I have a 98 ZJ with the D44al rear axle regeared to 4.56. I had new bearings ect. installed when I had it regeared five years ago and once again it has developed the classic D44al pinion bearing whine so its time for an axle swap. I noticed that 4x2 tacomas have a 5x4.5 bolt pattern, I think a similar width, and were availible with a 4.56 ratio to mach my D30. My question is how strong is this axle and do you think it will make a good swap into a ZJ? My Jeep is on 35's but this is my daily driver and only sees light wheeling so I just need something similar in strength to the D44al and the tacoma axle seems like a cheap and easy swap.

been done a few times, go for it

Anyone know how wide a tacoma 2x4 axle is?

why not a ford explorer 8.8, im in the middle of puting one in my tj. they are a half ton rated axle with 31 spline ax shafts. also they have the same bolt pattern and are only 5/8in difference in width and there is the same amount of fab work in either one.

why not a ford explorer 8.8, im in the middle of puting one in my tj. they are a half ton rated axle with 31 spline ax shafts. also they have the same bolt pattern and are only 5/8in difference in width and there is the same amount of fab work in either one.

Was thinking the same thing, don't know how strong the toyota axles are though...

8.8 can't hold up to a Toy
95-01 Taco 2wd non-prerunner is 5x4.5 and 60.5 wide

why not a ford explorer 8.8, im in the middle of puting one in my tj. they are a half ton rated axle with 31 spline ax shafts. also they have the same bolt pattern and are only 5/8in difference in width and there is the same amount of fab work in either one.


X2 and you can also eliminate the c-clip in the 8.8 if you want

i thought toy axles were 6 lug?

I have considered a 8.8 but the tacoma axles are available with 4.56 (are 4.52 I think) gears from the factory which would make the swap alot cheaper and possibly have more ground clearance? The 2x4 tacomas are 5x4.5 and the 4x4 are 6 lug

Aren't the straight toyota axles all front loading? If that's the case, I would think they are slightly harder to work on too.

Aside from width, is the toyota a stronger axle?

Aren't the straight toyota axles all front loading? If that's the case, I would think they are slightly harder to work on too.

Aside from width, is the toyota a stronger axle?

look at a 9". A Taco is 1" smaller in dia

EDIT
98Grand are you 4.0 or V8?

look at a 9". A Taco is 1" smaller in dia

Meaning they are not as strong? So what would be the advantage?

Meaning they are not as strong? So what would be the advantage?

same design, just a little smaller. Toy guys run them on 38 - 40's all the time. Consensus is they are as strong as a 60

same design, just a little smaller. Toy guys run them on 38 - 40's all the time. Consensus is they are as strong as a 60
Oh geez! I'd go taco too haha!

I have a 5.2 v8 but if these things are anywhere close to the strength of a d60 or even a d44 it will work for me. Especially with a open diff and a light foot. I can get them for $200 at local junk yards with 4.56 gears so this seems like a better swap then the ever popular 8.8.

EDIT: Apparently only the 4x4 had a 4.56 ratio available. So maybe a 4x4 housing and gears with 2x4 axle shafts for the 5x4.5 bolt pattern would work?

I have a 5.2 v8 but if these things are anywhere close to the strength of a d60 or even a d44 it will work for me. Especially with a open diff and a light foot. I can get them for $200 at local junk yards with 4.52 gears so this seems like a better swap then the ever popular 8.8.

you want to pull an extra one while your there?

same design, just a little smaller. Toy guys run them on 38 - 40's all the time. Consensus is they are as strong as a 60

im not in here to but heads but lets look at the whole picture. yes the toy guys run 40s on them with pick up bodys that are cut dow and sometimes bobbed. but lets just call the toy truck full bodied what is the weight of that with a v6. compared to the weight of a street driven zj with an iron v8 in it. the toy axle was never put into a full size half ton truck. even toyota built a new rear end for the more full size tundra when they came out. the ford 9in was a real axle that came in full size trucks and broncos, that is truly comparable to the dana 60. but i give the toy 8in respect for what they do and are capable of they work great for samuries and other lightweight rigs. i did myself consider swaping toy axles front and rear in my tj but desided to go bigger and the 8.8 was the most logical.

also your not wanting the toy axle just for the gears are you?

im not in here to but heads but lets look at the whole picture. yes the toy guys run 40s on them with pick up bodys that are cut dow and sometimes bobbed. but lets just call the toy truck full bodied what is the weight of that with a v6. compared to the weight of a street driven zj with an iron v8 in it. the toy axle was never put into a full size half ton truck. even toyota built a new rear end for the more full size tundra when they came out. the ford 9in was a real axle that came in full size trucks and broncos, that is truly comparable to the dana 60. but i give the toy 8in respect for what they do and are capable of they work great for samuries and other lightweight rigs. i did myself consider swaping toy axles front and rear in my tj but desided to go bigger and the 8.8 was the most logical.

also your not wanting the toy axle just for the gears are you?

I'm not looking for the strongest axle, I just need one that will hold up to daily driving and some mild offroading. Even the d44al has help up fine strength wise just not quality wise. If I swap in a toy axle with the correct gear ratio it will save me a couple hundred bucks on a 8.8 swap with new gears and labor. Also the toy axle is about an inch wider than the 8.8 so I probably wont even need wheel spacers.

if your not concerned with strength just use the 44 you have till u break it. you said quality wize i dont understand what u mean. and u dont need spacers for a 8.8 swap anyways. u guess what i was trying to get acrost was that if your doing a swap like that why not go big in the easiest path possible. but i can see your dead set on a toy axle so go for it!

if your not concerned with strength just use the 44 you have till u break it. you said quality wize i dont understand what u mean. and u dont need spacers for a 8.8 swap anyways. u guess what i was trying to get acrost was that if your doing a swap like that why not go big in the easiest path possible. but i can see your dead set on a toy axle so go for it!

The D44al likes to eat pinion bearings and Ive already been through two and Im tired of putting money into it. I guess I am pretty set on it, so be looking for a write up on putting a 4.56 geared tacoma axle in a ZJ for under $500.

toy diffs are better! non c clip axle, third member is better, carry spare thirds etc. as an alternate route 86 and up toyota pickup axles are 58.5 wide similar to jeep.