cherokee dana44 into 99 tj

[mossyoaktj]

found a rear end out of a 97 cherokee. its a dana 44. how hard would it be to put this into a tj. i figure it would be the same as puttin a 8.8. with into the tj with having to weld brackets. looking for more info. i was planning on buying the front off of the guy but figured i might as well get the set.

[WrenchMonkey]

Well, you know it's not the stock 97 axle, right? 44s in 87, 88, maybe 89.

It's a good axle, kinda hard to find so they're getting kinda pricey.

The 8.8 is just as good (some say better), a lot easier to find, so typically a lot cheaper.

Get one with the disc brakes and it's no contest.

Robert

[mossyoaktj]

well i can get both for 400. i was originally thinkin about just the 30 but im not sure if its the disconnect or non disconnect front end. would either work or which one would be better.

[mossyoaktj]

did a little research and i found that 96-99 are hp 30 that are the non-disconnect. older than 96 are the disconnect front end with smaller joints. newer than that are the lp.

so it should be a good swap into the tj, being a hp. as long as the info i found os correct. still waiting on a reply from the guy but i might still get both possibly.

any further info would help i goin to try to have y dad pick it up this upcoming week for me so i can swap when i get back to the states.

[WrenchMonkey]

did a little research...

Well, it's a little more complicated than that (here's a great XJ reference page: http://www.yuccaman.com/jeep/history.html )

But the short answer is that yes, a 97 XJ D30 will be non-disco, high pinion, 297 joint, and an excellent swap into your TJ.

The 44 is a great axle, and I didn't mean to schidt on it, I run one myself. If the price is right, go for it. $400 for the pair seems pretty good, how much for just the 30?

I assume they're open diffs, what about gears?

Robert

[mossyoaktj]

no problem. 125 for the 30 and 275 for the 44. i didnt think it was a bad deal. both are 3.73. thats y originally i was just wanting the 30 because my new 35 is 3.73 compared to the 30 thats a 3.07. thanks for link. hopefully i will get feedback soon so i can get my dad to pick up the set.

[mossyoaktj]

both axles are out a 97 grand cherokee all coils. will these directly swap into the tj

[mossyoaktj]

did a little research and from what i found these axles will not work. can anybody second that

[itbrokeagain]

That dana 44 is garbage. Its aluminum and its very bendy.

[mossyoaktj]

That dana 44 is garbage. Its aluminum and its very bendy.
i read that they its a dana44 that shouldnt even be called a dana44

but all the brackets are different so i think gettin the axles is goin to be a no go. ill keep to changin my front to a 3.73 already have the carrier, ordering the ring and pinion this week along wiht an aussie

[WrenchMonkey]

found a rear end out of a 97 cherokee...
both axles are out a 97 grand cherokee...

Well, that changes things a bit. :rolleyes:

The $125 D30 is still your best bet. The ZJ is low pinion like your TJ, so it's not the upgrade the XJ D30 woulda been. But $125 is by FAR cheaper than regearing yours.

Robert

[mossyoaktj]

do the brackets still bolt up like the xj on the zj's or wj's. not sure which one it may be all four corners are coils.

[blazerbrad]

do the brackets still bolt up like the xj on the zj's or wj's. not sure which one it may be all four corners are coils.

If it's a '97 then it will be a ZJ. The WJ's did not come around until '99.

[mossyoaktj]

yeah i actually just seen the years between the two. my only question now is if the zj front dana 30 is a direct bolt in to the tj. ive been researching but theres really nothin about zj axles into a tj. but the little i did find is that the dana 30 would bolt straight in. but however i have found really no permant advise to whether this is true or not

[boomhauer]

i may be out of order here but why are you even considering a 30 or 35 and for that matter even a 44 unless you are just looking to trail ride and not go bigger than a 33" tire. just wondering?

[GPER]

Jeep rear end are junk, if it were me I would put the 8.8 in the rear.

[mossyoaktj]

right now i just need a replacement with being in the service and not home all the tiime i just found a hp30 that dad is goin to pick up. the rear is a 35 with 373's and the front is a LP30 with the factory 307's so im swapping in a HP 30 out of a 98 xj. all is just tempory till i get back to the states for good then the plan is 1 tons.

[WrenchMonkey]

im swapping in a HP 30 out of a 98 xj...

With 373s? Fairly unusual ratio for an XJ.

Robert