ArmyGraham

If I were to put some rubicon axels under my XJ how much work would be involved you think?

xjbeadlocks

a TJ rubicon or JK?

TJ rubi front axle will bolt right up. I run one. The TJ rear axle wont needs brackets cut off and perches welded on.

JK rubi will not bolt on. New front brackets and again perches for the rear

Search and destroy

The dana 44 in the rubicon is just a beefed up Dana 30. So it's an upgrade but not an actual 44. So if you were looking for 44's in this swap your not going to get a true 44. It's still worth it if you find them for cheap.

ArmyGraham

Ok thanks

ArmyGraham

They had elockers right?

xjmarc

Early ones were air lockers later got a electric locker, not an elocker, that's a brand. Unless you find some cheap don't bother. Front is a low pinion 44 center section, the rest is a D30.

xjbeadlocks

JP mag compared the JK 44s to the TJ 44s and the tubes were WAY beefier on the JK axles. IIRC, they were larger diameter and like 2x the thickness of the TJ tubes.

the OLD Rubi D44s were weak, but the NEW Rubi D44s share only the knuckles with the 30. Everything else is a major step up.

xjbeadlocks

this is not correct. the tj d44 is somewhat beefed up d30. the jk d44 is not even close to the tj44.

and this is not correct. the jk d44 are HP. the pinion is massive compared to a tj d44 and also has thicker tubes, larger brakes, larger ball joints.

xjmarc

I was referring to the TJ version. Do some more research and you'll see both the JK 30 and 44 suffer from the axle breaking off at the inner C. Not an axle I'd want to run. Yes the JK is stronger and even has a special ring gear and shafts but it still has weaknesses over the older 44s from the 70s and 80s.

xjbeadlocks

I agree saw some nasty pics of the tubes shattering. wonder if a truss will help?

xjmarc

Truss no but gussets from tube to inner Cs couldn't hurt. I just can't see spending a grand for a stock axle unless it's a ton and even then that's high. They just aren't worth what people try and sell them for.

ArmyGraham

Ok thanks for the insight. I want to upgrade my axels when I go stateside just haven't decided to what. I'm going to be running 35s, and I want to get lockers, what's my best option then without destroying my wallet.

xjmarc

Get some ABS shafts for your front D30, same size u-joint as a D44, and it'll hold 35s as long as you aren't crazy with it. 8.25 rear out of a 97+ XJ is the cheapest and easiest bolt in and will also hold 35s again not being too heavy footed.

ArmyGraham

Was there a difference in the 8.25 from before 97?

nitro450exp

Depending of what U joints you have in your XJ, the front is an upgrade, to 760X joints and a 44 30 spline center and inners.
You can get 30 spline outers and hubs from Axle USA, but joint is still 760X.
That is the weak point.

Nitro