Basically I've heard its no better that a Dana 35, becuase of the Aluminum housing. Is there any way to beef this bad boy up? What about a bew diff housing or things of that nature.

Im new to Grand's but know my way around Cherokee.....Which I recently sold , got a different car. And yesterday day sold the car and got my Grand. Anyways now Im learning about the Grand. Its a whole new adventure.
Thanks for the help.

 

Ditch it and snag an 8.25 or a real d44.

 

The main problem with the Dana 44a is that there is no aftermarket support.

 

I don't know much about it except what I've heard. Some parts are the same as the D35, gears choices are limited, and I heard the center-section was used on the Viper but I highly doubt that.
Dan

 

The AL center section holds up fine on the road. It is when it gets offroad that things start happen for the worse. Mostly the bearings don't hold up because of the flex in center section. A friend of mine has replaced 2 at his garage in the last 3 months for pinion bearing wear, enlarged the bearing races and could not be fixed. He just swapped ones from the junkyard and told the customer that this would probably happen again.

 

4.88 is lowest gear ratio(hard to find but it is out there). Aussie locker is only manufacturer with a locker for it. You can truss it to make it stronger but it is still aluminum.

If you are getting into heavy wheeling with it I would recommend a Ford 8.8 rear end.



Not just the Viper but the Vette's too!

Viper:
http://www.yukongear.com/DiffList.as...iper&Side=Rear
Vette:
http://www.yukongear.com/DiffList.as...ette&Side=Rear

 

You can also spin the tubes in the pumpkin. It is just not an off road axel

 

Although, it did wind up in the V8 ZJs and SOME 4.0 with tow packages. I have the D35 in my ZJ, and have a 44a (Or, some refer to it as a HD44). I was considering it for use in my ZJ, but in reality it will probably sit in my shed.

 

Can a ford 8.8 be converted to a coil and fit in a Grand? I know technically anything is possible, but would it be easy without hardcore modifactions to the rear suspension?

 

yes all major suspension companies make brackets for rear coils and such. you just weld them on.

 

Here is some info https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f30/fo...wap-info-3847/

Pics. are missing but still some good info http://www.mallcrawlin.com/forum/sho...=ford+8.8+swap

 

Im glad someone asked this question. A lot of people will say that the 44a is worthless, I used one in my ZJ just to show that it's not as bad as people think. Sure it's aluminum, and there's little after market support, but properly trussed and skid plated the 44 ia not a bad option. The 8.8 is a popular swap, but for what you have to put in it you might as well go 1 ton. I know a few guys with over $3,000 in there 8.8 alone.

Here's a few pix of my ZJ. I used a WJ 44a in it for a few reasons.



The WJ 44a has a ball joint bolted on top of it because of it's 3 link suspension. I used it because I could not only weld my truss to the axle tubes, but bolt it to the housing as well. I built a hellatious skid plate for it to, it also incorporates a lower truss. I have wheeled it a few times sense the build, and have not had a single issue with it. I drug the skid once on eagle rock, and that was it.

I didn't put a locker in mine, I welded the gears. It's fine off road, but does wear out tires faster. I have driven it to work a few times, and purposely tried to do any thing I could to break the shafts. I have a V8, and a really heavy foot! No issues at all so far. Don't throw it out just yet, it's not as bad as every one thinks.

Oh, by the way, NONE of the parts from a 35 work with the 44.

 

Thanks for the great pics and post. I heard the bearings were the same as those on the D35, am I'm glad to hear they're not.
Great lookin' work by the way.

 

I found this site which is pretty cool. Fabs the 8.8 up for you to stick in ur specific rig. It is a pretty penny though, but cool options.

http://eastcoastgearsupply.com/i-411...olt-in-zj.html