Dana 44 ?s

[swbhobie16]

hey guys..I was wondering if there was a way to ID a 44 with the tow package (4.10s) from a late 80s Cherokee..or do all late 80s Cherokee 44s have the tow package? thanks.

[Jeepin Jason]

Not all late 80s XJs have the tow package, and not all late 80s XJs with the tow package have the D44. The XJ D44 only came with 3.55s as far as I know. 4.10s really only came with the 4-cyl motor, and they didn't put the D44 with the 4-cyl.

There's really no way to tell from the outside whether or not an XJ has the D44 unless you can peek under the back and look at the axle.

[swbhobie16]

I've found a 44 and 30 the guy said came from an 89 Cherokee and wad trying to figure out what gearing it had. either way (3.55 or 4.10) will be better than the 3.07s I have now..

[Jeepin Jason]

I'm fairly certain they'd be 3.55s.

[swbhobie16]

sounds good. either way.. I think I've found a steal and am going to get them. like I said..better than my current 35 with 3.07s. hahah. 3.55s be ok with 32s or 33s? not crawling or really hard wheeling..just dd and occassional mudding when hunting and maybe some sand riding.

[Hypnotik Robot]

Do you have an automatic or amanual trans? 3.55 and 32/33" tires will be way better than 3.07 and 35" tires but its still not ideal.

Youd be best off somewhere around 4.56 with the 33's but 4.10 would be good too.


What kind of deal are you getting on these axles? Have you thought about an 8.8 and d30 with 4.10s?

[JLANE99XJ]

yeah if it is indeed a d44 from an 80s xj it will have 3.54 stock gearing/
one way is to count the teeth of the r&p gears (divide the larger by the smaller)
or
simply turn the wheel (axle hub) one (360*) revolution & count the number of turns of the pinion yoke this will yiel the info you seek..

also If you plan to spend the time/jack to regear the axles go with 4.88s cause you know that eventually you will want 35" meats..

also a swap to rear disc brakes for the d44 is pretty easy, i used parts from a ZJ(WJ) dana 44

[swbhobie16]

I've got an aw4 with a 30/35 front and rear with 31s now. want to go 32 or 33s soon. I'm getting both axles and a trans for $150. I guess he either doesn't know or doesn't care what he has.

[JLANE99XJ]

Originally Posted by swbhobie16

I've got an aw4 with a 30/35 front and rear with 31s now. want to go 32 or 33s soon. I'm getting both axles and a trans for $150. I guess he either doesn't know or doesn't care what he has.

i ran 33s on my stock 3.55 d30/8.25 axles for a short while but wasnt my daily driver the mpgs will suck & o/d on the auto will be lacking power to climb any thing above 5% grades at highway speeds..

but if you only go to 32s it should do fine

here is a shot of my d44 rear (junk yard find) re-geared 4.88s with detroit & discs on 35s..


also the rear springs are MJs with a f/s waggy rustys add-a-leaves

[WagoneerXJ]

My 87 XJ is a Wagoneer Limited. Has a 44 with no tow package. I know this as I installed the hitch myself. Most of these wagoneers have a dana 44 rear that I have noticed

[JLANE99XJ]

Originally Posted by WagoneerXJ

My 87 XJ is a Wagoneer Limited. Has a 44 with no tow package. I know this as I installed the hitch myself. Most of these wagoneers have a dana 44 rear that I have noticed

right & the others have a turdy-5, some did have factory towing package w/ 44 rear but the woodgrain on the sides is a good indicator when combing the parts yards..

I know where One is right now in Ghettoville-- Bham AL; rekon how much it would be worth to a Jeeper on the Grey-market??

[WagoneerXJ]

Hard to say how much they are worth. I've seen them sell anywhere from 200-500 on a good day. I bought a junk 88 XJ w/ tow package for $50, pulled the Dana 44 and put in an old D35. got it running and sold it for $400 haha. Nice to have a spare now!

[swbhobie16]

I don't have anyway of knowing what the one it came out of looked like. he said he bought both to out in his jeep but ended up selling it before doing so. I figured for $150 for all of it was good..and it's a slight gearing upgrade from what I have and a semi decent base to add to later. not going to be beating the h3ll out of it with rocks and major hills. I live in eastern NC so no rock and slight topo characteristics so I don't need ridiculous built axles..just yet. this is a daily beater and a 4wheeler with heat for duck hunting. so far it's done great but I'd like to up the tire size without making the mpg dip into single digits and still stay on a budget to get my ford (traitorous I know..but at least it's ) to the 500 hp mark hopefully know more by tonight

[WagoneerXJ]

just make sure it's not another turd D35

[swbhobie16]

I've got a pic of a 44 printed out I'm going to hold up next to it just to make sure. pretty sure I've got the difference in my head since ive spent so much time looking at my sh!tty..I mean turdy5

[swbhobie16]

well..it's definitely a 44. I tried the whole 'turn te yoke until the hub makes a complete rotation' thing but it didn't come out to anything I was expecting. on an upside though..it does turn freely and appears to only have surface rust and alittle dirt on it. probably needs either new or the brake lines I'm currently running on it though. I ended up with a trans and a 242 trans case as well. I'm going to have to take another look at the front axle, but I'm fairly certain its a 30. it'll probably be anit before I can get it cleaned up and either put 4.10s in it while it's out or just put it under like it is. if I open it up and gear it..I'm going to want to put a locker as well and just not certain I want to undertake that a the moment. any thoughts/suggestions/used parts? hahah. or know someone who needs/wants any of the aforementioned pieces?

[JLANE99XJ]

Originally Posted by swbhobie16

well..it's definitely a 44. I tried the whole 'turn te yoke until the hub makes a complete rotation' thing but it didn't come out to anything I was expecting. on an upside though..it does turn freely and appears to only have surface rust and alittle dirt on it. probably needs either new or the brake lines I'm currently running on it though. I ended up with a trans and a 242 trans case as well. I'm going to have to take another look at the front axle, but I'm fairly certain its a 30. it'll probably be anit before I can get it cleaned up and either put 4.10s in it while it's out or just put it under like it is. if I open it up and gear it..I'm going to want to put a locker as well and just not certain I want to undertake that a the moment. any thoughts/suggestions/used parts? hahah. or know someone who needs/wants any of the aforementioned pieces?

Turning the yoke?? You did it backwards, turn the wheel hub one rotation(360*) count the roations of the yoke, example, if it turns 4 times its likely 4.10; 4& 1/2 times its 4.56 etc..
geebus...
if the gear ratio worked the other way it could power the space shuttle..