Author Topic: Best front axle  (Read 4151 times)

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yjsandaddict

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Best front axle
« on: December 26, 2009, 08:41:55 PM »
I just finished putting my 8.8 in the rear and im looking for a front axle. Im on a college budget so a custom ordered axle isnt really an option. Im sure you guys are tired of hearing this but i couldnt find a direct answer. Is there a way to get a dana 44 front that still lets me use my 5x4.5 wheels other than a rubicon axle?  I dont mind the fab work, im just low on cash. Im not going bigger than 37s, i just want to gear to 5.13 to match the rear. Is it possible to take the ifs reverse 8.8 tube it with 30 knuckles and make a hybrid dana 30/8.8? Im just looking for options that let me keep my new wheels. If you have advice or builds id appreciate it. Thanks

Offline Jeffy

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Re: Best front axle
« Reply #1 on: December 26, 2009, 08:52:08 PM »
I think there is a Dodge axles that's a D44 and uses D30 outers which will allow you to retain your 4.5" pattern but I'm not sure on the width.  I would go with a Rubicon D44 if that's your goal.  It will be a lot simpler since it's teh right width and fairly readily available.  Buy a empty housing since you want to regear it as well as reuse your D30's outers to cut cost.
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Torch_Ind

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Re: Best front axle
« Reply #2 on: December 26, 2009, 09:01:22 PM »
I think there is a Dodge axles that's a D44 and uses D30 outers which will allow you to retain your 4.5" pattern but I'm not sure on the width.  I would go with a Rubicon D44 if that's your goal.  It will be a lot simpler since it's teh right width and fairly readily available.  Buy a empty housing since you want to regear it as well as reuse your D30's outers to cut cost.

you can just swap the bearings over from the d30?

Offline Jeffy

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Re: Best front axle
« Reply #3 on: December 26, 2009, 09:03:15 PM »
you can just swap the bearings over from the d30?
No, internals are not interchangeable.
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Offline aw12345

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Re: Best front axle
« Reply #4 on: December 27, 2009, 01:56:56 AM »
If  gearing over 4.88 is not an issue a HP dana 30 will do just fine, the biggest advantage of the rubicon dana 44 is the ablility to go further with the gearing other than that the locker isn't the greatest the spindles and bearings and outer stubs are the same as the dana 30 and so are the C's the axle tubes are not any stronger and it costs a heck of a lot more. Find a dana 30 HP regear to your liking and spend the rest on lockers and good chromolly axle shafts and be happu
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Offline Jeffy

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Re: Best front axle
« Reply #5 on: December 27, 2009, 02:35:37 AM »
If  gearing over 4.88 is not an issue a HP dana 30 will do just fine, the biggest advantage of the rubicon dana 44 is the ablility to go further with the gearing other than that the locker isn't the greatest the spindles and bearings and outer stubs are the same as the dana 30 and so are the C's the axle tubes are not any stronger and it costs a heck of a lot more. Find a dana 30 HP regear to your liking and spend the rest on lockers and good chromolly axle shafts and be happu
His rear is geared to 5.13 and he's wanting to match the front to the rear.
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Torch_Ind

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Re: Best front axle
« Reply #6 on: December 27, 2009, 10:13:36 AM »
What axles can you use to get bigger then 5.13s?

Offline FourbangerYJ

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Re: Best front axle
« Reply #7 on: December 27, 2009, 11:43:39 AM »
What axles can you use to get bigger then 5.13s?
D44's (old school ones) D60's, 9 inch.
The 5 on 4.5 thing will not make it easy to upgrade the front. Most of the D44's ETC are 5 on 5.5 or 6 on 5.5 or 8 lug, which can be converted to the others. Sounds like the Rubi housing would be the easiest route.
I think that Dodge D44 that Jeffy was talking about is a pass. drop, not 100% sure.
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Offline Jeffy

