Woohoo!

VaLoRiaN · 05-27-2007, 09:35 AM

I just wanted to share my joy with everyone on what I found while installing my lift yesterday. After researching Jeeps for a few months I knew that everything but a Rubicon came with a D30 Front and D35/D44 Rear so I didn't really pay attention to the front axle. When I crawled up under it last night, though, I discovered that there had been a D44 Installed on the front as well!

I'm no expert but when you turn the wheels pretty stiff it makes a big loud repeating clicking sound which I have read is the lockers that do that? If so that would be awesome. But that's all for now.

**Rocky529** · 05-27-2007, 09:37 AM

Looks like a Dana 44 but you indeed have a Dana 30 front without any sort of locker (assuming your Jeep is stock).

Only Rubicons have 44 fronts.

The clicking sound may be your power steering pump.. any leaks?

pvjeeper · 05-27-2007, 09:46 AM

yeah i was going to say that the power steering is telling you thats all the farther you can go. Mine does that to does it want to die?

**Stu Olson** · 05-27-2007, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VaLoRiaN

I'm no expert but when you turn the wheels pretty stiff it makes a big loud repeating clicking sound which I have read is the lockers that do that? If so that would be awesome. But that's all for now.

Well, I'm no expert either, but assuming you mean you are rotating the wheels and not turning the steering wheel back and forth, I would venture to say you have a lunch box locker in your front diff.....perhaps a lockrite or a similar model.

Edit: Or....that clicking is your u-joints and you are really in trouble.

VaLoRiaN · 05-27-2007, 10:04 AM

No, my last Jeep did the exact same thing there's no problem with the steering or anything like that and no it doesn't try to die on me at all that's why I thought maybe it was a positive thing. As for the axle it was upgraded not stock. It's the exact same as the rear and even has the metal wingnut that everyone said to look for so it's a 44 unless the D30 and D44 are twins.

**Rocky529** · 05-27-2007, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VaLoRiaN

No, my last Jeep did the exact same thing there's no problem with the steering or anything like that and no it doesn't try to die on me at all that's why I thought maybe it was a positive thing. As for the axle it was upgraded not stock. It's the exact same as the rear and even has the metal wingnut that everyone said to look for so it's a 44 unless the D30 and D44 are twins.

The front Dana 30 has a metal, threaded fill plug on all TJs.

Don't be too upset, there is nothing wrong with a Dana 30 front.. the rear is what you should be concerned about.

VaLoRiaN · 05-27-2007, 10:07 AM

Is it the same shape as the 44 as well? Because when I say they're identical I mean they look exactly the same.......

**Rocky529** · 05-27-2007, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VaLoRiaN

Is it the same shape as the 44 as well? Because when I say they're identical I mean they look exactly the same.......

Yes....

jack9580 · 05-27-2007, 01:11 PM

post up a pic of the front diff so we can see

jeeptillidie · 05-27-2007, 01:38 PM

Compare the size of the 2 not the shape. The shape is not exact but is very similar between the two. The dana 30 has a visibly much smaller pumpkin than the 44. Its not hard to tell.

TJ on the Rocks · 05-27-2007, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VaLoRiaN

Is it the same shape as the 44 as well? Because when I say they're identical I mean they look exactly the same.......

No , the 30 and 44 covers are not shaped similarly . See this for a comparison . Or here

VaLoRiaN · 05-27-2007, 08:15 PM

Looking at the 2nd link you posted (which was extremely helpful) yes they are sort of similar but the two I have on mine are IDENTICAL and I know the rear doesn't have a D30 on it. It would be fairly obvious looking at that link and I would pretty much guarantee it that the previous owned has upgraded from the stock D30 to a D44 which is extremely great because that is gonna be huge when it's not my DD anymore and I just use it for off-roading. I'll go look again to be sure though and I don't have a digital camera or I'd post up some pics. Thanks Guys!

CCrew · 05-27-2007, 10:55 PM

Sure sounds like a good chance it's a 44 with a lunchbox locker to me. At least with the amount of info we're working with.

-Roger

charlescho · 05-27-2007, 11:09 PM

got a pic of it ?

bigchevyman24 · 05-28-2007, 12:55 AM

You have to ask yourself why would the p/o put a 44 in the front when a 30 does a great job up to 37's??? Why put all the money into that unless you find a locked 44 for basically free?(Just have to pay the cost of the install) Just a thought....

