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Rare junkyard find today...

4K views 66 replies 15 participants last post by  Mike934 
#1 ·
Went out to the local salvage yard for a driver side vent window for my brothers jeep...(trail damage at dtor birthday bash.) as he's gettin that pulled I went lookin around and ran across an '87 and it had the d44 under it! Asked about it and they want $250. Worth it or should I stick with the original plan of swapping to the 8.25. I have the d35 under my '99 right now. Either way its a good upgrade worth putting money in but In the long run there is more 8.25 s out there.
 
#22 ·
You should really fill out your profile info.....It's nice to know where people are from when you are talking price, things are much more expensive on the coasts than they are in OUR area....:wave:

I have an 8.25 with an Auburn Gear pro series limited slip. I have had a small issue with it....I broke a c-clip last fall in Reddington and my axle came out. Fortunately I was coming to a stop sign and it only slid out about 6 inches. I was on I-65 earlier that day doing 75....Glad it waited. The axes are plenty strong though.
 
#9 ·
DNFJ said:
A built dana44 vs a built 8.25 is really user preference.
44 is stronger,maybe only slightly but it is stronger
 
#11 ·
up to 35s a 29 spline 8.25 and a D44 will both be just fine.
 
#12 ·
And the 44 has way more aftermarket support. such as locker options, gear choices, spline upgrades etc. and all at a cheaper cost too. Aside from the initial purchase price. Those are why I picked the 44 over the 29-spline 8.25 I had
 
#16 ·
Motorcharge said:
And this proves anything how?
D44 has bigger tubes, more splines, and a bigger pinion than the 8.25. It's just a beefier axle, but not by much at all.
.
The 8.25 has bigger tubes but if you measure the axle shaft diameter the 8.25 shafts are in Dana 35 territory. The 8.25 makes up for having smaller axle shafts by having bigger tubes. The big down side of the 8.25 is c clips.
 
#18 ·
dcorn said:
8.8 has C clips but everyone recommends those.

I can't remember the last time I heard someone say they broke an axle in an 8.25.

Just buy anything other than the D35 and run it. Quit playing the internet numbers game, any one of the D44, 8.25 or 8.8 will work just fine up to 35s.
The 8.8 axle shaft is larger than the Chrysler 8.25 shaft and the 8.8 has a much stronger housing.

I'm not playing the Internet numbers game. I have experience with all of those axles including the Dana 35.
 
#21 ·
Hell yeah! Thanks for all the input guys I was like a lot of others and thought the same thing about the d44. I've been talkin to some fellow jeepers around here and I found an 8.8 with disc for $100 plus the guy has one in his and he's gonna let me use his shop welder and knowledge to put it in! Still thinking about buying the d44 because after some research here on the local c-list guys are buying them for $3-400. That will def help fund the 8.8.
 
#23 ·
Im not saying i'd swap a 29 spline 8.25 for a d44 i dont think its justified, but if i had a 35 and an option i would without a doubt take the 44
 
#24 ·
Damn, this is a lot of arguing over 2 axles that are fine up to 35's. Pick the one that's cheaper and run it. I have an 8.25 w/ stock shafts and the spiders are welded up. I've beat the piss out of it on 35s in the rocks, driven it a lot on the street, and have done some sweet power brakes with it. It hasn't broke....yet. I've had a Dana 44, but never had a chance to wheel it hard. However, I'd have trusted it just as much as my 8.25. I you are going bigger than 35s, get bigger axles. Done.
 
#29 ·
I dint know crap I traded my xj44 for a Dana 60.
 
#31 ·
The dana 44is also a non c clip axle so repairing axle shafts is easier, and the wheel doesn't go flying when the shaft breaks like the 8.25 or d35. That's a big deal for me. Which means you can limp off the trail in front wheel drive. And 250 isn't a horrible price. I would haggle down a bit.

Don't put an 8.25 in place of a d44. The d44 will always be the superior axle, even though not by as much. The aftermarket is huge as compared to the 8.25 as well.
 
#33 ·
D35c<d35 non c clip<27sp 8.25< 29sp 8.25< d44
 
#38 ·
ibjeepin95 said:
How many wheels have you seen go "flying off" due to axle shaft failure?
Snap a d35c-clip/8.25 axle off road, the wheel and shaft exit the axle tube. The d44 will keep the tire in place meaning you can limp it home/off the trail. There's a few people that have a lost a shaft on the road because it was previously weakened due to offroading.
 
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