Biggest I should go on Dana 44's

[LetchcoreCJ]

1979 CJ7 with waggy dana 44 in front and Scout Dana 44 in rear. 4.10 gears right now. I am running 35in MT's I was thinking of going to 36in TSL's but could I go to 38's or am I asking for trouble?

Thanks and if anyone has pics of Dana 44's with 36's or 38's feel free to post them.

[95steel]

I have a HP44 on 36" iroks.

Aside from the search type responce... this has been covered quite often...

From what I have noticed. People with dana 44's up front and 36" tires put in alloy shafts and don't have to do as many trail fixes. People running over 36" tires put in alloys, then bitch about how they should have started with a 60... and wind up getting a 60.

[LetchcoreCJ]

Originally Posted by 95steel

I have a HP44 on 36" iroks.

Aside from the search type responce... this has been covered quite often...

From what I have noticed. People with dana 44's up front and 36" tires put in alloy shafts and don't have to do as many trail fixes. People running over 36" tires put in alloys, then bitch about how they should have started with a 60... and wind up getting a 60.

What gears do you have?

[bgredjeep]

I've got the same axles you are running (both locked) and I'm currently on 38" TSLs. I ran 36" TSL radials for about 2 years before going to the 38s and I broke one stub shaft in that time (on 36s). I'm not usually hard on my Jeep but I will lay into it pretty good every now and then. I carry a few extra shafts and hubs just in case since that first axle break. Running the stock 258 so I don't have a ton of power either.

If I drove like my friends on 60s or Rocks drove, I would destroy the axles in no time I'm sure. I'm working on installing a 14bolt rear now just so I don't have to think about the rear axle any more. The front is getting 8 lug outers to match. Eventually I'll install alloys in front but I've got a few spares to go through before I need to spend any more money on the front.

[95steel]

4.88's. I am happy with them on the street, but wish I had lower for the trail. 5.13's might have been a better choice... but I do a fair amount of street driving and didn't want to spin 4000 rpms to get to 60 mph. I am looking to do a stak or atlas next year to get better trail performance.

I don't wheel that hard anymore, I haven't had any real issues with the 36" tires on a 44... (no reason to upgrade). I personally would not go any bigger than 37" tires on a dana 44 simply because I hate working on my rig on the trail. I did that for too many years with the old dana 30 and 35 set up.

In short. 4.88's with a 4.0HO/ax15/np231 is fine for the street on 36" tires. Most trails it is fine as well, I find myself feathering the clutch a lot in technical situations though. A 4-1 kit in the t-case would probably make it about perfect for me.

[LetchcoreCJ]

I guess i just comes down to how much advandage 38's have over 36's on the trails. I would imagine 36's will do a far amount of wheeling.

[Dodgen]

Stick with 36"s, not only for the strength issue, but also because you don't want your rig too tall on axles that narrow.

[Arizona_Jeep]

Originally Posted by LetchcoreCJ

I guess i just comes down to how much advandage 38's have over 36's on the trails. I would imagine 36's will do a far amount of wheeling.

I say 36's will get you into far enough trouble on some narly trails.

[ddestruel]

alloys, ctms in front stock scout 44 in the rear........... 35's and 36's no bang bang good clearance at the pumpkins, to run a 60 id have to jump up to 39's to get teh same clearance. i did tuck the cross member higher to get more belly pan clearance. sproacha dn departure angles could be better but thats minor

[papabear]

with 38s your axles will break, even alloys.

Ask me how I know.

[YXwhenUcanFAB?]

I agree with the above, sitch to 36's of MAYBE a light set of 37's.

[papabear]

Originally Posted by papabear

with 38s your axles will break, even alloys.

Ask me how I know.

I'm not easy on it by any means, but with 38.5 x 11 boggers and alloys stuff breaks.
Also, at two years with maybe 1k miles, the ball joints are shot.

[bjb]

I've broke axles with 26"s

[MonsterSeven]

36" tires are cheaper than 38" tires. think about that.

