1998xjspt

i know people swap out rear axles for 8.8, d44, d60, 9bolt ect..but what are the options on swapping stock d30 axle? besides swapping to d44 or d60? might be an obvious question but iv never known of any other axle besides the 44 & 60 that people swap into the front in order to upgrade axles

Lead Foot

Not much options without going to passenger drop man. jeep 30, wrangler 44, waggy 44, ford 44, ford 60.

kirknd4spd

Not a bolt in swap, but Unimog axles would be awesome under an XJ.

andrewmp6

It also depends on how you use the jeep and tire size on what front axle you need.The reason people use dana 44s and 60s is they are the most common front axles under older 4x4s.The wrangler 44 is a bolt in but its not a true dana 44 its more like a dana 30 with a 44 diff in it.Only other axles are over kill like a rockwell or unimog portal which both are pricey too.Or ford used a dana 50 in the f250 its kinda junk its a dana 44 center in a dana 60 housing with weak axles that step down.Look around on here some beef up the dana 30 and run a 35 or bigger and it lives for years.

1998xjspt

whats the best 44? wrangler, waggy or ford?

94XjSport94

Out of those, a ford.

93XJLI

i was contemplating running toy 8s for a while, but the one driver drop toyota front 8 is super rare and like 55" wms-wms.

Lead Foot

76 or 77 ford with disk and welded on wedges or spring perch.

http://77cj.littlekeylime.com/Dana44_2.htm

1998xjspt

whats better 8.8 or d44? i heard 8.8 is stronger, is it cheaper to go with 8.8 or built 44? or 44 or built 8.8?

94XjSport94

8.8 is a rear and the D44 is a front axle we are talking about.

I would do an 8.8 out back.

BNJeepsta

The 8.8 is a rear axle. If you're talking rear axles, the 8.8 is stronger than the xj D44.

1998xjspt

what year 8.8 is supreme? and the 44 out of what year and vehicle?

BNJeepsta

The 8.8 is much narrower than most 44's you'll find and it has a 5 on 4.5 bolt pattern. If you insist on swapping a 44 front I would suggest a 76-77 ford f100/f150 axle and get the matching 9" for the rear. If you want 8 lug go with 77.5-79 F250 d44 with the matching rear. You could also use a 73-75 f150/f100 d44 and swap it for Chevy or FSJ knuckles and brakes.

elkwagn

Why 76-77 on the ford axle? What is the difference between those and a 78-79? I'm talking D44. Both sets of years have the cast wedges don't they?

BNJeepsta

A lot of 78-79's have thinner tubes. Read the link on the first page. Its got a ton of good info on this.