Why are D44s so popular?

themaniam1 · 05-18-2007, 11:03 PM

Yes this is my first post but I have been lurking here for about six months.

I am not an expert on this please voice you thoughts. I have a 98 TJ that only has a 2" lift and I am looking at all my options for it, we now need two Jeeps (already have a 97 TJ with D44s, ARB, Atlas II and 6" long arm) so my family doesn't have to ride with others when we go wheeling, we do alot of rock crawling. Do I sell it, the 98, and buy one that is partially built or do I build it up. If build, then is it D44s or use the D30/D35?

I have noticed that everyone seems to want to go to Dana 44s. My 97 TJ had them when I bought it, that is why I bought it. But after some research and talking to different folks, why doesn't many people use the stock D30 and D35 and modify them?

Here is my thought. The only real gain you get is a little stronger axle housing, and that usually doesn't get damaged anyway. So why not put a chromoly axle kit in with CMT axle joint? Those axles are strong enough to locker and you do not have to miss match other parts. You do not have to remember what type of D44 you have or what brakes pads fit and you do not loose any or your turning radius.

Let me know your thoughts and sorry for the long post.

PullMeSideways · 05-18-2007, 11:06 PM

This is always fun.

**Unlimited04** · 05-19-2007, 12:36 AM

D35's in action:

JerryC · 05-19-2007, 08:20 AM

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f9/helpppp-rear-axle-problems-416326/

There are plenty more like this.

**Jerry Bransford** · 05-19-2007, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by themaniam1

Here is my thought. The only real gain you get is a little stronger axle housing, and that usually doesn't get damaged anyway. So why not put a chromoly axle kit in with CMT axle joint? Those axles are strong enough to locker and you do not have to miss match other parts. You do not have to remember what type of D44 you have or what brakes pads fit and you do not loose any or your turning radius.

Let me know your thoughts and sorry for the long post.

You're mixing front and rear axles together. The front Dana 30 is generally strong enough for most wheeling, it's the rear axle that is the problem for most. And on the rear Dana 35c, it's not just the housing that is weak, it's that plus the axleshafts and ring & pinion gears. That's why replacing the entire rear axle is so common. Though most can beef up a rear Dana 35c axle pretty easily to the point most anything can be tackled by just installing a Super 35 kit.

themaniam1 · 05-19-2007, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerry Bransford

You're mixing front and rear axles together. The front Dana 30 is generally strong enough for most wheeling, it's the rear axle that is the problem for most. And on the rear Dana 35c, it's not just the housing that is weak, it's that plus the axleshafts and ring & pinion gears. That's why replacing the entire rear axle is so common. Though most can beef up a rear Dana 35c axle pretty easily to the point most anything can be tackled by just installing a Super 35 kit.

I know what happens to stock axles, I have seen it in Moab many times. So a beefed up D30 and D35 will do the same thing? If you can then why are not people doing it? Does it cost more then D44s?

I am asking not to argue but to help me decide what to do to my '98 TJ.

**Unlimited04** · 05-19-2007, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by themaniam1

I know what happens to stock axles, I have seen it in Moab many times. So a beefed up D30 and D35 will do the same thing? If you can then why are not people doing it? Does it cost more then D44s?

I am asking not to argue but to help me decide what to do to my '98 TJ.

replace D35c with Ford 8.8 from an Explorer. It has disc brakes, and is almost the same width of D35/44 from the factory. Add wheel spacers to fix backspacing of wheels...and you got a much stronger axle....even stronger than a D44.

**[ITA]Tsunami** · 05-19-2007, 09:07 AM

Sorry to be an ***hole but... You are telling us that you have a 97 TJ with D44s, ARB, Atlas II and 6" long arm, that you do a lot of rock crawling, that you go to moab.... and you don't know why a D44 it's so "popular" or the difference between a beefed up D35 vs a D44?!... weird to me.

