Beef up D30 or save my pennies for D44 or 60

My Rig:
'98 TJ
4" Susp. lift
No BL
35" AT's
Dana 30
Dana 35
No Lockers
No SYE (Have I mention the PO didn't know much about Off-roading )

I have a stock D30 w/3.07, which I'm soon to re-gear to 4.10 to match rear.
Found saw an ad for a set of D44's from a '70's Jeep (unknown model) which made me start thinking about finding a used set. With the Recession and a pay cut, money is kinda tight around the old casa, like everyone else imagine.

So what is the verdict D30 & D35 Chromoly's or get a set of D44 w/4.56 gears?

Here we go....

I would worry more about the 35 than the 30....

What are your ultimate plans for the rig? That will give us a better idea in which way to advise you.

BTW the 70's Jeep 44 has the pumpkin on the wrong side for your T-case.

Mr.RonGilbert wrote:

Here we go....

I would do one of two things...........

super 35 kit rear, lokrite front, and buy some used 30 shafts and keep them for spares.

or 2....
8.8 rear w/ mini spool thus giving you disc brakes rear, and a d44 front w/ a selectable locker(ox, ected, or whatever), outfit the 44 w/ chromolly's from american alloy, and finally regear to 4.88's.............. Thus giving you strength/ gearing for 37's and a heavy right foot!

TxCrawler wrote:

I would worry more about the 35 than the 30....

x2

Yeah, I'd do something about the 35 (Super35 would work, or you could replace it with a Ford 8.8 rear if you don't mind welding on the brackets to fit the Jeep) and fix the 30 if it ever breaks. Personally I wouldn't bother putting in a TJ D44 in the front. It's basically just a dressed up D30 with different axle shafts. You have other choices there, but like I said, I'd just wheel it till you break it and then start worry about it.

TxCrawler wrote:

What are your ultimate plans for the rig? That will give us a better idea in which way to advise you.

BTW the 70's Jeep 44 has the pumpkin on the wrong side for your T-case.

No real plans, wheel it and have fun.
Yeah, I found that out.

DFW Rusty wrote:

regear to 4.88's.............. Thus giving you strength/ gearing for 37's and a heavy right foot!

I have no plans to go up to 37's and 4.56 are better for highway mileage (or so I have read), but the strength factor is something I didn't think of.

Deacon wrote:

Ford 8.8 rear if you don't mind welding on the brackets to fit the Jeep) and fix the 30 if it ever breaks.
Personally I wouldn't bother putting in a TJ D44 in the front. It's basically just a dressed up D30 with different axle shafts.

My welding skills are minimal (real minimal, like none) Like you and DFW_Rusty have stated should I go the Ford 8.8 route I would have someone more qualified to set-up and weld the rear.
Are you saying a "new" D44 is just a dressed up D30, WOW!!! Thanks for that tip.

It depends on whether you want to get your hands dirty and learn. Well, and whether your Jeep is your daily driver. If not, then it depends on how much you want to spend. You can generally find the 8.8 rear axle for $100 to $250, and then you get to figure out what you want to do with it based on what gearing and such it has. A re-gear means more money, of course, as do lockers, etc.

I have 3.73's from the factory, and I'm hoping to find a rear in 3.73 with LSD, which allows me to get the axle up under there now and re-gear and mess with locker options later.

If you dont have any plans of going bigger than 35's, then I wouldn't spend all the money to put differnt axles under there........... Do a super 35 kit, lokrite in the front, regear to 4.56 and buy some used 30 shafts and enjoy it........

D44- stock are not much/ if any better than a 30. Retro fitting a 44 to your TJ would be pricy, + making it strong enought will cost you.

D60- Is just OVERKILL for 35's.....lol...

8.8- IMO, is a great investment anyways, just for the fact that it will give you disc brakes and much stronger rear axle.

Plus you can always put a Super 88 kit in it if anything ever breaks.