i have a 98 xj the rear diff bearing is gone do to the weak ruff country leafs i need to replace the bearings. my diff is a trac lok dana 44 i figure because the yoke nut is bigger then the other rear diffs. the washer is built into the nut! the yoke is biger splines are the same tho. is it worth doing the bearings in this axel or swapping it for a ford 8.8 is the 8.8 the same gearing in the front diff?

 

you don't have a d44 unless someone swapped one in before you.
you prolly have the chrysler 8.25.

you could swap it for the 8.8, but you'd have to find one with the matching gears as yours most likely have 3.55 and most 8.8 have 4.10. plus you'll have to do spring perches and shock mounts. and prolly parking brake cables as the 8.8 have disc.

unless you do have a d44, just keep that and do the bearings. they aren't cheap for a 44, but still your best option.

 

your right it was a dana 35 with 3.55's i swapped it out for a chrysler 8.25
but now i just got back from the trail and broke both fron axels and munched the spider gears. its a dana 30 what is there that i can through in for now thats got 3.55's and is bigger. i hear grand charokee's have biggers ones somthin like dana 35 or 44's althow a 44 be probably hard to find? what do u suggest?

 

only things that will bolt right in the front is another D30 and a rubico front D44... the rest take alot of fab work...

 

for the sake of ease, and low cost, just grab a hp d30 with 297 u-joints (95-99 or early with abs). that is the best/strongest front axle you can just bolt in for cheap.
a tj rubicon front 44 is really only a 44 center section with d30 outers, so for the huge money anyone wants for one, is just a waste. but it will just bolt right in and is the only better axle then the one i mentioned.

 

thats why i told him that... its the only better axle... but still not great... and it comes geared and locked... for the money its cheaper then gearing and locking the D30... if you gotta get a D30 anyways... so it is worth it if thats the rout you plan to go anyways...

 

oh, for sure, he won't be disappointed with a tj rubi 44. if he can get one for a good enough price, but everyone thinks those things are worth more than a d60 and want double.
but it does come with a locker, however, you'll need a compressor for it.

he can still get a solid hp30 then buy a lock-rite and still be under 500. then splurge on some chromoly axles and utm joints and still be under a grand and have tj d44 strength, however the ring and pinion would now be the weak link.

there are so many options, if you have just a little cash. it just depends on how much work you feel like doing.

 

yep... could go anyway... heck ive got $50 in a set of 76 ford F150 axle... now my money goes to building the for the XJ... still gonna be less then a 1.5grand geared and locked... lol

 

ya so i was thinking that was the best way to go thanks for the advice im gona get another dana 30 cuz i smashed the carrier and the axels. then ill look around for somebetter axels. thanks for the help!

 

What in the world are you doing to break BOTH front shafts plus the spiders? What size tire are you running? Ever heard of finesse instead of lead foot? LOL.

 

if the spiders go while driving you can break both axles real easy... lol... sucks though... scary feeling im sure... lol..

 

Yeah I know, just had to give him crap.

 

see i dont have any form of locker so when i get in some positions i have to rock it or what not to get out. and this time i had the rear tire off in the air so all the work is on the front axel. thats when the u joint smashed the axel end to ****. and i kept givin it **** cuz i was stuck alone. then the axel walked out of the spider gears cuz there is no c clips or it walked in some how the pin shatterd and the gears blew when i finished driving a hour home lol i took the cover off and found the gears all jammed in the ring gear. lucky i didnt put it back in 4x4 on the ride home would of been interesting i bet!

 

o its got 35"s and about 10" of lift

 

Did you get on it in reverse with all the weight on the front end? That'll blow a D30 faster than a politician can tell a lie.

And yeah, running 35's on the D30 is doable, but you really need to build that axle to the nuts in order to wheel it hard. Deep gears, chromoly shafts, full circle clip u-joints or CTM's, gusset the inner C's, truss it, etc. Good luck on the next outing.