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Loser1

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Yep you guessed it....My 1st post. Been lurkin' for about a week or so and now I'm convienced that I NEED a Jeep (TJ). It will be a toy, but if I become as attached to it as most of you are to your Jeeps it might just turn into a DD. My ultimate plan is a 4.5 RE SF. With the 4.5 RE it seems that 35's should fit no problem. But if I run 35's I might want to find a Jeep that has a D44.

I know that there are a couple of trim levels. I would like a 6 cylinder so the SE is out. Does the D44 come standard with any specific trim level? Is there an indicator in the VIN # or do I need to crawl under potential buys to check for the D44? It seems that there are alot of owners that are happy with their D35 and 35" tires. I really don't plan on hitting the rocks, but if it's as addictive as it sounds I want to make sure that I'm not breaking tons of stuff when I bash 'em. Now I just need to get busy with posts so I can attach some pics soon!

TIA,

L1
 
#5 ·
I was in the same position you were 6 months ago. If you have the means buy yourself a rubicon. More than you might need yes, but when the bug hits you you'll be ahead of the game. Otherwise a sport will come with a 44 rear which is the way to go for anything larger than 33's. There is nothing wrong with building a capable rig instead of buying. No matter what your descision welcome aboard and good hunting.

Nathan
 
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#6 ·
If your planning on 35's definitely get one with the rear 44. Like has been said before I would look for a used Rubi. My first TJ was an SE, my second TJ was an X, my current TJ is a Rubicon and I'm very very happy now. I just wish that I had known enough about jeeps in the beginning so that I could have skipped the first two rigs and saved myself some cash.
 
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#7 ·
Loser1 said:
Yep you guessed it....My 1st post. Been lurkin' for about a week or so and now I'm convienced that I NEED a Jeep (TJ). It will be a toy, but if I become as attached to it as most of you are to your Jeeps it might just turn into a DD. My ultimate plan is a 4.5 RE SF. With the 4.5 RE it seems that 35's should fit no problem. But if I run 35's I might want to find a Jeep that has a D44.

I know that there are a couple of trim levels. I would like a 6 cylinder so the SE is out. Does the D44 come standard with any specific trim level? Is there an indicator in the VIN # or do I need to crawl under potential buys to check for the D44? It seems that there are alot of owners that are happy with their D35 and 35" tires. I really don't plan on hitting the rocks, but if it's as addictive as it sounds I want to make sure that I'm not breaking tons of stuff when I bash 'em. Now I just need to get busy with posts so I can attach some pics soon!

TIA,

L1
Click to expand...
If you call Jeeps customer service # I think it is 1800 992-1997 if thats wrong check there website. Anyway you can give them the last 8 digits of the vin and they can tell you exactly what the jeep came with. This will help if you are searching Ebay or other sources where you do not have access to Vehicle. You would be surpised how many people have no clue what they own.

happy hunting

Tony
 
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#8 · (Edited)
I'm sure you've read this on other posts, but here goes. For 2002 and earlier NO TJ came with a D44 rear standard. The D44 was an option on Saharas and Sports. The VIN starts out as 1J4FA49S or 1J4FA59S - The sixth digit, 4 represents a Sport, and the 5 a Sahara. In 2003 the Rubicon was added to the lineup. It is 1J4FA69S. The S represents the 6 cylinder, but the X, Sport, Sahara, and Rubicon only had the 6 cylinder. The D44 was not an option in the X until 2004 or 5 with the Rocky Mountain Edition package. The only absolute way to tell which rear axle is to look, however as posted above, you can get a build sheet from Chrysler or a dealer that can tell you which axle the Jeep left the factory with.
All trims have the same frame, suspension, front axle (except Rubicon) is a D30, steering systems, body panels. The Sahara and Rubicon have flare which are 1" wider than the others. There are different spring rates depending on options, but this is a minor difference. Gearing choices were basically 3.07 or 3.73 for X, Sport, Sahara. Options or option packages would determine gearing, D44.
IF you see a Jeep with Canyons and it is unmolested, the chances are high that it has the D44, but not always. I saw a 2001 Sahara with Canyons and a D35 rear recently. Also, if the Jeep has Anti-lock brakes, it will not a D44.
I waited until the "right" TJ came along, with the right price, but it was painful.
HTH
 
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#11 ·
I'll voice the dissenting opinion... :brickwall

if you are going to go to 35's, I'd consider also looking at used ones that have the D35 rearend.

they are typically cheaper, (though I know there are deals out there) and IF you find a decent used one for a good deal, you can easily swap in a D44 or 8.8, and part of the cost will be offset by not having to regear the stock D44, and the rest with the potential price difference.

basically, I wouldn't pay alot extra ONLY because a Jeep has D44, especially when you are going to regear it anyways, and I wouldn't rule out a great deal on a nice jeep solely because it has a D35 rear.

you ABSOLUTLY willl want to re-gear, and should SERIOUSLY consider upgrading if you go to 35's.

