I'm getting ready to lift my ZJ and definitely want to re-gear to gain some power back. The question is, is it worth it with the D44A? I hear people all the time saying it's weak cause of its aluminum housing and tendency to spin axle bearings. How much force is really needed to do that? I don't rock crawl. I just do mud and two-tracks. I'm a little heavy on the gas, but I haven't encountered a problem yet. I've also heard a diff cover can ad some strength, but wouldn't that just be on the cover, leaving everything else just as weak? Thanks all!

With that kind of use, you will be OK

So people that are concerned about this axles "weakness" are referring generally to it's weak points against taking a hit from a rock?

The axle weakness concerns the aluminum center section. It will not take the same air born landings as the cast iron and can twist the tubes inside the aluminum because the tubes are not welded to the center section. But this is under extreme torque situations, such as when rock crawling in low range and with lockers. Wheeling in mud and two tracks is not really that hard on them and well within the ability of the D44A

A lot of people don't like running c-clip axles but for what you are doing, run it you'll be fine.