D44 build
 

My 99 Cherokee came from the factory with an 8.25 and I've put disc brakes on it, 4.56 gears, lunch box locker, and a diff cover. Recently I ran across a pretty good deal on a D44 and decided to grab it. The idea is to finally get the rear selectable Locker I've been wanting, and have a slight strength increase over the 8.25. I'm pretty set on getting an air actuated ox Locker for it, I plan to put 4.56 gear in to match the front, 8.8 disc brakes are supposed to be a fairly easy swap, and maybe a truss. The portion I'm hung up on is axle shaft selection. Since I plan to buy a full case locker, now is the time to change axle shafts should I choose that route. I was wondering if anyone had tips, opinions or suggestions. Since I plan to go with ox locker my options are stock 30 spline shafts, 30 spline chromos, 33 spline chromos, or 35 spline chromos. Let me know what y'all think, or if you have any recommendations or changed you would make to my plan.

I recently picked up a D44 as well, so I'll be following this thread. So far all I've done to it is an IRO truss. I was planning a Truetrac for it and 30 spline chromoly shafts so I could keep the stock ones as spares, but I am also open to suggestions.

See I think I would rather have the more splines and not have to carry spares. If I were to get 30 spline chromos and carry my stock shafts as spares I would have to buy 2 sets of the teraflex spacers and get new seals and bearings for them if I wanted to use them. I personally wasn't a fan of the true trac I had and I'd think it would be really hard to break a stock shaft with a limited slip. I know limited slips have their place, but their place isn't in my Cherokee.

What didn't you like about the Truetrac?

I had it in the front of my Cherokee and when turning in 4wd on trails it would bind and hop, then whenever a tire was coming up it wouldn't do too much. I would definitely put one in the back of my daily driver Comanche, but not in something I wheeled. With the selectable in the front now I can unlock it for any turns and when I need the traction I just flip a switch.

Gotcha. I'm building my '90 to be a daily-driver/weekend-warrior, so I was thinking a selectable up front (also a D44) and limited slip in the rear.

So on that note you want to meet me half way and give me your 8.25?

I'll throw the renix head in with the axle, but you gotta pay for the axle...

I also have a D44 sitting in the garage. Still running my Super strong D35 until I figure my final tire size / gear combo. This is mostly a trail rig. Planning on a trutrac in the rear and selectable in the front. I guess that your axles all depend on your tire size and type of wheeling that you do.

If it's mostly a trail rig then I would definitely not recommend a trutrac.

No it's a get in and drive to the desert to explore. Go to the mountains just because. Lots of freeway time involved. When I said trail rig I really mean fireroads etc.

I've never understood the lots of street driving being a reason not to put in a locker in the rear. I've mostly daily driven my Cherokee for 4 years with numerous 4+ hour highway drives with a lunchbox locker. It's never caused me any issues.

Hmm what price you thinking lol? I already have new 4.56s waiting to go into mine but haven't had the time/motivation to do so.
An aussie locker in the rear doesn't misbehave at all on the road. I never had a bad experience with mine on the freeway. Unless you have a standard trans than it might be more temperamental.

I think we fall back to personal experience and what you feel comfortable with. Right now I'm running open front with a LSD rear. Everywhere I've gone it works. So I base the decisions off of what has worked in the past. Would selectable lockers work better? Sure but are they needed is the real question.

I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.