So I think I found a Dana 44 in my friends junk pile. The diff cover looks like a Dana 44 and when I asked him if he wanted to sell it, he said he didn't have a Dana 44 so I asked him if he wanted to get rid of one of his axles in his pile. I know it's out of a early 2000 grand Cherokee that had a 4.7 V8. My question is how good are the newer Dana 44. Vs the older ones. I was wanting to put it on my Cherokee. Thanks for any help.

 

if its a rear, which it is. its probably a D44A = aluminum center section. Not a good axle.

a simple search would have shown this.

 

And with it coming from a grand it's not a direct swap. Grands use control arms and coil springs in the rear...

 

It is coil in the rear, but it's pretty easy to fab up the brackets for the leafs. Just wanted to know how strong they were. I have a 8.25 now in the rear.

 

Your 8.25 is much stronger than the aluminum d44a, which is a POS differential.
Why would you get rid of a 8.25 to swap in a D44? The 8.25 axle is every bit as good as the D44,
just buy alloy 29 spline shafts for it and run 35-36 inch tires or keep your 27 spline shafts and run up to 33s.

 

Ok thanks. Do I need to change the carrier for the 29 spline or is the axles all I need

 

I think you need to change the carrier, but I'm not 100% sure. I just went with a Detroit locker which is a full case locker, and replaces the carrier.

 

Yes you need to change the carrier. a carrier with 27 splines wont fit axles with 29 splines..

 

I knew he would have to replace the spider gears. Just do not know if the carrier has to be changed since I've heard that it does, and also that it does not need to be changed.

 

last time i said you had to change the carrier, trekkerjim said you didnt need to

 

maybe you dont honestly ive never changed gears, or shafts. yet.

 

Exactly!!

 

http://www.jeep4x4center.com/jeep-ax...herokee.htm#15 different part numbers for the two carriers

 

Free, I'm seeing the 27 spline carrier, but nothing about the 29 spline carrier.

 

on randy's ring and pinion they are different part numbers and listings...

27 spline 8.25" axle carrier

29 spline 8.25" axle carrier

these carriers are pricey... i would recommend getting the shafts and carrier from a JY axle and swapping it into yours. or a full locker and shafts.