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Re: Best front axle
« Reply #8 on: December 27, 2009, 01:00:54 PM »
What axles can you use to get bigger then 5.13s?
The Rubicon D44 can take gears lower then 5.13 if you get rid of the locker.  The locker is a 3.79 or higher carrier which requires thick gears or shims to make standard gears for the lower ratios to work.  Get rid of the locker or shim the gears and you can go to 5.89's if you want.
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Offline jagular7

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Re: Best front axle
« Reply #9 on: December 27, 2009, 02:21:27 PM »
I think you may have outgeared yourself (5.13s) with the 4.5bp. Biggest limitation is the 4.5bp. It limits the hub/spindle diameter for any acceptable bearing size for a front axle. You are sort of working backwards to get a matching set of axles.
Cheapest would be to sell the 8.8, look for matching axles to work with a set of matching r&ps.

Probably the cheapest option of getting a front axle to match the 8.8 in the rear with the 5.13, is to figure a D44 front axle (low or high pinion), then match a set of wheels for it, then match a conversion spacer on the 8.8 to match the wheels. If you can locate a Rubicon TJ D44 housing, then you could add the 5.13s and swap over your TJD30 stuff. But that can add up initially but nickle/dimes won't hurt you with the D30 swap stuff.

A front D44 can come from a 80s Wagoneer for a low pinion or late 70s Ford for a high pinion. 5.13 would be available for either. Wagoneer would be wider than stock mws but not by much. It was SUA leaf mount but there should be enough axle tube on driver's side to add a link setup. Ford front, you could actually modify to make it Wagoneer wide with shortening one side for a stock inner shaft. You would probably want a F250 D44RHD (3/4ton) where the tubes are 1/2" wall thick and axle is leaf mounted. Plenty of axle tube surface for mounting a link suspension. If you find a 1/2ton front, don't be disappointed. The tubes are thinner walled, axle tubes are not continuous, and the cast wedges are welded to the tubes but figure they were bolted into Broncos that weighed nearly 6k#s or more. Suspension setup will include a radius arm design (axle 'C' cups). Duffy and Cage both provide long radius arm setups with large heims for the Ford radius arm design suspensio. Or you could build your own.
Nikcle/diming can hurt here with brakes, tie rod ends, track bar setup, suspension setup, etc.

Not many other options out there to make a front axle to match a 5.13 geared rear axle with a 4.5bp.
Jagular7
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yjsandaddict

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Re: Best front axle
« Reply #10 on: December 28, 2009, 12:30:26 AM »
Thanks for the help, I think Im going to try and find a Rubicon axle at a decent price and just build it up as time goes on. The main thing I need is ring and pinion so Ill do that then add chromoly shafts and thick wall tubes later. I dont do many hardcore trails so it should last in my daily driver. The main thing I liked was it comes with a locker which I dont have. Thanks again for you help

Offline Bounty Hunter

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Re: Best front axle
« Reply #11 on: December 29, 2009, 06:39:53 PM »
I would recommend using a wagoneer front d44.  Get a bracket kit, Scout outers for the 5x5.5" wheel pattern, and redrill the 8.8 wheel flange for 5x5.5".  You will be in it for less money and have a lot better front axle than a Rubi44.  You will have great less expensive highsteer options, serviceable wheel bearings, stronger axle housing, larger brakes, etc.

You can also get a Super 88 kit for the rear axle which comes predrilled for the 5x4.5" wheel pattern and the 5x5.5", all while using hardened shafts and no c-clips.

Offline Jeffy

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Re: Best front axle
« Reply #12 on: December 29, 2009, 08:31:26 PM »
He's wanting to keep his 5 on 4.5" bolt pattern.
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Offline Bounty Hunter

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Re: Best front axle
« Reply #13 on: December 30, 2009, 12:00:03 AM »
I wouldn't let wheels dictate running an inferior axle.  I did miss the part about wanting to keep the wheels, incorrectly assumed he wanted to keep the small wheel pattern to match the 8.8 rear.

yjsandaddict

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Re: Best front axle
« Reply #14 on: January 05, 2010, 01:29:30 PM »
do you know the hub diameter on the wagoneer axle?