Senior Member
Yeah once you get bigger tires, everything changes.(as in good) Especially 33s and above. My cherokee goes everywhere and I love it. Cant wait to get my D44 installed and a Power Trax in my D30
What about a Dana 44 from a 1977 Ford F100 full size? I can get it for $40 but it needs brakes and spider gears
Senior Member
No locking hubs. I wish though!!! Way too expensive for the kit. And the D30 can handle more then people give it credit for. A stock D30 with no locker and no gear upgrades can handle up to 35s. You could get away with 33s and a Power Trax and 373s and possibly 410s. Its probably not gonna handle much higher gears than that with a locker in before you start breaking shafts. Now if you upgrade to the super 30 kit then 35s, high gears and a locker would be fine. Waste of money though. For the money you spend on the super 30 kit, you can get a D44 for the front. Thats what Im gonna do.
Senior Member
Thats gonna be alot wider compared to the XJ D44. You would have to get wheel spacers for the rear but an excelent and very strong front axle.
Senior Member
The D44 I picked up from a 71 Scout II is 3 inches(total) shorter than my stock axles so Im getting wheel spacers/adapters for it. I couldnt pass it up for 60 bucks.
Senior Member
LOL my bad. Still with the ford axle youre gonna have to change the wheel pattern and get spacers for the front. But if you wanna be differnt and like doing the work, go with the ford D44
Senior Member
Heres the link to the rebuild and swap Im doing on the D44 I picked up. Still got a ways to go. Just picked it up last week. Needs new brakes, seals, and bearings but Im learning alot and its fun
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f46/project-71-scout-ii-dana-44-build-swap-40321/
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f46/project-71-scout-ii-dana-44-build-swap-40321/
Senior Member
Im on craigs list and lots of local 4x4 sites everyday looking for a used front axle. It took me over 6 months to find my D44. Totally worth it though