For less than the price of that super 88 kit and c-clip eliminators you can upgrade a D44 to 35 spline and have D60 strength while your 8.8 is almost at 9" strength with the upgrades.

 

Most have a D44 rear and to put in an XJ just cut off the old mounts and weld on new perches and spring mounts. Doesn't even need a flange for the u-joint and most use a 1310 joint like your stock axle. If it doesn't the yoke is the same as a D30 so you can source them easily. Lots of people use them with a waggy front instead of the waggy rear because of the disc brakes and low gears. Some have a factory LSD but for most doing this swap they'd want a real locker.

 

What about the dana 44 from the early broncos?I know they are a popular swap on ford rangers because of the smaller width then the f150/ big bronco used.

 

My buddy ran one and liked it. He had heavy 35s on beadlocks. If I had to do mine over again I'd build a waggy 44 with JK gears, a BBK, and RCVs.

 

Ford HP D44's are a better choice. The massive tubes (.500" wall) are hands-down far superior to the JK weak-a$$ tubes.

Whip out your googler and have look.

 

take the next month or so and google as much as you can.
you will learn the differences between each axle and hear some actual real life experiences with these different axle choices.
then choose what works best for you.

i didn't read enough and bought a set from a 78 bronco, full width front d44hp/9" rear.
it was the best choice for my application, however, the front is set up with cast wedges, so it limits me to using the stock ford radius arms. i could extend them to the length of my existing long arms, but it's not what i really wanted to do.

needless to say, i've had them for 5 years and they're still sitting on my garage floor.

if i were to buy new axles, i'd get either f-250 d44hd with .5 inch tubes, they don't have cast wedges and use leaf springs, with a 9" rear, or i'd go f-350 d60 axles.
there is far more support as for mounts/buckets and trusses available.

 

the passport, not the pilot came with the d44. and the super 88 kit IS a clip eliminating kit...just sayin'.

 

He's talking about the rear axle.

 

I get the Hondas confused and I'm curious why you'd spend 650 bucks to eliminate the c-clips when you could buy an axle just as strong without c-clips and have that money for gears and lockers.

 

If one had a choice, without the spring mount or gear ratio considerations, ford 8.8 vs dodge 8.25, any opinions on which would provide the strength advantage? I too have an access option to both as a D35 exchange plan. Just not familiar with a strength comparison.

 

8.8

 

nevermind, i'm not getting into this again...

 

Simply upgrading a 44 to 35 spline doesn't give you 60 strength.

 

Depends on which D60 you're talking about. A D44 and D60 30 spline shaft are exactly the same size so 35 spline would put you up there with a D60 and stronger than the semi float D60. A full float axle will always be stronger than a semi float due to not having the weight of the vehicle on the shaft but with 35 spline shafts it'd be close.

 

I run a SF 35 spline 60. It's a joke to compare it to a built 44.. The housing is insanely beefier and the ring gear is much larger.