extremexj31

So i was looking on craigslist today and a guy right up the street is selling a danna 44 with 3.54 gears out of a 76 cheif for 50 bucks. should i buy it and will it fit in my 98 jeep cherokee?

Tural

different bolt pattern, different width and you will need to weld perches and shock mounts on it to fit under an xj. if you had the front axle too, it would be a swap worth doing. and that's if you're planning on doing a hardcore build.
where in washington are you?

FloydXJ

Front or rear?

If it's the front, you can't use it on account of the passenger diff. Making it work would be much more work than it would be worth unless you are doing a huge drivetrain swap as well.

The rear would work OK if it is a centered diff, and not full width. Many are offset diffs, which can still be used, but may create more work in eliminating driveline vibes. A full width is less common, but is not something you'd want to use if you are not swapping the front as well. A full width should have big plastic fender flares on the Jeep. Most of them are "narrow track" and have small molded metal flares that barely stick out.

XJ-DP-WA

Just go get a ford 8.8 from an exploder just as much work actually less yet its stronger than the d44

Tural

^ that's a better option. but less ground clearance... i'm doing a ford 8.8. they're plentiful and cheap, and disk brakes and same bolt pattern as the xj

Rock Toy

Don't understand this thread. His profile states that he already has a 1998 C/8.25 so why would anyone swap in a differential that isn't any stronger, or if it is, it would only be slightly stronger?
A 29 spline C/29 will handle tires up to 35 inches, it has stronger axle tubes, and the pinion shaft and bearings are much stronger than the D/44. The only thing the D/44 has over the C/8.25 is that it has 1/4 of an inch larger ring gear, and the C/8.25 has c clip axles.

xjpioneer

hey i got another similar but not similar question. have a dana 35 rear end now.. could this be replaced with the ford 8.8 as well? what year should i shoot for on the ford? is there any welding needed? difference in u bolts? adaptions needed?