waggy 44 is it strong?

GT MOTORSPORTS · 09-29-2009, 10:59 AM

Ok guys i have a question. I think my chrysler 8.25 has spit a few teeth of the ring gear and through the cover...I have not pulled the cover as I havent got a chance to move it into the shop yet..

I have a front and rear waggy 44. It seems to me the rear 44 is kinda smallish on axle tube diameter. It tapers from the housing ends down to a smaller size before it goes into the center housing. Is this a very good axle to use..I want to narrow it a bit. I know some of you like your fullsize axles under your rigs..I have seen on pirate that some guys go for the isuzu dana 44 for the rear disc brakes.. I have this axle but unsure if it is worth a $#!t.

I am currently running 33" boggers and may only step up to 35" when these wear out. Any info would be great...

94Dodge Truggy · 09-29-2009, 11:14 AM

Moderate riding the 44 with 35's or smaller will do. The 8.25 is usually fairly stout as well though. Disc brake conversions are plentiful for this application. If you want to hit the skinny pedal and not worry you may want to further upgrade though.

GT MOTORSPORTS · 09-29-2009, 11:28 AM

Thanks truggy. The jeep in my avatar is the jeep i wheel right now. I dont plan to go much bigger with it. I dont want no bigger than 35" to be honest i have been fine with the 33" I just figure i may step up. I want to run a hi pinion ford front axle im retubing right now in the front. I have heard that dana 44's are good only to 35"

I dont want to run a dana 60/70 or 14 bolt with 37" or bigger they hang way low..so ths cherokee will not go any bigger..

blazerbrad · 09-29-2009, 01:28 PM

Get an 8.8" rear axle from a Ford Explorer. 31 spline shafts, disc brakes, and the same 5x4.5" bolt pattern.......just reread your post and you mentioned building a different front axle so I guess the lug pattern would be an issue. In our club we have one guy with a CJ-7 that runs a cut down D44 front and an Explorer 8.8 rear with wheel adaptors so the lug pattern matched. Another guy ran the same setup on his YJ (has since gone to D60's).

jfiscus · 09-29-2009, 02:49 PM

x2 on an explorer 8.8
even the bolt pattern matches up to XJ pattern
it's what everyone's doing anymore.

jeeptech77 · 09-29-2009, 09:43 PM

x3 on the ford 8.8
however the front 44 in my opinion is a downgrade from a hp 30 with abs
truss the 30 and be happy with it
i ran a 30 for years with 33 boggers never snaped a axle or replaced a balljoint just bent housing till i trussed it
i swaped to a 44 then the nightmare began by the time you bullett prof a 44 you could build a bad ass 60 or 9 inch hybrid

09-29-2009, 10:59 AM	#1
GT MOTORSPORTS Custom fabrication Join Date: May 2009 Location: Lynchburg,Ohio Posts: 92	waggy 44 is it strong? Ok guys i have a question. I think my chrysler 8.25 has spit a few teeth of the ring gear and through the cover...I have not pulled the cover as I havent got a chance to move it into the shop yet.. I have a front and rear waggy 44. It seems to me the rear 44 is kinda smallish on axle tube diameter. It tapers from the housing ends down to a smaller size before it goes into the center housing. Is this a very good axle to use..I want to narrow it a bit. I know some of you like your fullsize axles under your rigs..I have seen on pirate that some guys go for the isuzu dana 44 for the rear disc brakes.. I have this axle but unsure if it is worth a $#!t. I am currently running 33" boggers and may only step up to 35" when these wear out. Any info would be great... __________________ Regret not what you've done,Only what you have'nt.

09-29-2009, 11:14 AM	#2
94Dodge Truggy EX-Vice President Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Fairfield, Ohio Posts: 3,048	Moderate riding the 44 with 35's or smaller will do. The 8.25 is usually fairly stout as well though. Disc brake conversions are plentiful for this application. If you want to hit the skinny pedal and not worry you may want to further upgrade though. __________________

09-29-2009, 11:28 AM	#3
GT MOTORSPORTS Custom fabrication Join Date: May 2009 Location: Lynchburg,Ohio Posts: 92	Thanks truggy. The jeep in my avatar is the jeep i wheel right now. I dont plan to go much bigger with it. I dont want no bigger than 35" to be honest i have been fine with the 33" I just figure i may step up. I want to run a hi pinion ford front axle im retubing right now in the front. I have heard that dana 44's are good only to 35" I dont want to run a dana 60/70 or 14 bolt with 37" or bigger they hang way low..so ths cherokee will not go any bigger.. __________________ Regret not what you've done,Only what you have'nt.

09-29-2009, 09:43 PM	#6
jeeptech77 jeeptech77 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: cincinnati Posts: 12	axle x3 on the ford 8.8 however the front 44 in my opinion is a downgrade from a hp 30 with abs truss the 30 and be happy with it i ran a 30 for years with 33 boggers never snaped a axle or replaced a balljoint just bent housing till i trussed it i swaped to a 44 then the nightmare began by the time you bullett prof a 44 you could build a bad ass 60 or 9 inch hybrid

09-29-2009, 01:28 PM	#4
blazerbrad - CORE Member - Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 831 Images: 6	Get an 8.8" rear axle from a Ford Explorer. 31 spline shafts, disc brakes, and the same 5x4.5" bolt pattern.......just reread your post and you mentioned building a different front axle so I guess the lug pattern would be an issue. In our club we have one guy with a CJ-7 that runs a cut down D44 front and an Explorer 8.8 rear with wheel adaptors so the lug pattern matched. Another guy ran the same setup on his YJ (has since gone to D60's).

09-29-2009, 02:49 PM	#5
jfiscus Terrain Stomper Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Crittenden, KY Posts: 633	x2 on an explorer 8.8 even the bolt pattern matches up to XJ pattern it's what everyone's doing anymore.