money is an issue, I don't plan on sticking any bigger than a 37" tire on the thing, so do I build a set of 44's with alloy axles, CTM's, or do I drop a little more for 60's, and gain more weight, to the tune of 500lbs between the two,

so, is the 44 Warn/CTM combo as strong as a spicer 60 axle?

All I can say is that i am amazed at the abuse a 60 front can take and I'm glad (very glad :D ) that I put one in with this last build-up.

I would say if you have a 44 front then keep it and upgrade, if you're starting from scratch up front, then..... well....... uhhhhh...... 60 front.

RC44 with the goodies:D

Rear 60, with 35 spline alloy shafts.

Brent-
I'm running 37" SSR's on a front D30 and a rear D44 on my TJ. I don't worry about the 44 at all. I have the Warn inner shafts along with the outer ones that came with my hub conversion kit. BTW: it's the smaller kit (5 on 4.5) and I haven't had any problems yet. I do worry about the 30 at times tho.
Dunno if this helped you any, but I would think the 44 with the larger hubs and shafts would be fine with the 37's.

44's are fine for 37's, many run them with 38.5's. Still stuck with ball joints, but you'll have nice clearance. You'd want bigger meats with a 60.

60 rear w/ 35 spliners, 44 front with alloys & CTMs.

Just a thought.

60 is to big and to heavy... If your going to be racing it up rocks and crap then go for it but if you go wheeling every once in a while then there is no need. I am going to go with 9", they seem to bee just right in the middle...

i've opted to stay with my 44 front. i think the 44 should hold up to 37s and some pretty good abuse with warns and CTM joints.:D

What is the general concensous of the tire size "limit" on a D44 front with CTM's and all that? 38's? 39's?

im wondering if anyone ever uses there rigs in 4x at higher speeds? do you? i cant see the ctms being worth a damn if you use them at higher speeds for say 1/2 hour, they would be fried wouldnt they without the needle bearings? we get lots of snow here and actually use 4x on the streets when yah cant see the street. so for me ctms seem useless. ill stick to my d60s.

Originally posted by yjtj
im wondering if anyone ever uses there rigs in 4x at higher speeds? do you? i cant see the ctms being worth a damn if you use them at higher speeds for say 1/2 hour, they would be fried wouldnt they without the needle bearings? we get lots of snow here and actually use 4x on the streets when yah cant see the street. so for me ctms seem useless. ill stick to my d60s.

SO when it snows you drive the Jeep and leave the Ford at home:flipoff2: :D :flipoff2:

I say run the 44. It is the sexy thing around here to say 60's, 60's, 60's but for some that just doesn't make a whole lot of sense. I think that in a light weight rig with 37's a 60 is overkill. That being said I run a 44 front and will run 37's, but for piece of mind I definetley would consider a 60. :D

Since the CTM's are only in the steering knuckles, How fast do you go with the wheels turned far enough to generate any significant friction?

I'd wager that they'd be fine. Most of the time on the highway in the snow, the wheels are pretty close to straight.

If they were in the driveshaft, different story . . .

Originally posted by yjtj
im wondering if anyone ever uses there rigs in 4x at higher speeds? do you? i cant see the ctms being worth a damn if you use them at higher speeds for say 1/2 hour, they would be fried wouldnt they without the needle bearings? we get lots of snow here and actually use 4x on the streets when yah cant see the street. so for me ctms seem useless. ill stick to my d60s. Hummm, I'm running them now, and I've run them down dirt roads with ruts bumps, and anything else that comes up on a fire road, at speeds of 70 mph, for a half hour or more at a time and mine are still tight, they do have grease zirks to grease them :rolleyes:, and it sure beats the hell out of buying a new axle, (inner and outer) a new joint and possibly ball joints and hubs every time I take the thing wheeling. cause that is exactly what I was doing before I got them, and since them, I've run judgement day, predator, axle alley, upper woodpecker, sledge hammer, and a bunch of local stuff......

I'm sold.

so you are saying they will last at high speeds for 1/2 hour or so at a time on a regular basis. i didnt know that thats why i had the ? after what i said. but like i said i already have d60s in the front of my rigs so i was just wondering

uummm, how about crank shaft and rod bearings? no needle bearings there and they seem to last. keep um greased and i dont see a problem.;)

I am going warns and CTM's in my 44. From what I hear, those will be plenty strong for me to not warrant spending all the money for a 60. However, if I were going back 2 years to build it again, I would probly get a 60. ;)

i don't see where all the extra $$$ for a 60 comes from. if you buy a set of warn shafts and ctm's that is $900+ and say you get a good deal on a d44 for $100 well your at a $1000. that is what the average used 60 goes for. i say if you are starting from scratch go 60 and if you already have a geared and locked d44 then get the shafts and ctm's. just my op.