THINES8

Wanting to do the dana 44 swap from the rodeo possibly here soon was wondering what all I need to do and seeing its a six lug what should I do for the front? Swap it too or what? Got a new job so $ will be headed to the jeep! 33s soon too! Any help or advice would help! Thanks!

freegdr

ford explorer or 8.25 keeps same pattern on lugs

bluedragon436

I would say either go with the 8.8 as mentioned above.. same bolt pattern and you can usually get it with disc brakes already insstalled. Or pick up either a Ch 8.25 or D44 out of an XJ... where it would keep the same bolt pattern, and both of those options would be completely bolt in options for your XJ..

freegdr

8.25 29 spline would be the easy choice its bolt in and gears would match front if the donor vechicle has same tranny 90percent of the time

SeriousOffroad

The Isuzu D44 is a great axle and can be adapted to a 5 lug pattern.

One of the nice features is the shafts are equal length, unlike an XJ/TJ D44. You'll need new spring perches, u-bolts & plates, shock mounts, and possibly a new yoke to match the XJ's 1310 driveshaft yoke.

8.25 (29 spline) is a good axle as well and nearly as strong as a D44. A set of alloy shafts and a disc brake conversion would really sweeten the pot.

Ford 8.8's are beefy, but they do have a rather large diff. On 33's you'll drag it a lot. Not going to go into too much detail on this one since it's been covered numerous times already.

PingPong

The easiest way to get the 6 lug to match is to run a waggy width d44 in the front. Yeah it means a bunch of fab work, but it will be the easiest way.

THINES8

Thanks everyone, im still hung up on which one to go with, i know i want to do both front and back axles, I figured if im going to do it im going to do it all! Theres goods and bads of them all but for the hard part which to choose

THINES8

Guy off CL has a high pinion d44 front and ford 9 inch rear for 250, would these work together or no?

dev_daddy

Well if you're only running 33 inch tires, your d30 in the front should be just fine. and an 8.25 would be perfect as well. don't make more work for yourself than you need to. i say find a 8.25 and bolt it right in without any modification whatsoever. and drive away. can swap your old axle out and one of those in, in just about an hour.

freegdr

not bolt in but will work

SeriousOffroad

Are they already set up with all of the brackets neded to bolt them under your XJ?

THINES8

No they aren't the guy basically has a bronco and F150/250 JY going on at his farm, I don't mind a little work, I work at Firestone so I work fours days a week with three days off so I have a lil time to work with. I have kinda a dumb question but isnt the 8.25 only a tad step up from the D35 or have I heard wrong? Depending on year I guess too..

freegdr

true but it direct bolt in the 8.8 is stromnger and geared better i think factory 410s but again theres fab work,they do sell a kit for the conversion though

Garvin

Honestly, everything is a step up from a D35. I've had two D35's go bad so far from just street driving between my the three Jeeps I've had that were on the road. If you go for the Chrysler 8.25 29 spline, they're about as strong as a D44, which is more than enough for 33's. I just swapped in a Chrysler 8.25 27 spline in the back of my Comanche with 33x12.5's and have no real worries about it.

XJPRO

what kind of fab work for the 8.8 and what are they out of?