05-27-2007, 10:04 AM	#5
VaLoRiaN Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: VA Posts: 244 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	No, my last Jeep did the exact same thing there's no problem with the steering or anything like that and no it doesn't try to die on me at all that's why I thought maybe it was a positive thing. As for the axle it was upgraded not stock. It's the exact same as the rear and even has the metal wingnut that everyone said to look for so it's a 44 unless the D30 and D44 are twins. __________________ [COLOR="Black"][B][CENTER][FONT="Arial Black"][SIZE="3"]2003 Jeep Wrangler Sahara[/SIZE][/FONT][/CENTER][/B][/COLOR] [CENTER][COLOR="Wheat"][B][FONT="Arial"][SIZE="2"] Khaki [/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/COLOR] with [B][FONT="Arial Black"][SIZE="2"][COLOR="Sienna"]Brown Soft-Top[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/CENTER] [B][FONT="Arial Black"][SIZE="1"]4.0L I-6, 5 Speed, D30/D44 with 3.73 Gears, 33x12.50x15 BFG All-Terrains on Canyons, ARB Bull Bar with Warn x9000i Winch & Fog Lights, T-Case, Oil Pan, and Gas Tank Skids, Fully 7-Speaker Upgraded Sound System with Amp & Clarion 6 CD Changer and Rock Shifter Knob :), Soon to Come: ARB Rear Tire Carrier, Shrockworks Rocker Guards, Pioneer DVD/CD Receiver, 2.25" Suspension Lift, 1" PA BL, 1" JKS BMML, 1.25" Spidertrax Wheel Spacers, and MORE! [/SIZE][/FONT][/B]

05-27-2007, 10:07 AM	#7
VaLoRiaN Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: VA Posts: 244 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Is it the same shape as the 44 as well? Because when I say they're identical I mean they look exactly the same....... __________________ [COLOR="Black"][B][CENTER][FONT="Arial Black"][SIZE="3"]2003 Jeep Wrangler Sahara[/SIZE][/FONT][/CENTER][/B][/COLOR] [CENTER][COLOR="Wheat"][B][FONT="Arial"][SIZE="2"] Khaki [/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/COLOR] with [B][FONT="Arial Black"][SIZE="2"][COLOR="Sienna"]Brown Soft-Top[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/CENTER] [B][FONT="Arial Black"][SIZE="1"]4.0L I-6, 5 Speed, D30/D44 with 3.73 Gears, 33x12.50x15 BFG All-Terrains on Canyons, ARB Bull Bar with Warn x9000i Winch & Fog Lights, T-Case, Oil Pan, and Gas Tank Skids, Fully 7-Speaker Upgraded Sound System with Amp & Clarion 6 CD Changer and Rock Shifter Knob :), Soon to Come: ARB Rear Tire Carrier, Shrockworks Rocker Guards, Pioneer DVD/CD Receiver, 2.25" Suspension Lift, 1" PA BL, 1" JKS BMML, 1.25" Spidertrax Wheel Spacers, and MORE! [/SIZE][/FONT][/B]

05-27-2007, 08:15 PM	#12
VaLoRiaN Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: VA Posts: 244 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Looking at the 2nd link you posted (which was extremely helpful) yes they are sort of similar but the two I have on mine are IDENTICAL and I know the rear doesn't have a D30 on it. It would be fairly obvious looking at that link and I would pretty much guarantee it that the previous owned has upgraded from the stock D30 to a D44 which is extremely great because that is gonna be huge when it's not my DD anymore and I just use it for off-roading. I'll go look again to be sure though and I don't have a digital camera or I'd post up some pics. Thanks Guys! __________________ [COLOR="Black"][B][CENTER][FONT="Arial Black"][SIZE="3"]2003 Jeep Wrangler Sahara[/SIZE][/FONT][/CENTER][/B][/COLOR] [CENTER][COLOR="Wheat"][B][FONT="Arial"][SIZE="2"] Khaki [/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/COLOR] with [B][FONT="Arial Black"][SIZE="2"][COLOR="Sienna"]Brown Soft-Top[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/CENTER] [B][FONT="Arial Black"][SIZE="1"]4.0L I-6, 5 Speed, D30/D44 with 3.73 Gears, 33x12.50x15 BFG All-Terrains on Canyons, ARB Bull Bar with Warn x9000i Winch & Fog Lights, T-Case, Oil Pan, and Gas Tank Skids, Fully 7-Speaker Upgraded Sound System with Amp & Clarion 6 CD Changer and Rock Shifter Knob :), Soon to Come: ARB Rear Tire Carrier, Shrockworks Rocker Guards, Pioneer DVD/CD Receiver, 2.25" Suspension Lift, 1" PA BL, 1" JKS BMML, 1.25" Spidertrax Wheel Spacers, and MORE! [/SIZE][/FONT][/B]

05-27-2007, 11:09 PM	#14
charlescho Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Davis, CA Posts: 1,015 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	got a pic of it ? __________________ [SIZE="3"][FONT="Impact"][COLOR="Cyan"]ABC - A/Ox4 - SAMPLE - OPQRST[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE]

05-27-2007, 09:46 AM	#3
pvjeeper Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: bettendorf, IA Posts: 71 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	yeah i was going to say that the power steering is telling you thats all the farther you can go. Mine does that to does it want to die?