[Mike05TJ]

See I was also thinking of just going with a D44 front and rear since the D30 won't gear over 4.88. This jeep is my DD for now but in about a year I'm trying to buy another one and use this one as my crawler. Now the cost of doing that is an issue right now but in everybodies opinion should I just suck it up and go with D44's? To me it seems they have more options for mod's later and depending on how tough a trails I start getting into I may want to go with different lifts, tires, etc.

Next question would be can I go with a D44 rear and wait on the front without destroying my front axle?

[2005X]

Originally Posted by Boonem44

See I was also thinking of just going with a D44 front and rear since the D30 won't gear over 4.88. This jeep is my DD for now but in about a year I'm trying to buy another one and use this one as my crawler. Now the cost of doing that is an issue right now but in everybodies opinion should I just suck it up and go with D44's? To me it seems they have more options for mod's later and depending on how tough a trails I start getting into I may want to go with different lifts, tires, etc.

Next question would be can I go with a D44 rear and wait on the front without destroying my front axle?

the only uprgade compared to the D30 is going to lower gears like 5:13. the rubi 44front is basically the same as the D30. if your gonna make your rig into a dedicated crawler i would look into D60s. and to your other question there is nothing wrong with running a D44 rear and 30 front. i have been doins so now for 2 years with 35s ont he street and 36s on the trails. im now going to a HP30 out of an XJ as an upgrade

[Solidkm]

Originally Posted by Boonem44

See I was also thinking of just going with a D44 front and rear since the D30 won't gear over 4.88. This jeep is my DD for now but in about a year I'm trying to buy another one and use this one as my crawler. Now the cost of doing that is an issue right now but in everybodies opinion should I just suck it up and go with D44's? To me it seems they have more options for mod's later and depending on how tough a trails I start getting into I may want to go with different lifts, tires, etc.

Next question would be can I go with a D44 rear and wait on the front without destroying my front axle?

if your going to prgoressivly wheel harder and harder. you might as well do it once. rubicon 44s are only going to give you a bigger ring gear for the front at least. and a locker but.. your not necessarily going to want to go bigger then 35s and POUND them. im telling you man get an 8.8 in the rear. best solution for the money, then get a real nice front axle and never worry again. spend the money once. im sure many people, including myself, can attest to spending good money after bad on the same area of the jeep

[SurfnSnow]

X2 on what SolidKM said, but what you should also think about is what is the final tire size you think you are going to end up with and how hard are you going to wheel your rig. If you think you're going to go 37s and above then you should really think about using d60s

[badtux]

Yep, 35's are fine on D44 rear/D30 front, 4.56 or 4.88 gearing works just fine for 35's (4.88 for better crawl or if you have a 4-banger, 4.56 for better pavement with a 6), but if you're going above 35's the D44/D30 don't work so great. Personally, I plan to stop with 35's, going to 37's on a TJ just adds too much hassle for only 1" more clearance (maybe not that much, given that you end up with bigger pumpkins with D60's). Of course, my LJ already has D44 rear/D30 front so that's sort of a reason to stop at 35's too .