:wave:
 
#12 ·
SINISTER1957 said:
If you call Jeeps customer service # I think it is 1800 992-1997 if thats wrong check there website. Anyway you can give them the last 8 digits of the vin and they can tell you exactly what the jeep came with. This will help if you are searching Ebay or other sources where you do not have access to Vehicle. You would be surpised how many people have no clue what they own.

happy hunting

Tony
Click to expand...
i am one of those people who really didnt do any research before i bought, and i wouldnt mind finding out everything mine came with, is there a way to find that out.

i looked at my rear axle, and it said dana, but i didnt see ay numbers, i,m positive its a D35, but how can i tell for sure
 
#14 ·
jeepcurious said:
i looked at my rear axle, and it said dana, but i didnt see ay numbers, i,m positive its a D35, but how can i tell for sure
Click to expand...
Look at the rear differential (from the rear of the Jeep) and see if the fill plug is rubber push in type or a steel screw in type. If it's rubber it is a D35, if steel screw in it is a D44.

Bill Tolle
05 Rubicon
04 Liberty
04 Kubota 4WDTractor
 
#15 ·
crawldit said:
I just wish that I had known enough about jeeps in the beginning so that I could have skipped the first two rigs and saved myself some cash.
Click to expand...
X2

17 months after buying an 04 Sahara I traded it in on an 05 Rubicon.

Bill Tolle
05 Rubicon
04 Liberty
04 Kubota 4WDTractor
 
#16 ·
I recently bought a 2000 Sahara and I had the Jeep dealer run the VIN and he printed out all the options on my Jeep and I couldn't believe it had the D44 and 3.73 gears. The guy I bought it from didn't even know what that was. :D
 
#19 ·
I have a 99 Sport with the D44 axle. The original plan was to scour the dealer lots for a new/used one with a D44 axle. Well no such luck, so I decided to order one. When I went into the dealership with my list of options, when we got to the D44 option, (I actually ended up buying from the owner of the dealership), he said, we've never ordered a Wrangler with that option before, are you sure it is necessary? Well, I educated him on why a D44 w/3.73 was more desirable than a D35. Especially with the plans I had for my Jeep. I even told him that the strength of a D44 could be a selling point for that option as well as resale for the customer. Don't know that he followed up on my advice but I have found that dealerships are largely ignorant of factors like this when they are ordering stock for their lots. That translates into used ones with D35s out there.

I would also say that the older you go on Jeeps, the less chance you will have of finding one with a D44 instead of the standard D35. I don't think it will be impossible, but you will find more D35 Jeeps than you will D44 Jeeps.
 
#20 ·
tacjeep99 said:
I have a 99 Sport with the D44 axle. The original plan was to scour the dealer lots for a new/used one with a D44 axle. Well no such luck, so I decided to order one. When I went into the dealership with my list of options, when we got to the D44 option, (I actually ended up buying from the owner of the dealership), he said, we've never ordered a Wrangler with that option before, are you sure it is necessary? Well, I educated him on why a D44 w/3.73 was more desirable than a D35. Especially with the plans I had for my Jeep. I even told him that the strength of a D44 could be a selling point for that option as well as resale for the customer. Don't know that he followed up on my advice but I have found that dealerships are largely ignorant of factors like this when they are ordering stock for their lots. That translates into used ones with D35s out there.

I would also say that the older you go on Jeeps, the less chance you will have of finding one with a D44 instead of the standard D35. I don't think it will be impossible, but you will find more D35 Jeeps than you will D44 Jeeps.
Click to expand...
I was lucky that when my 2004 TJ found me it had the Dana 44 in the rear with 3,73 of course it had the Dana 30 up front with 3.73.
 
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