burg3rlicious

I run 33s with stock gears and was considering my axle/gear options. I came across someone selling a pair of dana 44s out of an 88 Wagoneer, rebuilt with 4.88 gears and spools, front trussed, warn hubs and newer brake parts.
Obviously these would be an upgrade from my stock axles (HPd30 and c8. 25) but he wants $$$. I know the fronts of those are low pinion (I think), and 44s aren't too much of an upgrade compared an 8.25 (so I've read) but they are fully built and set up for an xj so it would be an easy swap. I'd mostly want to get rid of the spools, otherwise they're perfect. Wanted to know what you all thought. Any advice is appreciated.

andrewmp6

Depends if you want bigger tires later on or not.If your staying 33s or maybe 35s keep what you got.If you want to go 37s then the dana 44s would be worth the swap depending price.

Big David

Waggoner 44 is LP. If you get rid of the spools you still need carriers & set the gears up again. Can you do this you self or have a buddy that can? If not, more $$$$$.

I'd keep looking. Ford 44/9 with a regear & brackets would be good.

burg3rlicious

Thanks for the input. I guess it really comes down to the money, I'm not handy with a welder so that's more cash I would have to put towards building Ford axles, or even regearing my currents would still technically be more expensive. I only plan on running 35s however. My only logic behind getting these 44s is that it's the most inexpensive route but if I need to change the carriers it will likely cost a bit more than I initially thought.

xjmarc

I like spools personally but that's me and I don't drive mine on pavement. Do you know if they are full spools or mini spools? If they are minis you can pull them and slap in spiders or a lunchbox and be done if you don't like the spools. In the front since it has locking hubs a spool wouldn't be an issue anyway. If they are less than a grand I'd jump on them since they are already geared and trussed and ready to bolt in. The 8.25 is plenty strong but the 44 doesn't have c-clips and that's a huge plus right there. You will need new wheels too but 6 lugs are a dime a dozen just like the 5 lugs on jeeps.

burg3rlicious

They are mini spools fortunately, I'm definitely going to throw a lunchbox in the rear if I get them. He wants 2500 for the pair.... I'm hoping I can them for a grand a piece. It's incredibly tempting but for 2500 that's pushing it.. I mean hell I bought my rig for that much haha. It would be a significant improvement. And the way I see it is I'd spend the equivalent on regearing my axles anyway...

Fred/N0AZZ

Keep what you have your better off anyway over those and just re-gear and put lockers in yours, the ones you have are plenty strong for what you plan on. I have the same setup as yours and mine is mostly all off road 33x12:50's, 4.56 gears and Detroit Lockers.

srb53150

arent those 44's full width ? so like really too wide for a xj, tires might stick way out. is your jeep street driven/ offroad or offroad only ? lp fronts are lame the yoke hits everything & driveshaft angle is steep on a lifted jeep. tread carefully you might open a can of worms w/ that swap, i say build what you got . then you know exactly what you got.

XJ-92

Wagga 44s are actually the same width, maybe an inch wider in front but that's about it.

srb53150

ok , didnt know that .thx but still the dreaded low pinion.

xjmarc

2500 is about twice what I'd expect to pay for those. I can get a built set of tons for that. Stock those axles would be 500 max and while the parts may come close to that number they are used parts and should be priced as such. Somebody is just trying to recoop some money they spent. Maybe with chromo axles and good joints and rear disc and real full case lockers but not 100 buck mini spools.

burg3rlicious

Good insight, he claims that there are less than 100 miles on the parts but you're right that it is very pricey regardless. I'm taking a look at them tomorrow and seeing if I can potentially strike a better deal. I'll post updates.

XJlimitedx99

The fact that there's only 100 miles on them throws a red flag for me. Why do all that just to pull them out after 100 miles?

andrewmp6

Yeah 100 miles unless he totaled the jeep they was in it somethings wrong with them.

burg3rlicious

Yeah I can ask him today in person and I'm going to check them out. If he's not a sketchy guy and I can get them for the right price I'll go for it.