Ok here is the deal a buddy of mine w/01 tj bought a empty rubicon 44 housing for his rear to replace the 35. I was in the process of installing a dana 44 ARB and instead of a tight fit to get the carrier in I have .180 side to side play with apx .025 shims under my setup bearngs. Measuring the housing from 1 side carrier bearing face to the other(in the housing) the rubicon housing is apx .150-.200 wider than a std dana 44 (early 70's jeep rear). Any thoughts?

Best of what I have heard is they are 44's but in name only and are not interchangeable with traditional 44's.

I know they have Rubi specific gears, but the ring gear is a lot thicker

The rear of a rubicon is a standard 44 I'm 99% sure but it uses the d44 thick gears. The front is whats all mis matched with the dana 30 outers.

The rear of a rubicon is a standard 44 I'm 99% sure but it uses the d44 thick gears. The front is whats all mis matched with the dana 30 outers.

That's what I understand. I was gonna use Rubi 4.10's in my Scout 44 rear that's in my CJ so I wouldn't have to get a new carrier since the Rubi gears a thick but decided to go with 4.56's

The rear of a rubicon is a standard 44 I'm 99% sure but it uses the d44 thick gears. The front is whats all mis matched with the dana 30 outers.

Didn't Dana 30's run 260 u-joints?

Didn't Dana 30's run 260 u-joints?

Not on TJ's...

The rear of a rubicon is a standard 44 I'm 99% sure but it uses the d44 thick gears. The front is whats all mis matched with the dana 30 outers.

That doesnt explain why a std dana 44 arb carrier is to narrow for the housing also tried a 44 trac-loc and still have .180 side to side play with races and shims installed.

I'm not sure about the .180 side slop, we always use standard d44 carriers in the rubis but if thats not helpful I do know for a fact that the rubicon 44 lockers will not fit into a standard d44 because of width issues so why not add some shims?

I understood that you could put a standard 44 carrier into a rubi housing
then use standard gears.

go sign up here (http://rubiconownersforum.com) and post your issue. I know there are a dozen or more people that installed ARB's in the rear after they blew up the factory lockers.