Topic: Rear ends

[damon54]

I knew the topic would catch someones attention. 

I'm about to pick up a front D44 from a 73 bronco, I have a cherokee d44 for the rear.  The guy selling the bronco 44 is also selling the 9 in rear end with it.  I was thinkning that if I stick with the cherokee 44 then I will have to have it drilled for the 5 on 5.5 bolt pattern to match the front, the 9 in however is already 5 on 5.5.  I wanted to know what anyone thought about just putting a ford 9 in in the rear of the yj instead of the cherokee 44.

[oldjeep]

I knew the topic would catch someones attention. 

I'm about to pick up a front D44 from a 73 bronco, I have a cherokee d44 for the rear.  The guy selling the bronco 44 is also selling the 9 in rear end with it.  I was thinkning that if I stick with the cherokee 44 then I will have to have it drilled for the 5 on 5.5 bolt pattern to match the front, the 9 in however is already 5 on 5.5.  I wanted to know what anyone thought about just putting a ford 9 in in the rear of the yj instead of the cherokee 44.

The 9" can be a pretty stout axle, almost Dana 60 strength.  I'd use the matching 9" and then sell the Cherokee 44 (Which is worth a fair amount of $$ these days)

[Jeffy]

I knew the topic would catch someones attention. 

I'm about to pick up a front D44 from a 73 bronco, I have a cherokee d44 for the rear.  The guy selling the bronco 44 is also selling the 9 in rear end with it.  I was thinkning that if I stick with the cherokee 44 then I will have to have it drilled for the 5 on 5.5 bolt pattern to match the front, the 9 in however is already 5 on 5.5.  I wanted to know what anyone thought about just putting a ford 9 in in the rear of the yj instead of the cherokee 44.

Sell the XJ D44 and stick with matching pair of axles.  The only downside to the EB 9" is that it's 28 spline but can be converted to 31 spline fairly easily.  All you'd need are some axles to be cut down from a F-series and the carrier.  The other down size is the low pinion although it's not that bad.

[Clem]

The EB 9 is a little narrower, but works well. That is how my housing is set up. (31 spline alloy shafts) I went a different route on the 44 front.

[Jeffy]

The EB 9 is a little narrower, but works well. That is how my housing is set up. (31 spline alloy shafts) I went a different route on the 44 front.

I've heard the castings can be a PITA to remove on the EB D44's.  The SJ D44 is easier to use but will need to be converted to 5 on 5.5".  Also the EB D44 has the diff more centered.  This can be a problem if you don't have enough lift or an auto transmission.

[Clem]

I used a Cherokee 44 and went with Dodge outers to get to 5 x 5.5. It was simple. The rotors are 12 inch. I don't have to remember ford this, chevy that. I know that from the inner knuckle out is dodge... I used a ford van master to stop it all. 

[95yjman]

How well would 44s from a wagoneer work under a YJ?

[damon54]

I've heard the castings can be a PITA to remove on the EB D44's.  The SJ D44 is easier to use but will need to be converted to 5 on 5.5".  Also the EB D44 has the diff more centered.  This can be a problem if you don't have enough lift or an auto transmission.

 

The setup will endup being the EB 44 up front and 9 inch in back with SOA on 1.5 in lift leaf springs giving a total of about 6 inches of lift.  I plan on  running 35s and regear to 5.38.   I just got the engine back from the shop and have to put that back together.  I went with a similar build as YJ mechanic but I left the CR alone so I could still run regular gas.  I figure is should be up to 180 -190 hp?   I am thinking that finding discs brakes for the 9 may be a little easier than finding some for the cherokee 44.  I could be wrong though.  400 bucks for both axles, couldnt pass that up.

[damon54]

From what Ive read tonight, it seems that the 9 in is a lot easier to work with that the d44  it looks like you can by an after market third member that is high pinion to replace the low pinion stock one. 

[damon54]

The 9" can be a pretty stout axle, almost Dana 60 strength.  I'd use the matching 9" and then sell the Cherokee 44 (Which is worth a fair amount of $$ these days)

Hey old jeep, on the 9 in can you order the third member all set up with gears already and just bolt it in or a I looking at that wrong.

[oldjeep]

Hey old jeep, on the 9 in can you order the third member all set up with gears already and just bolt it in or a I looking at that wrong.

You can buy low pinion 3rd members all set up with gears and lockers, but it's not cheap.   A 9" is one of those axles where gears are pretty easy to set up.

As far as swapping to a high pinion, there are only 2 options that I've heard of.  There is the True Hi 9 which costs a bazzillion dollars and uses gear sets that are made special for them, and there is also the currie stuff wich is actually an 8.8 gearset and locker.

[damon54]

Will the pinion angle be hard to overcome.  I should have about 6-7 inches of lift with the soa on 1.5 in ch springs.

[Clem]

How well would 44s from a wagoneer work under a YJ?

I meant to say waggy in my post. Sorry for the confusion. They work well.

[oldjeep]

Will the pinion angle be hard to overcome.  I should have about 6-7 inches of lift with the soa on 1.5 in ch springs.

Only way to find out is to measure.  The guy in our club who was running a 9" in a YJ was SOA with 36 and later 38" tires.  However he also had a 5.0L/C4/Atlas combo so his driveshaft was longer than you might wind up with.

[Jeep_Lust]

  I wanted to know what anyone thought about just putting a ford 9 in in the rear of the yj

For what it's worth: I've read several places that Ford came up with the 8.8 rear because the 9" rear was inefficient. I've seen it said that a 9" rear takes as much as 12 more hp than an 8.8 at crusing speed.

Dunno if it's true. The removable jackpot sure makes setup easy, though.... (If you have to put one in by yourself, spin the housing 90 deg. and drop it in from above...)