Dana 44

[jeffc80444]

I am wanting to replace my stock 35 with a dana 44, I have found a few with a 3.54 axle ratio and my 35 has a 3.55 axle ratio. Can I swap a 44 with 3.54? Also my stock 30 up front is a 3.55 ratio as well. Will it hurt anything to put a 3.54 ratio on the back?:xj-green:

[finneys98xj]

You will be fine.

[XJ Wheeler]

Yep, not enough difference to worry about.

Sent via messenger pigeon - i talk, he types.

[ArmyGuy45]

I am wanting to replace my stock 35 with a dana 44, I have found a few with a 3.54 axle ratio and my 35 has a 3.55 axle ratio. Can I swap a 44 with 3.54? Also my stock 30 up front is a 3.55 ratio as well. Will it hurt anything to put a 3.54 ratio on the back?:xj-green:

May I inquire where you found these 44s?

[jeffc80444]

I find them on Craigslist every now n then. Hard to find direct bolt on from an older Cherokee.

[07Negative]

Depending on your wheeling style and long term goals. I wouldn't completely disregard the 8.25 as an option. Easy to come by, rather cheap to build up, and really not that bad of an axle. There are many nay sayers, but I've been wheeling mine locked, stock and 33's soon to be 35's. I will be looking into better shafts and disk brakes. But again, depends on your style and goals.

[jeffc80444]

Thanks but from the way I understand it the early 8.25's necked down at the splines(27) and at that point are smaller diameter than a 35. That's what I have on mine now with a Spartan spool locker, stock gears and only 30" tires but eventually I want to go to a 3 1/2" lift with 32's. So the 44 in my opinion will be more or less worry free wheelin for my style.

[4.3LXJ]

Not to argue, but the later 8.25 with the 29 spline axle is a good axle for that and easy to come by. However, the real advantage of the 44 is the upgrades you can get for them. You can go up to 35 splines on custom axles that won't break for anyone

[nickxj94]

Friend of mine been bashing on his 8.25 for 7 years and only broke one axle shaft and the spider gears about a month ago, it is welded! Now he upgraded to 29 spline USA alloys, stock spiders and welded up.:D

Sent from my U670C using Tapatalk 2

[07Negative]

If you get 98' to 01' 8.25. It's a 29 spline. I find them for 100-200 bux. Folks price gouge XJ D44 like crazy. But a 8.25 can be very well built for about a grand. Look what Eric did with his for years on end. Ericsxj.com. This fella wheeled the snot out of his. Don't buy into the online hype. But as I stated before. It's all about your wheeling style & future goals. 32 or 33's tire on a 8.25 is plenty strong.