guys mess up lol

 

just remove the welded carrier. it's just the spider gears that get welded.
dana 44 carriers are weak, i'd just replace it with a detroit full locker. they're about 700 bucks. or just buy a new carrier and go with a lockrite, or new spider gears. but that would keep it an open diff.
or if you need more strength, go with 35 spline alloy shafts.

i was gonna buy a 44hd front and d60 rear, but instead just went with 44 front and 9" rear from a 79 bronco, going in soon.
i already have an xj d44 rear with a lockrite, it's done fine with stock shafts on 36 inch tires. but my front 30 is too weak.

 

thats an expensive detroit

all i see 44 detroits go for is around $500-$550.

anyway, coming from somebody who upped the spline count in his 44, i wouldn't reccomend it.

breaking shafts>breaking gears

30 spline alloys will be plenty for 35's under most wheeling styles

 

Sweet sounds like my Dana's should hold up good. The guy that had my front and rear axles said the front has detroit lockers but I haven't pulled the cover off or anything on either diffential. I'm gonna pull the rear end out prolly today and try to get new gears and stuff today