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5.9 axles in 4.0

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Old Aug 11, 2012 | 01:47 PM
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Default 5.9 axles in 4.0

What's up? I'm about to pick up a set of front and rear axles from a 98 5.9 ZJ. It's the Dana 30 front and Dana 44a rear. I heard that in order to swap out my Dana 35 for a 5.9 Dana 44a that you need a 1310-1330 hybrid u-joint. Is this true? I know a 44a from a 5.2 ZJ will bolt right up and you can use your stock Dana 35 driveshaft as long as you have 4.5"+ of lift. But is a 44a from a 5.9 different? Or will it bolt up the same way as a 5.2 44a would? Thanks
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Old Aug 11, 2012 | 02:04 PM
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FWIW,
D44a has very limited aftermarket support.
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Old Aug 11, 2012 | 03:50 PM
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Yeah, the D44a shares very little, if anything, with a D44.
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Old Aug 11, 2012 | 04:27 PM
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No I don't want put an iron Dana 44 in mine. I'm going to buy a Dana 44A out of a 5.9 and put it in my 4.0 to replace my Dana 35. But I heard that in order to put a Dana 44A from a 5.9 in place of my Dana 35 I need a hybrid u-joint to make it work with my stock driveshaft. I'm wondering if this is true or will it bolt right up just like a Dana 44A from a 5.2 ZJ?
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Old Aug 12, 2012 | 12:58 AM
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The D44a's from a 5.2L ZJ and a 5.9L ZJ should both mount up the same IMO.
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Old Aug 12, 2012 | 03:57 PM
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I thought the same thing but then I heard the 5.9 Dana 44A has a bigger yoke than the 5.2 Dana 44A and that I would need a 1310/1330 hybrid u-joint. I'm just gonna do the swap and cross that bridge when I get there
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Old Aug 12, 2012 | 05:02 PM
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please post how it works out. im going to be in the market soon to find axles. then start on my 5.5 lift so when i swap the axles the new springs and evrything else go in with it. and i would love to know all the slow point i hit when i get there so im not guessing on anything
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Old Aug 12, 2012 | 08:49 PM
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X2 post how it works.
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Old Aug 12, 2012 | 11:53 PM
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If it does get a yoke from another earlier 44a or 30 (both have the same spline count) and swap it out. You'll need to swap the front as well because the V8s came with 3.73s and the very rare 4.10s and 4Ls have 3.55s.
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Old Aug 14, 2012 | 08:19 AM
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I will definitely post up how everything works out. I got the front axle as well so the gears will match.
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Old Aug 14, 2012 | 09:20 AM
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Originally Posted by xjmarc
If it does get a yoke from another earlier 44a or 30 (both have the same spline count) and swap it out. You'll need to swap the front as well because the V8s came with 3.73s and the very rare 4.10s and 4Ls have 3.55s.
most ZJs have 3.73 with 4.0l
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Old Apr 3, 2013 | 07:52 AM
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I meant to post this months ago. I have been running the Dana 44a out of a 5.9 now for a few months and have been beating on it in the woods. I did need to use a 1310/1330 hybrid u joint to make it work. The swap was well worth it though. I know there is limited aftermarket support, but I still feel as though the ZJ itself has limited after market support skit doesn't bother me. I will be having a TnT truss welded on the 44a soon
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Old Nov 12, 2013 | 08:37 AM
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Hi guys....i'm running 31" tires on my 4.7 stroked XJ and am going to put a Dana 44a with 3.73s and disk brakes on her. Just wondering if you know what pinion angle I should set it at?
any other info would be appreciated
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Old Nov 12, 2013 | 09:13 AM
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Originally Posted by jeepguy702
Hi guys....i'm running 31" tires on my 4.7 stroked XJ and am going to put a Dana 44a with 3.73s and disk brakes on her. Just wondering if you know what pinion angle I should set it at?
any other info would be appreciated
That's silly, the xj 8.25 is a better axle
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Old Nov 13, 2013 | 07:21 AM
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Originally Posted by Boost Happy
most ZJs have 3.73 with 4.0l
The ZJ's with a tow package have 3.73 gearing. the ones without have 3.55 gearing.

Rather than disturb the pinion crush, why don't you build a hybrid driveshaft? Weld your 4.0 driveshaft to the 5.9 driveshaft. If done with care, it doesn't even need balancing.
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