Hey all. So I have been reading a ton on the forum and I have one question. It seems as if the dana 44 out of an earlier XJ is the best/easiest for the rear axle because it's a direct swap but what is everyone running for the front? Just the stock 30 with chromo shafts or somethin? Is that a viable option? Thanks!

Shayn

 

What tire size are you going to? Anything up to 35s you'll be fine with the Dana 30.

What kind of wheeling you planning on doing?

 

My eventual plan is 33s with 3 inch lift. I may go 35 but that wouldn't be for a while. I'm putting a 3 inch lift and 31s on the xj this December and once the 31s wear out I will go to 33's. After the 33's go out I might go for 35s but i don't know that will be in a while. I'm mainly going for a LCG build. And mostly rock crawlin with a mix of everything else....

 

High pinion Dana 30 with the 297x ujoints (most common with ABS) or a 44 out of a TJ Rubicon, but those can get expensive. However both are direct bolt in's and strong-ish..Also depends on what your gonna do with it and the tire size you plan to run.

With a little work, a Ford 8.8 with 31 spline shafts is the best bang for your buck for a rear axle in an XJ....plus you get disk brakes....plus its stronger than a 44 by quite a bit.

 

Stay with a Dana 30. It's more than enough for you for now. When you're looking for 35" tires, that's when you should revisit the front axle option. If anything, just get some better shafts for now.

 

do you think a dana 30 is worth chromo shafts, new gears and a locker? that's my only concern...i don't want to put a bunch of money into something that still isn't going to be any good...

 

If you want a stock width front 80-91 jeep wagoneer but its a low pinion dana 44.The rear like said 95-01 ford explorer or 93 up isuzu rodeo/honda passport dana 44 it is 6x5.5 lug pattern but so is the wagoneer dana 44.

 

you wont need chromos for 33's. just find some shafts from a newer XJ or TJ (95-2001), grind them out for full circle snap rings, load up some spicer 760 ujoints and you're good. I ran a fully built D30. only things I would do different is a full case locker (grizzly) and WJ brakes and a truss.

of course chromos are sweet and go great in a D30 if you want to swing the cash. D30 works great for 35" tires. but if I did it again I might try to figure out a little D44 build instead. if you can do a front axle swap I'd probably do it

I think everyone who fully builds a D30 runs it for awhile, it works, but eventually it breaks and they sell it for a loss. myself and plenty others sure have. but the same thing can be said for a D44. but if you're not going bigger than 33's then you can't go wrong with a D30

 

Well I have a 96 cherokee with ABS so do I already have the full circle snap rings? If I do does that mean i can drop in the 760 u joints?

 

no you don't. but what you have now is plenty strong enough.
if you leave the front open (no locker), you will never break on 33's.

 

Thanks! Well i'm definitely going to get lockers, so I would still need a 97 and newer axle shafts with upgraded u joints right?

 

you already have the bigger size ujoints then. the proper shafts are found in all 95-01 D30's. you can put in the 760's as a direct swap. you will have to grind to fit the full circle snap rings
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f46/bl...2/#post2058717

and yes you can still throw a cap on 33's open if you're not running full circle snap rings

 

Thanks for the help atmos. Are you still runnin a d30?

 

I'm going to try a Lunch Box Locker in my D 30 and 33x12:50x15". Mine is for general trail use.

 

nope just sold it for a huge loss. it took plenty of abuse over a year and only broke once (factory cross pin snapped). only things I'd do different is the LCA mounts NEED to be heavy duty if you're going to rock crawl. a grizzly locker, truss (braced passenger UCA mount), and WJ brakes would've all been added. but I knew it was a short term axle so I didnt put in the extra effort

it's a stout axle but everything has its draw backs