Topic: Front D44 Q

[jcsanders79]

Does anyone know if an 06' Rubicon front d44 axle will fit a 97' TJ.  I saw something saying the 06 was different than the 03-05 front Rubi D44?  I thought that the 06' had the same specs as the 97 but wanted to make sure before I buy a housing.  Thanks, Chris.

[Jeffy]

I don't really see why it wouldn't.  If there are any differences then they would be minor.

[Bounty Hunter]

It will fit.

[jcsanders79]

What do you guys think of this?
"This is a front axle housing off a 2006 Rubicon in servicable used condition and all the suspension brackets are straight! It may have a slight tweak in the right axle tube but it already has what appears to be a 1.5 degree offset ball joint installed, which is common practice, and it was working fine till removed for insurance replacement. It is bare housing with no gears or bearings, but upper and lowar ball joints included.  It is for a Rubicon with factory air lockers and is listed as a Dana 216 FBI axle for the '06 model it came off, may fit other Rubi's, p/n 05083660AB, ck your numbers as prob will not fit other than TJ rubicon. A good find for the rockcrawlers out there. Sold as is, and you must pick up from Dallas! Unless you want to pay for rediculousshipping"

[Jeffy]

What do you guys think of this?
"This is a front axle housing off a 2006 Rubicon in servicable used condition and all the suspension brackets are straight! It may have a slight tweak in the right axle tube but it already has what appears to be a 1.5 degree offset ball joint installed, which is common practice, and it was working fine till removed for insurance replacement. It is bare housing with no gears or bearings, but upper and lowar ball joints included.  It is for a Rubicon with factory air lockers and is listed as a Dana 216 FBI axle for the '06 model it came off, may fit other Rubi's, p/n 05083660AB, ck your numbers as prob will not fit other than TJ rubicon. A good find for the rockcrawlers out there. Sold as is, and you must pick up from Dallas! Unless you want to pay for rediculousshipping"

But what's the price?  A bare housing will require a lot of parts.

[Bounty Hunter]

If the price is right, and the 1.5 balljoint fixes ALL the alignment issues, then it may not be bad.  But if it's a bare housing, you're buying the same housing you have with a slightly stonger center chunk, and it's bent.

Rubi 44's aren't all that, unless you can get them for a song.

[jcsanders79]

$100, mainly want it for the ability to go past 4.88

[jcsanders79]

plus about 100-150 for shipping. 

[Bounty Hunter]

According to this http://completeoffroad.com/c-66903-dana-44-rp-sets-rubicon-tj.html I'm not sure you can go any deeper than 5.13, just one step lower than 4.88.

If it were me, I'd take that $200-$250 and put it into a bracket kit for a Waggy D44.  Then you can go 5.38 if needed, have serviceable bearings (a big plus), stronger axle tubes, and more abundant and cheaper highsteer options.

Or buy a tweaked housing just to have a Rubi d44.

[jcsanders79]

I'm on the fence.  The rubicon gears only go up to 5.13 because they are for the rubi locker, which requires thick gearing.  I'd be putting an OX locker into any axle I get and could go 5.38 then (which is what I want).  The 01' TJ D44 I have in the rear has standard R&P on a standard Carrier.  The only reason I'm more likely to go rubi axle is I don't have a welder (or skills) and fab work is expensive.

[Bounty Hunter]

Here's a good option for a front d44 if you don't have mad fab skills, just pay somebody for some welding to attach this truss to a Waggy d44: http://www.gotreks.com/page.asp?pageid=175

[jcsanders79]

Went with the Rubi housing, I already had shafts for it and it only ended up costing me $173.58 shipping and all!  So now all I need are OX lockers and gears!