I know this has been covered quite a few times, but I've seen discussions go both ways. I'm looking to upgrade my front axle and I'm not sure if I should just upgrade my hp d30 or swap to a waggy 44. Regardless, I'll be doing a complete rebuild, lockers, chromoly shafts, 4.56 gears, beefy diff cover, and a nice truss to top it off. Since I'll be dropping this kind of money into the axle anyway, should I just go ahead and modify a waggy 44 to fit under my xj? I've heard the argument that the 30 is just as strong as the 44 and not worth the effort (I personally think this is bs). I've also heard the argument that it takes a beefed out d30 to compete with a stock d44. So what's your opinion? I'd rather have a 44 under the front since I'm already working on one for the rear, but that's a lot of money.

If a waggy 44 is the way to go, specifically, what year/model etc. am I looking for? I know a guy with a wagoneer that's been sitting in his yard for probably 2 decades. That axle might be salvageable and cheap.

 

I am doing a high pinion 30 for my 35's next year.

I have searched it and seen a ton of abuse on a high pinion 30 with 36's.

It was enough for me.

Personally I think if you are going to break a high pinion 30, you are breaking a Dana 44 from a newer jeep. Not the waggy.

But this is my opinion not based on personal experience. Its my dollar if I am wrong.

 

Just go straight to a Dana 60 (kingpin) and 14Bolf FF rear. Don't even waste your time. You'll want bigger tires eventually and then you'll be set for up to 44" Boggers.

 

Then you will start breaking things again .

LOL. Its a vicious cycle.

 

waggy 44 cons

-different lug pattern
-low pinion front axle (arguably weaker)
-you have to fabricate to swap it in
-same size ujoints as D30
-not sure where you live, but spare waggy shafts aren't always easy to find here
-high cost to build it right

Pros

-deeper gears
-bigger brakes
-bigger ring pinion
-high steer knuckle options



The D30 is stout. Fully built on 35's and a smart foot it will hold up well. But the brakes, gears, and stock steering sucks. As far as D44's go, waggy is not my first choice at all.

 

I can't go full size yet, this is going to be my daily driver again when I go back to school. One day I'll consider this upgrade, but not until it's nothing but a trail rig and I have a truck and trailer to hail it.

 

What size tires are you looking to run?
How hard are you going to be on the Jeep?
Have any fab skills or a friend who does?
I'm doing an hp30 swap, along with wj knuckles, but I'm only on 33's.

 

you sir will really enjoy your D30 build. I'll vouch for a well built 30 any day (on 35x12.5" tires max, that is)

 

This is some helpful info, so what other swap could I do for a front end? I know there isn't anything that is a direct bolt on, and I'm fine with that. I'd rather fabricate something much stronger, not full size, than build something that's still going to have particular weak points no matter what. I just hear a lot of negatives and weaknesses about the d30.

 

I'm running 33x12.50's at the moment. Upgrading to 35's in the future. Here's my outlook on the jeep, I'm going to run it as hard as I can with what I've got, I will always know my limits. So the stronger the better. It has to remain street legal though, and needs to be able to do well on the highway. I don't do much highway travel, but I plan on moving to colorado, that's a big trip for me. Plenty of off-roading possibilities out there too.

 

I'd do a 44/9 combo from an f150. you should wait to hear from some of the guys on this site who run a 44 though or waggy 44 though. they'll have better info for you. only reason I'd pick a 44 would be to get 5.13's. if you're running 4.56's and you've already got a rear axle, I'd take the easy route and go D30. I sure enjoyed railing the **** out of mine till I broke the factory cross pin

 

On the waggy you want 1980 -91 the easy way to tell the years is which side the diff is on.the 80-91 was a drivers side drop which is what you want.The 79 and older had a passenger side drop you don't want that one.If you want the swap to be easier tnt customs has a truss kit you can get with all the mounting tabs.On the bolt pattern you could grab the waggys rear end if its a dana 44 or 93 up isuzu rodeo/honda passport dana 44 its close to right width and its 6.5x5 bolt pattern.Just watch the widths Rodeo pre-'97 (R) Dana 44 58" (sua) Rodeo 97-99 (R) Dana 44 60.5" (4-link)
Rodeo 00-03 (R) Dana 44 63" (4-link)

 

Another vote for keeping the D30. I run 35x12.5's locked front and rear. No issues at all. Just get chromoly shafts/760 u joints and full circle clips. You will be perfectly fine

 

This is what I want to do to my 30 next year. What do you guys think about trussing the 30? That is something that I was also thinking about doing while I have the axle tore down.

 

Will help with gear deflection and the one from Artec is $99 I think... Great deal.