[BlaineWasHere]

Thats pretty baller.

[cleared4landing]

Originally Posted by 10achik

Yea, I've been working with them for awhile on this deal, and now they are ready. It was just a matter of time for me to be able to get off work for the trip up there, it's about 10 hours from here. There are reasons i'm driving up there instead of just having them shipped, but I can't mention them here at this time.

if you are running a test mule, you need to ask them if they need a second test mule and another wj to follow you up there and back for two quick installations

[ArloGuthroJeep]

Originally Posted by Wheelin98TJ

Its the same knuckle as found on a WJ. Its a stronger knuckle than you'll find on a TJ/XJ/ZJ and it has a much better brakes with the 2 piston calipers.

I'd say there's really no such thing as a D30 knuckle because there are so many different knuckles used on the different D30 axles.

I would think the hub is different. The outer axle shaft is 32 spline. I don't know of any D30 that has a 32 spline hub.

It has bigger u-joints than a D30 too which is another common failure. And don't forget, the later model D30s use a D44 u-joint so the JK 44 actually has a bigger u-joint than any other D44. It uses a 1350 sized u-joint.

It gets confusing when you start saying D30 outers, knuckles, ball joints, etc. because these are not the parts that identify an axle. Its the ring gear size that determines the axle name and even then there's some variations. The JK D44s have bigger ring and pinion gears than other D44s. Clear as mud, right?

Ryan, are the axle tubes still D30 sized though?

[Wheelin98TJ]

Originally Posted by ArloGuthroJeep

Ryan, are the axle tubes still D30 sized though?

They probably are, but I wouldn't worry too much about it.

The bigger D44 center section will add some overall strength to the axle housing.

THe D30 axle tubes seem to be the appropriate size for the WJs weight and other vehicles they are used under. You don't hear of many bent axle tube stories unless someone is trying pretty hard.

[Sporer65]

I know that the JK rear axle has 2-1/2" axle tubes. Not sure if the front is the same or how that compares to older axles though.

[Sporer65]

Originally Posted by 5.9 ANDY

where can you get a bolt in front 44 for a ZJ??, and the exports dont count.

TJs and ZJs share the same front suspension, so their axles are interchangable. Here is a link to just a few axles you can buy:

http://www.4wheelparts.com/PPT6439T100714.aspx

Detroit True-Trac or ARB Air Locker, 30 splines, geared from 4.10 all the way up to 5.38. In their catalog, they also list the OX Locker even though it's not on that link. With a little modifing, you can use D44 from the same company geared the same with the same locker choices. And if you have a big budget, you could probaly buy a bolt in front D60 somewhere.

[JLH]

Hummm... I may be selling that D44A and Aussie locker in favor of these. Originally, I wanted a JK 4 door Rubicon. However I couldn't swing the $32K. I eneded up with a $13K WJ with 38K miles. By my calculations, I might be able to convince the wife to spot me half of the $19K I saved by getting the WJ. I wish.

[BlaineWasHere]

If you guys have 6K just for axles can I have some money?

[AgitatedPancake]

I don't see any reason to upgrade the rear. 99.9% of the members on this board have never broken anything on the 44a. The front, on the other hand. It's a nice bolt in axle, dont get me wrong, but for the 3k, you can do better. I got a front junkyard 44, a brand new set of gears (I did 4.56), brackets, and redrilled rotors/hubs (this was expensive, but I found out once I had it once I could bolt a new rotor to my old one and redrill the new one on my own, so its free to do now). So for under 1k I got myself a D44 with new gears and bearings, same bolt pattern, locking hubs and limitless upgradeability. If I throw an aussie locker in it i'm still sitting at 12-1300 and it wont effect driving because of my locking hubs.

[cleared4landing]

well, soon as ken gets back i am going to look at his set up, than call up there and see what they will give me for my stock parts.....i might be jumping in for the same setup he is....gotta get some locked axles and sliders before the badlands in may....cant have ken going places i cant....

[10achik]

Originally Posted by BlaineWasHere

If you guys have 6K just for axles can I have some money?

when have you ever known me to pay full price for anything I was planning to go with the front only, but they made me a deal I couldn't refuse.

Greg, I totally understand your point of view but I don't have the time, welding skills or patience to go through all that. I ran across these awhile back and worked with them to see what we could arrange and we finally came to an agreement. I know they are going to be super strong and will be worth what they are charging.

[Sporer65]

Originally Posted by AgitatedPancake

I don't see any reason to upgrade the rear. 99.9% of the members on this board have never broken anything on the 44a. The front, on the other hand. It's a nice bolt in axle, dont get me wrong, but for the 3k, you can do better. I got a front junkyard 44, a brand new set of gears (I did 4.56), brackets, and redrilled rotors/hubs (this was expensive, but I found out once I had it once I could bolt a new rotor to my old one and redrill the new one on my own, so its free to do now). So for under 1k I got myself a D44 with new gears and bearings, same bolt pattern, locking hubs and limitless upgradeability. If I throw an aussie locker in it i'm still sitting at 12-1300 and it wont effect driving because of my locking hubs.

But with FSJ 44s, you lose your ABS while with the JK 44s, you can keep it. Also, correct me if I'm wrong though, but did you lose your speedo too or is that only with the rear?

But I agree, the D44a is a strong axle, just take care of the diff.

[AgitatedPancake]

Originally Posted by Sporer65

But with FSJ 44s, you lose your ABS while with the JK 44s, you can keep it. Also, correct me if I'm wrong though, but did you lose your speedo too or is that only with the rear?

But I agree, the D44a is a strong axle, just take care of the diff.

You do lose the tone ring, but from what I've heard you can have a set machined and fit to even d44 axleshafts. I did not lose my speedo but getting rid of the rear would do so. If you don't worry too much about ABS but dont wanna deal with hte light, I've heard you can tie your front sensor wires into the rear ones so you maintain the rear abs.

[BlaineWasHere]

Originally Posted by 10achik

when have you ever known me to pay full price for anything I was planning to go with the front only, but they made me a deal I couldn't refuse.

Greg, I totally understand your point of view but I don't have the time, welding skills or patience to go through all that. I ran across these awhile back and worked with them to see what we could arrange and we finally came to an agreement. I know they are going to be super strong and will be worth what they are charging.

Whatever you spent... what did the wife say?

[10achik]

Originally Posted by BlaineWasHere

Whatever you spent... what did the wife say?

What could she say, I got a little money from selling my Dad's place in TN after he passed. The way I figure it, I would rather have him here, but he liked wheeling with me so much that he wouldn't mind me using it to fix the heep.