re gear a d44 with limited slip - is the shop right?

[drummerchukb1]

I just got a D44 with limited slip and 3.73 gears and i want to regear that and my D30 with 4.11 gears to 4.88 gears (to run 35s). Iv gotten two quotes and one brought up a question. here is part of the email i recived from Carolina Rock Shop.

"The rear will need a different locker/carrier because the limited slip will not work with anything lower than 3.92 gears(assuming it it a TJ D44 with tracklock and 3.73s). The front will be good with the stock carrier unless you add a locker."

Is it true that i need a new carrier? I feel like i read somewhere that it dosnt matter.

BTW - The total cost from the two shops iv contacted were $1500 for Tar Heel 4WD center and $1600 from carolina rock shop. The labor is $800 From Tar Heel 4WD center and $450 from Carolina Rock shop. That dosnt seem to line up. (ie. why is labor more expensive by the shop with the cheaper total quote?)

[4x4grey88]

Originally Posted by drummerchukb1

I just got a D44 with limited slip and 3.73 gears and i want to regear that and my D30 with 4.11 gears to 4.88 gears (to run 35s). Iv gotten two quotes and one brought up a question. here is part of the email i recived from Carolina Rock Shop.

"The rear will need a different locker/carrier because the limited slip will not work with anything lower than 3.92 gears(assuming it it a TJ D44 with tracklock and 3.73s). The front will be good with the stock carrier unless you add a locker."

Is it true that i need a new carrier? I feel like i read somewhere that it dosnt matter.

BTW - The total cost from the two shops iv contacted were $1500 for Tar Heel 4WD center and $1600 from carolina rock shop. The labor is $800 From Tar Heel 4WD center and $450 from Carolina Rock shop. That dosnt seem to line up. (ie. why is labor more expensive by the shop with the cheaper total quote?)

Yes you will need a new carrier in the D44. There is a way to use the current carrier. Look up information on installing Rubicon Dana 44 gears into the TJ Dana 44. The Rubicon gears are thicker and will fit.

Any other you will need a new carrier.. Hope this helps

[drummerchukb1]

Originally Posted by 4x4grey88

Yes you will need a new carrier in the D44. There is a way to use the current carrier. Look up information on installing Rubicon Dana 44 gears into the TJ Dana 44. The Rubicon gears are thicker and will fit.

Any other you will need a new carrier.. Hope this helps

So your saying if i use rubicon ring and pinion in the rear and regular TJ D30 gears up front, then i can keep the factory limited slip. So nothing else will change, just different ring and pinion and do the swap like normal?

[bean66]

I'm not sure thats quite correct. There is a carrier break at 3.92 so to run gears above 3.92 say 4.56 you will need a new carrier. Also if its a Rubi Axle you will need the "Thick" gearsets.

[drummerchukb1]

it is a regular TJ D44 w/ limited slip.

[otisdog]

I believe you can use the Rubi thick gears but you have to do some drilling.
Jim

[RJV]

you need a different carrier. ran into the same problem when i regeared.

[Digger 5]

For Dana 44's, the normal carrier break is 3.73 down and 3.92 up.
Rubicons had 4.1 gears on a 3.73 down carrier and were thckker than normal 44's. You can use these gears on your 3.73 down LSD carrier and they will be fine. It is done very frequently. You may have to drill your carrier for 7/16" bolt holes (instead of the normal 3/8") but it will be fine.
This is a very common swap. You can easily find more confirming info if you surf a bit.

[Wheelin98TJ]

You have 2 options when regearing a D44 from 3.73 to anything lower (4.10, 4.56, 4.88, etc.):

1. New carrier/locker and use standard gears
2. Thick cut gears used with your existing limited slip

Thick cut gears are a way to use lower ratio gear ratios with the higher ratio carriers. They are not available for all axles, but they are available for the D44.

[malek]

i wouldnt recomend tarheel 4wd they ordered the wrong lsd for my d44, they made me wait in the showroom for awhile to before they helped me, just my experience with them them. had a local guy here in mooresville put in a new r & p, and auburn lsd, for pretty reasonable but 450 sounds good for front and rear

[JDePietro]

Excuse my chiming in but I have a D44 with 3.73's, while I have no immediate plans to regear this very moment I am attempting to understand the situation I share with the OP.

If I wanted to keep my carrier and were to order a ring and pinion from say, Quadratec. Would I order the gears for a D44 non rubicon or would I opt for the Rubicon listed parts. I have always wondered why they list two different D44 models but I think the thickness in the gears make sense for this scheme.

Carriers are not cheap, yikes!

[malek]

i called randys ring and pinion and i ordered everthing for a non rubi d44, new ring gear, pinion gear, and auburn lsd (came in new carrier for around $275)

[UltimateCC]

i always thought you could just go with the thicker gears for the rubi in the d44 carrier with 3.73 and down that have the lsd

[Digger 5]

Originally Posted by malek

i called randys ring and pinion and i ordered everthing for a non rubi d44, new ring gear, pinion gear, and auburn lsd (came in new carrier for around $275)

If this is for off road use use should change your order to a Truetrac. The Auburn unit will burn up if you lift a tire. It is a clutch style LSD that will not hold up to off road use.

[Digger 5]

Originally Posted by JDePietro

Excuse my chiming in but I have a D44 with 3.73's, while I have no immediate plans to regear this very moment I am attempting to understand the situation I share with the OP.

If I wanted to keep my carrier and were to order a ring and pinion from say, Quadratec. Would I order the gears for a D44 non rubicon or would I opt for the Rubicon listed parts. I have always wondered why they list two different D44 models but I think the thickness in the gears make sense for this scheme.

Carriers are not cheap, yikes!

If you want to keep your carrier, which now has non-rubi 3.73 gears, you need to order gears for a Rubi.