2doorxj

to many choices out there. i have the hp30/8.25 I really don't want to go full width 44/8.8 so i was thinking doing the xj 44 rear but what is a good swap into the front? And if asking why i don't want full width to wide for some trails i wanna go on, otherwise i have a corp 14 that would already be in

RENIXBEAST

You can use a d44 out of an early year Ford bronco, or a scout. Also rubicon's I beleive have the d44 front. IMO The dana 30 can take a good amount of abuse, with axleshaft upgrade you can run 35's with a locker.

2doorxj

umm good to know maybe i will upgrade it then. I was thinking of a 4.5 with 33's so maybe the 44 would be over kill

Matt Ellerbee

just build your 30, lots of alloy axle shafts out there(yukon,ten,alloy usa)truss it,control arm skids is what I would do.

as far as the rear, the 8.25 is a good axle, just not alot of upgrades for it(lockers,gears) truss it as well.

RENIXBEAST

get an aussie locker for the 8.25 and the dana 30 with a set of shafts, you will be good to go.

Porkchop

If you were to use an early model bronco, scout, or an rubicon axle what would you need to do to keep the factory wheel bolt pattern. Or are they the same already. Thanks

99NCXJ

which 8.25 do you have? I ran my 30/8.25 (29 spline) both with lockers and 36's for a while before doing my yota axle swap. If you aren't stupid with the skinny pedal they will last a pretty long time.

djlarroc

The 29 spline 8.25 is a good axle.

caged

the bronco and scout axles are different bolt pattern than jeep.
the rubicon d44 has d30 outers, that is the only way to get jeeps 5 on 4.5 bolt pattern.

you can swap in early bronco axles that are narrow, but you would then need new wheels with 5 on 5.5. that would get you a d44 front and ford 9 inch rear.
there are lots of options for gears and lockers out there at a decent price. check out jeff's bronco graveyard.

RENIXBEAST

Or get wheel spacer/adapters and you can change the ford patern to jeep 5x4.5

FloydXJ

You can get a 1980-1986-ish full size wagoneer/cherokee D44 as well. Bolt pattern is different, as with the rest of them, at 6x5.5, but it is very close to XJ width. I have done this swap, and if you are only going to do 33s, I would agree with building up the D30 a bit. They can take a beating.

ddr

like the idea of waggy 44's but not the fact of different size patterns.
Cuz if you have 6*5.5 and 5*5.5 you would have to carry 2 tires with you.

FloydXJ

\
The bolt pattern issue is something you will need to deal with in most swaps. You definitely want to make sure you end up with the same front and rear, so the 2 spares are not needed (or carry a spacer adapter). If you got a Rubicon front end, make sure it is an older Rubicon, as they went to a 5x5 bolt pattern in the more recent years. Plus the Rubi44 is not as good of an upgrade as a "real" 44. I have seen some issues with the axle tubes in the ones that are for sale - mostly breaking the tube at the control arm mounting point, as they are made of a weaker material. I was told it was cast iron, similar to the diff itself, but I do not know if that is true. The simplest solution, I think, is to go with the rear XJ D44 (still 5x4.5) and beef up the D30 you have. It can handle 33s and a locker with good parts in it.
Or, swap the rear to a matching axle, such as a Waggy rear (D44 or AMC20), or an Isuzu D44 rear.