Klondike

I picked up a Dana 44 front. I was thinking about welding the spider gears and putting manual locking hubs on it. That way I could unlock the hubs and I wouldnt have to worry about any chirping from the tires as I go around a corner. in my mind it seems like a good idea but I just wanted to hear some feedback. This would be cheaper than getting a locker but Im not sure if it would work out in the long run.
Thanks.

ktmracer419

all my friends with spooled fronts leave one hub unlocked and constantly get out and relock it when they need the traction. with both locked its a pain in the *** to turn. im a fan of having at least a cheap autolocker in there

caged

yeah, don't weld the front. the 44 uses the same u-joint as most late model d30s.
if you forget to unlock one side, or get on some rock, the weak point becomes either the joint, or the hub. and changing either on the trail is a bit of a pita.
joints are cheap, hubs, not really...

b. lee

Plus, a broken axle joint is rarely JUST a broken axle joint. It usually mangles one or both axles as well.

I've run welded fronts in the past, twice, and while the traction is really nice, it's a real hassle to turn, and it broke stuff like crazy. It was a CJ Dana 30.

It is cheap, although a used D44 locker would probably also be cheap and a fairly easy find.

btm24

Welding=Bad

Locker=Good

Brandon

mdnov

X'S 2

flyingstick

I hated manual locking hubs. It's usually raining or your in a foot deep mud and soup when you have to get out and lock them in or out.

Klondike

I would have them locked on the trail. I wouldn't run them locked on the road. Be that as it may, I am leaning towards a locker now. It will probably be easier/cheaper in the long run.

PingPong

I went from a d30 with a lock right.. always makng 3 point turns, to a d44 with a arb... now I wheel around like an unlocked rig.. flip a switch then it is game on.. after obstacle.. unlock and tool around. Much less wear. I also run drive flanges for ease of use, and lack of breakage.

FloydXJ

You will kick yourself for welding the front spiders. In almost any wheeling terrain it would be more of a burden than its worth. Definitely a locker (not a spool).

My375hp302

My front is welded and I love it, I have a disconnect axle tho so on the street it acts like a open diff but on the trail it climbs like a mountain goat. Best of both worlds. Now if I could just find the shafts from a 95 yj with abs id be set because they use the 297 joint but retain the disconnect.

caged

i've looked for those for years. never could find them.

i almost think it's a myth.

Gorillaxj

X2, I have a locker up front, Its still a PITA to turn, wouldn't want it welded...

My375hp302

Nah, they're out there. There's a set on Ebay right now, I'm just not going to pay 300 bucks for them. For that price I'd just get a D44 from a J10