Author Topic: JK wagoneer D44 question  (Read 4460 times)

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Offline Bounty Hunter

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Re: JK wagoneer D44 question
« Reply #15 on: August 18, 2012, 07:59:03 AM »
And you still end up with cheesy unit bearings, limited and expensive high steer options, and no locking hubs. 

Offline sharpxmen

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Re: JK wagoneer D44 question
« Reply #16 on: August 18, 2012, 08:00:56 AM »
so what's a good choice for a JK then?
'95 YJ, NSG370 6spd / Hurst shifter, Dana 300 + 4:1 Doubler / tri-stick, Custom skid, Super D35 / Auburn LSD / 4.88, 35x12.5x15 BFG KM2, 64mm t/b, 1.7 RollerRockers, MkVIII e-fan, Dual Diaph Booster
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Offline Bounty Hunter

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Re: JK wagoneer D44 question
« Reply #17 on: August 18, 2012, 11:20:35 AM »
If I were going to wheel it, I'd upgrade to the parts I mentioned. No amount of sleeving or gussets will make the unit bearings survive oversized tires for any decent length of time.

Offline sharpxmen

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Re: JK wagoneer D44 question
« Reply #18 on: August 18, 2012, 11:42:03 AM »
If I were going to wheel it, I'd upgrade to the parts I mentioned. No amount of sleeving or gussets will make the unit bearings survive oversized tires for any decent length of time.

cutting down the tubes would be quite challenging to get right, i'm sure is not a problem for you but for the rest of us (most of us) would be quite an adventure, i'd be worried to get all the angles right.
'95 YJ, NSG370 6spd / Hurst shifter, Dana 300 + 4:1 Doubler / tri-stick, Custom skid, Super D35 / Auburn LSD / 4.88, 35x12.5x15 BFG KM2, 64mm t/b, 1.7 RollerRockers, MkVIII e-fan, Dual Diaph Booster
Latest: Corbeau BajaRS heated seats :dance: keeping warm the rear end

Offline neale_rs

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Re: JK wagoneer D44 question
« Reply #19 on: August 18, 2012, 08:08:01 PM »
And you still end up with cheesy unit bearings, limited and expensive high steer options, and no locking hubs. 

The majority of jeepers never get true high steer nor locking hubs and are doing fine out having fun on pretty tough trails.  The unit bearings are not so bad, they hold up reasonably well as long as the tires don't stick out too far.  I know several guys who wheel JKs with 37s and they are not replacing unit bearings all the time. Locking hubs break too, the most extreme builds don't use them.

It's kind of hard to specify the ultimate D44.  Some ground rules would need to be set down: budget, need for custom fab, whether or not to allow aftermarket parts, what vehicle it will go into, etc.

The main thing that allows the JK to run 37s is the stronger u-joints, which is what most often breaks first on all previous D44s.  A close second is that the R&P is stronger. These are things that JK owners will find very hard to give up.   They would probably get D60s before going with an earlier D44.



 


'95 YJ, 33 x 12.5 mud tires, RE 4.5 ED lift, Atlas 4 speed, rear D44, ARBs front and rear, 4.56 gears, 8000# winch

Offline stan98tj

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Re: JK wagoneer D44 question
« Reply #20 on: August 19, 2012, 12:57:12 AM »
My buddy is beefing up his Rubi 44 for his JK. RCV shafts, sleeve, gusset and heavy duty hubs. I watched a few vids on RCV products and they claim their Dana44 shafts essentially give the axle the strength of a stock Dana 60. I was pretty impressed and am thinking of beefing up my Dana 30 with them.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/5L_gaycyglk?" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/5L_gaycyglk?</a>
98 TJ 35"Maxxis Trep.Old Man Emu 2.5""+1"BL,IronMan Fab control arms,4.56gears,Ford 8.8+ARB,Currie/IronMan steering, WARN VR10,HP D30 sleeved+ RCV,Body Armor Rock Rails WISHLIST:TDi.Girlfriend hates it :) If you can read this don't flip me over i dont have any $$ left to fix it

Offline sharpxmen

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Re: JK wagoneer D44 question
« Reply #21 on: August 19, 2012, 07:54:51 AM »
after watching the vid my understanding is that what they're saying is the joint is as strong as the stock D60 ujoint, not the axle.
'95 YJ, NSG370 6spd / Hurst shifter, Dana 300 + 4:1 Doubler / tri-stick, Custom skid, Super D35 / Auburn LSD / 4.88, 35x12.5x15 BFG KM2, 64mm t/b, 1.7 RollerRockers, MkVIII e-fan, Dual Diaph Booster
Latest: Corbeau BajaRS heated seats :dance: keeping warm the rear end

Offline aw12345

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Re: JK wagoneer D44 question
« Reply #22 on: August 19, 2012, 01:31:00 PM »
Going opinion is that a built and beefed up JK Dana 44 is adequate for 37's so Stan have your buddy do his thing and then have fun wheelin.
As for you the RCV axles would not be3 a bad investment or any good chrome axle setup for that matter.
2006 Jeep Wrangler TJ SE
2004 Jeep Wrangler TJ SE