BoHeck · 05-19-2007, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by [ITA]Tsunami

Sorry to be an ***hole but... You are telling us that you have a 97 TJ with D44s, ARB, Atlas II and 6" long arm, that you do a lot of rock crawling, that you go to moab.... and you don't know why a D44 it's so "popular" or the difference between a beefed up D35 vs a D44?!... weird to me.

maybe he bought it that way...

**Tommy R** · 05-19-2007, 10:16 AM

I guess here's as good a place to post this as anywhere, but this is a video I shot of my buddy's YJ with a D35 and full Detroit. He's running 33s and 4.88s behind a 4 banger. I was really glad to find a TJ with a rear D44 already in it.

http://www.reganracing.com/wheelin/yo9-29-06/gordon_snap.mpg

**brunosplace** · 05-19-2007, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommy R

I guess here's as good a place to post this as anywhere, but this is a video I shot of my buddy's YJ with a D35 and full Detroit. He's running 33s and 4.88s behind a 4 banger. I was really glad to find a TJ with a rear D44 already in it.

http://www.reganracing.com/wheelin/yo9-29-06/gordon_snap.mpg

You can hear an audible pop as it breaks and the right rear stops turning. Any time I hear sounds like that my first thought is " That sounded expensive!! "

Zennashton · 05-19-2007, 11:04 AM

Oh man that vid. makes me rethink putting in a super 35 with detroit.
Did he have the upgraded shafts? I thought i'de be fine with a super 35
and my 4 banger on 32's or 33's .......

**Tommy R** · 05-19-2007, 11:24 AM

That was NOT a super 35, FYI. Stock shafts as I recall. Sure enough in the next 6 feet his RR wheel walked out about 6 inches.

themaniam1 · 05-20-2007, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by [ITA]Tsunami

Sorry to be an ***hole but... You are telling us that you have a 97 TJ with D44s, ARB, Atlas II and 6" long arm, that you do a lot of rock crawling, that you go to moab.... and you don't know why a D44 it's so "popular" or the difference between a beefed up D35 vs a D44?!... weird to me.

Fair question. Yes I bought it that way, except the lift. It only had a 4" short arm, the front was TeraFlex and the rear was Skyjacker so we had a 6" long arm put under it. Yes we (my family) go to Moab alot, we were there in March were we did Poison Spider, Golden Spike and Steel Bender. In fact we will be there over Memorial weekend, it is only a four hour drive for us. I bought the '97 that way because it was easier and cheeper and had all the expensive stuff on it like the lockers and the Atlas. The kids will be driving the '98 but I want it to be a more capable wheeler.

The whole idea of beefing up the stock D30 and D35 came for the guys who did the lift for me, do not have the tools to put it on in the garage. I asked them how much for a 4" lift on the '98 when I dropped off the '97 and they went into a long oration on either beefing or going straight to D60s but not wasting money on a D44.

Some of us Jeepers just love to Jeep and have not gotten into all the technical aspects of it. We hear things and learn hopefully. I have been hearing get D44s and no one saying anything different so I did. Now I have heard for the first time to beef, so thus the original question.

**[ITA]Tsunami** · 05-20-2007, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by themaniam1

Fair question. Yes I bought it that way, except the lift. It only had a 4" short arm, the front was TeraFlex and the rear was Skyjacker so we had a 6" long arm put under it. Yes we (my family) go to Moab alot, we were there in March were we did Poison Spider, Golden Spike and Steel Bender. In fact we will be there over Memorial weekend, it is only a four hour drive for us. I bought the '97 that way because it was easier and cheeper and had all the expensive stuff on it like the lockers and the Atlas. The kids will be driving the '98 but I want it to be a more capable wheeler.

The whole idea of beefing up the stock D30 and D35 came for the guys who did the lift for me, do not have the tools to put it on in the garage. I asked them how much for a 4" lift on the '98 when I dropped off the '97 and they went into a long oration on either beefing or going straight to D60s but not wasting money on a D44.

Some of us Jeepers just love to Jeep and have not gotten into all the technical aspects of it. We hear things and learn hopefully. So thus the original question.

I didn't meant to "attack" you, i appologize if my post sounded like that. Just sounded weird the stuff you have on your rig and the question you were making.