some questions about D44(front) and 8.8(rear)

AlTheKillerr · 02-25-2009, 11:47 PM

so i have found a hell of a deal for an 8.8 out of an 89 bronco. my question: is this a full width axle? im quite sure its wider than a TJs but not sure if its full width. also i found a D44 front. has a drivers side diff but other than that i know nothing else about it. not sure what its from but looks to be in good shape. so assuming this one is a full width and the 8.8 is too what else would i need for the 44 to go up front? new steering set up? i know i would have to get new drive shafts

this is such an awesome deal that im willing to buy them now and just build them up for the jeep slowly and put them on down the road from now

heres a pic of the 44

jeep95xj · 02-26-2009, 07:24 AM

I dont believe the bronco used the 8.8 as far as i know it's a 9" but i could be wrong. To put the axle combo together both axles need to be geared the same, both need to be stripped of all perches and mounts and have new mounts and perches welded on in the right locations. You may also have driveshaft length issues dependsing on what the rears are from. you will have to have one of the axles shortened to match the length of the other IF they are not the ame. The 9" and 8.8 have the same bolt pattern and TJ wheels but unless that 44 is out of a jeep it's going to be different. You will either have to convert the stub shafts to TJ 44 shafts or buy different wheels. You may get a hell of a deal on the axles but plan on spending some big $ fitting them in your jeep unless you can do all the fab work yourself.

suntzur · 02-26-2009, 09:52 AM

I've got the same 44 for the front of mine and I just started digging into it. Plan on having to change the wheels to the larger Ford patter of 5 on 5.5, same as CJs. I just asked this last night and it turns out that the lockout hub is too large to decrease to the 4.5 centers as we have on TJs. I'm debating leaving my front stock and running the 8.8. I'll be curious about how this thread goes but I expect you to hear more negative than positive especially since you'll have a huge offset because of the width or you'll have a lot of work in shortening the axle - which is what I plan to do to the front of the 44 I have if I go that way.

AlTheKillerr · 02-26-2009, 03:35 PM

thanks for the info guys. so is this 44 the same width as the 8.8 or 9" from the bronco? is it a big deal that this 44 has drum brakes? still havent heard anything about the steering setup on if i will have to change things around. i havent been able to get ahold of the guy with the 44 so im not sure what its out of. ive had some tell me its from a waggy and some say its from a bronco

i am wanting to go full width so that why i was wondering if the bronco rear end is full width because i dont want to take the time to shorten one when i can just wait and buy the right length axle. and yes i know i have to regear do some bracket work . . . thats not a problem

heres a pic of the rear end in question:

**Zew** · 02-26-2009, 04:22 PM

The later bronco's did have 8.8's. I had a 1991 bronco XLT with a 351 with an 8.8 out back. I smoked that 8.8 running 35's and doing a fishtale around a corner. Completely roasted the spider gears.

AlTheKillerr · 02-26-2009, 04:35 PM

thanks for clearing that up. i was told the 44 is most likely from a 66-77 bronco