[kirbyiv]

3 chromo shafts and numerous hub fuses on bald fawkin 37 iroks, granted that was before 2 rear 60 yukon shafts, 1 14 bolt shaft and a 35 spline cromo outer on 40s. maybe Im just too hard on things

[jeeplt1]

38.5 tsl/sx on a front waggy 44 with stock shafts..
havent broken them yet but ive been easy on it in the rocks and pedal to the metal on the dirt.
btw... 5.38 gears and a 5.7 under the hood

[HILAKE2]

Ditto....
same axles as you have (waggy front, scout rear) 4:56, detroits, havent broken anything """"""YET"""""" running an LS1 and 37 MTR's. currently in the process of building a rear 60 because that thing is creakin and poppin crazy like. i step on the skinny pedal any chance i can get too....37's would be fine. i think another aspect rarely thought about is tire WIDTH.

[The Black Sheep]

I have the same setup you have, waggy 44s, 37" iroks, 106:1 crawl gearing, and a healthy 258 (parts punisher ) I'm constantly throwing passenger short side u-joints which of coarse take out the shafts. So soon as I get the cash its gonna be chromo's and CTM's in that side.

[LetchcoreCJ]

My front is 61 3/4 inches WMS to WMS and my rear is 58 1/2 inches WMS to WMS. I am thinking 36's will be good for my set up. If I out grow them I will go to Dana 60's and bigger tires. Plus with my SOA lift and RE 1.5in springs it sits pretty high as is. I tried going with YJ stock leaf springs to bring down the COG but they get beat going negative arch. You almost have to have as much arch as the RE's do to get good flex and no negative arch.

[wickedwagon]

Originally Posted by 95steel

I have a HP44 on 36" iroks.

Aside from the search type responce... this has been covered quite often...

From what I have noticed. People with dana 44's up front and 36" tires put in alloy shafts and don't have to do as many trail fixes. People running over 36" tires put in alloys, then bitch about how they should have started with a 60... and wind up getting a 60.

x2

If you REALLY want to go with 38's,I would recommend upgrading your rear axle to a semi-built Ford 9",Dana60 or 14bolt. That way when your front end blows, and it will blow, you can get home under your own power.

Stepping up to 38's with stock shafts and u-joints will almost guarantee failure in rocks and hills. You might make it in sand and mud as long as your vehicle never bounces or is ever at any risk of wheel-spin stopping suddenly. If you got to that point you would definetly want to consider alloy shafts and beefy aftermarket u-joints.....but then you're spending as much as it would cost you to get a front Dana60 for.

Hence,just save up to find you a pair of Dana60's. You won't regret it

[kirbyiv]

Originally Posted by The Black Sheep

I have the same setup you have, waggy 44s, 37" iroks, 106:1 crawl gearing, and a healthy 258 (parts punisher ) I'm constantly throwing passenger short side u-joints which of coarse take out the shafts. So soon as I get the cash its gonna be chromo's and CTM's in that side.

save yourself a headache, sell the 44 and build a 60 instead of doing cromos and ctms

[LetchcoreCJ]

But if I go with Dana 60's then I have to go with 39in tires, and extend my wheelbase and hack up my tub. For now I will go with 36in tires and beat on it for awhile. In the meantime I will keep my eye out for some Dana 60's to start working on because I know if I hang around here long enough I will end up with them anyways.

[Petti]

Originally Posted by kirbyiv

save yourself a headache, sell the 44 and build a 60 instead of doing cromos and ctms

Dont expect to get cromos anytime soon hahaha

[makoy]

oh no

i have 38s on my 44s

5.375:1 diffs

4.25 tcase

1.6li engine

[The Black Sheep]

Originally Posted by LetchcoreCJ

But if I go with Dana 60's then I have to go with 39in tires, and extend my wheelbase and hack up my tub. For now I will go with 36in tires and beat on it for awhile. In the meantime I will keep my eye out for some Dana 60's to start working on because I know if I hang around here long enough I will end up with them anyways.

I will sell you my freshly built Dana 44s and I will take the cash and build the D60s you won't. Seriously the steering is all setup and everything, just bolt them in. PM me