Dana 44 swap 99 xj
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Joined: Jun 2013
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From: Epping, NH
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
A buddy of mine has a 79 bronco that he's junking and it has locked Dana 44s on it. Will these work on an xj? What will I have to change/fab?
They will work, but they will be full width. You'll have to cut all the spring, shock, and control arm mounts off (as long as the mounts on the front are not cast, I don't remember what years had the cast wedges), and weld all new mounts and perches on them.
And a 79 Bronco should have a D44 front and 9" rear. Not D44's front and rear.
And a 79 Bronco should have a D44 front and 9" rear. Not D44's front and rear.
Last edited by kirknd4spd; Aug 30, 2013 at 06:48 PM.
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From: Epping, NH
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Alright thanks for the info. I thought I was going to have to do a lot more. I didn't think of the full size either. I'm going to have to look into so new flairs...
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From: Epping, NH
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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From: Soddy Daisy TN
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
79 will have cast wedges so your only option is to run a ford type radius arm. Not that it's a bad thing. Modified with a heim or johnny type joint on the frame end they work exactly like most aftermarket long/radius arms. The spring mounts will need modified as well because they are too wide. Rear will pretty much bolt up except for the drive shaft. These axles are roughly 8" wider than stock.
Or buy it cheap and resell it its used a lot in solid axle swaps on 80-96 broncos/f150s.If you want something xj width the early bronco was smaller or a fsj 80 or newer wagoneer.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2013
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From: Epping, NH
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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From: LI, NY
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0, bolt ons for days...
79 will have cast wedges so your only option is to run a ford type radius arm. Not that it's a bad thing. Modified with a heim or johnny type joint on the frame end they work exactly like most aftermarket long/radius arms. The spring mounts will need modified as well because they are too wide. Rear will pretty much bolt up except for the drive shaft. These axles are roughly 8" wider than stock.
and you can get the tires covered by bushwackers, you just need to run wheels with a crazy deep offset, are big enough to fit over the brakes, and then make sure the wheels dont contact the steering up front.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 20
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From: Epping, NH
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
This seems like its going to turn into more of a project then I wanted it to haha I think I'm just going to pull them out and flip them
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From: Soddy Daisy TN
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Axle swaps are big projects. Most people think they can just swap in whatever but there is a ton of fab and even more little things most people don't think about like drive shaft lengths and u-joint sizes. The only easy swaps are ones that came from another XJ.


