Front TJ axle for 37's?

[NikVallens]

I trying to figure out what axle setup to run up front in tandem with my rear D60. I'm only going to run 37's/ My first thought was to run a Rubicon 44 with superior shafts and my current Vanco big brake kit. My worry is the 27 spline outer shafts would be a weak point. To minimize the shaft weakness I was thinking about some CTM u joints. Will this be reliable running tough trails?

In a perfect world I would convert to 30 spline outers but that would then render my Vanco knuckles and brakes useless.

I carry spare shafts on the trail and am easy on the skinny pedal but still plan to run tough trails. Any thoughts on this front axle setup?

Any input is appreciated

[MonsterSeven]

i dont know how TRUELY strong the rubi 44s are, but i know that a real 44 in stock form can handle 37s easy. being it is your front axle, it wont be beaten as badly as your rear. so, that setup should be plenty strong. good luck.

[Bboarder24 7]

Originally Posted by MonsterSeven

i dont know how TRUELY strong the rubi 44s are, but i know that a real 44 in stock form can handle 37s easy. being it is your front axle, it wont be beaten as badly as your rear. so, that setup should be plenty strong. good luck.

I don't know what d44 front you're running. But i run a waggy 44 front and i have full chromoly shafts and super joints, run 37's on alum wheels and i can still break shafts.

I think the front axle gets more stress on it than the rear because of steering and binding as well as more weight up front. I would look at something other than a rubi 44 front if you are going to run 37's, remember than only the center section and inner shafts are d44 parts, the outer shafts, knuckles and brakes are all d30 parts.

[The Black Sheep]

I run a true D44 with 37s and I still throw u-joints and hubs. Your best bet is to really just pony up and buy a front D60. It will cost you the same to build the 60 as the 44. And with any decent wheeling very soon the cost of fixing broken parts in a 44 will exceed the cost of building a 60. The 44 will work, but in the end nearly everybody I talk to, including myself that runs a 37" tire or larger regrets not going with 60s.

[NikVallens]

Originally Posted by The Black Sheep

I run a true D44 with 37s and I still throw u-joints and hubs. Your best bet is to really just pony up and buy a front D60. It will cost you the same to build the 60 as the 44. And with any decent wheeling very soon the cost of fixing broken parts in a 44 will exceed the cost of building a 60. The 44 will work, but in the end nearly everybody I talk to, including myself that runs a 37" tire or larger regrets not going with 60s.

My only reason for not wanting to go with a front 60 is they are so big for just running 37's. If not the 44 then Im thinking about looking into a 9"

[Bboarder24 7]

Originally Posted by NikVallens

My only reason for not wanting to go with a front 60 is they are so big for just running 37's. If not the 44 then Im thinking about looking into a 9"

building a TJ 44 will costs you probably 2grand, axle brackets, chromo shafts and joints, gears, lockers, and thats mostly with you doing all your own setup.

building a TJ 60, probably at least 2500 in parts (same stuff as the 44 build, just for a 60, and costs more!)

building a TJ 609, best bet would be get a spydertrax housing, or their ebay kit they are selling, http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Spide...spagenameZWDVW
and thats still 1500 from 2k, then you still need a setup 3rd, shafts, joints, brakes, calipers, brackets = 4-5K easily! You could junkyard build it, and save some cash, but it wouldn't be as good as a spydertrax IMO.

[rockrknockr]

so you now have a low pinion D30 correct? it will probably hold up to pretty hard trails on 37's with CHROMO SHAFTS and 760 joints but you will have to tread lightly. a high pinion D30 will gain you stronger ring and pinion but i wouldn't mess with that. get some chromos and see how long they last and then get the 60 you know you really need

[Beat95YJ]

HP 44 will be fine. I prefer an F-150 center with 3" tubes to a Jeep built 44. (I used to run an XJ front but the tubes bend too easily.) The outers are not the issue. The TJ outers break at the u-joint typically. Upping to the 30spline outers will not effect the strength of the axle at all.

Cromo axles and upgraded ujoints will be plenty strong.

[NikVallens]

Originally Posted by rockrknockr

so you now have a low pinion D30 correct? it will probably hold up to pretty hard trails on 37's with CHROMO SHAFTS and 760 joints but you will have to tread lightly. a high pinion D30 will gain you stronger ring and pinion but i wouldn't mess with that. get some chromos and see how long they last and then get the 60 you know you really need

Yes I currently have a low pinion D30 with 4.88's, superior shafts, and vanco knuckles and brakes. My reason for wanting to use a Rubicon D44 is I already have superior shafts for a 44 and my Vanco knuckles and brakes will fit on there. I also think id truss the axle and put some CTMs.

Im moving to Tucson in a few weeks. We'll have to hit some trails

[Beat95YJ]

Originally Posted by NikVallens

Yes I currently have a low pinion D30 with 4.88's, superior shafts, and vanco knuckles and brakes. My reason for wanting to use a Rubicon D44 is I already have superior shafts for a 44 and my Vanco knuckles and brakes will fit on there. I also think id truss the axle and put some CTMs.

Im moving to Tucson in a few weeks. We'll have to hit some trails

The axle in this thread /forum/jeep-hardcore-tech/405914-polyperformance-doing-sweet-fab-now.html uses off the shelf superior axles, and TJ brakes and does not use the flimsy stock housing. Housing and brackets are not that expensive.

[rockrknockr]

Originally Posted by NikVallens

Yes I currently have a low pinion D30 with 4.88's, superior shafts, and vanco knuckles and brakes. My reason for wanting to use a Rubicon D44 is I already have superior shafts for a 44 and my Vanco knuckles and brakes will fit on there. I also think id truss the axle and put some CTMs.

Im moving to Tucson in a few weeks. We'll have to hit some trails

is the rubicon 44 high pinion?

all i know is, plenty of guys around here are running the 30 on 37's and are "surviving" somewhat. mostly breaking 760 u-joints and snapping even alloy shafts. not a whole lot of R&P's breaking that i know of. weak tubes, sure but nobody is jumping them either

[MonsterSeven]

Originally Posted by rockrknockr

is the rubicon 44 high pinion?

yes, both front and rear are high pinion.

[NikVallens]

Originally Posted by MonsterSeven

yes, both front and rear are high pinion.

No its low pinion. I believe that the JK D44 axles are high pinion. The 44 I would get would be out of a TJ rubicon

[The Black Sheep]

A 9 is a good axel, a little pricy but they work. Ive seen guys get by with a D30 on 37"s but they have to drive like saints to do it. Takes alot of fun out of the sport if you have to work about breaking just getting thru the trail, let alone trying anything a little crazy.

On a side note, why did Jeep put a high pinion axle in the rear?

[NikVallens]

Any other opinions?

[mrdiameter™]

Dana 60s usually come a dime a dozen.

[?????]

Originally Posted by The Black Sheep

On a side note, why did Jeep put a high pinion axle in the rear?

They didn't.

TJ Rubicon axles are low pinion front and rear.

JK Rubicon axles are high pinion front and low pinion rear.