D35 vs. D44

[Devel]

well being the original poster im really not totally sure wat im going with at this point but it might be the dana 60. but who knows at this point. at this point the jeep is a weekend warrior and a daily driver. plus im still in high school and i dont have a hole lot of money so im just trying to figure out wat the best axle for my money will be

 

[1993yj]

Do whatever you want and can afford. Just a bit from experience though, any upgrade or project you plan out and budget, always goes over budget. So keep that in mind when you do your upgrade. Any of the axles talked about will be a huge plus over the D35.

And thanks for the entertainment here. I enjoyed it, seeing pissed off people makes me smile for some reason.

 

[Milner]

well being the original poster im really not totally sure wat im going with at this point but it might be the dana 60. but who knows at this point. at this point the jeep is a weekend warrior and a daily driver. plus im still in high school and i dont have a hole lot of money so im just trying to figure out wat the best axle for my money will be

Runn 32's or 33's and maybe a lunch box locker until it breaks, and then go from there....A 60 is a smart choice. I just hate to see people spend money on an 8.8/44/whatever and end up with a 60 in the end anyway....Just skip the middle man and make the jump. The $$$$ are high, but trust a guy that start when he was 15 with the "same" rig he still has/wheels today....I have done it all, and a very conservative estimate of 18 years of rebuilds would be 50-60k to end up with a rig I couldn't sell for 10k....maybe 6-8k in parts. I wish someone would have told me in the beginning, what I know now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Milner]

I was never pissed....bothered, maybe a little, I just hate mis-information.

 

[Devel]

And thanks for the entertainment here. I enjoyed it, seeing pissed off people makes me smile for some reason.

i do wat i can haha

 

[waynehartwig]

Do whatever you want and can afford. Just a bit from experience though, any upgrade or project you plan out and budget, always goes over budget. So keep that in mind when you do your upgrade. Any of the axles talked about will be a huge plus over the D35.

And thanks for the entertainment here. I enjoyed it, seeing pissed off people makes me smile for some reason.

Who was pissed?

 

[jeepers]

yea dana 35s suck i have one in my tj and running 36" super swampers oh yeah iam in big trouble need a 44 bad

 

[rondo]

A Ford 9" isn't stronger than a .8.8? Will bust like a D35? Oh my goodness son you are so misinformed. First of all any C clip axle blows,,,and people will hate to wheel with anyone that has the tire falling out of their rig.

I've seen D35s blow. And boy do they ever.

I'm no expert on the 8.8, but if its comparable to a D44 then i'd ditch it for the D44 for no other reason than it's a C-clip.

 

[waynehartwig]

I have seen stock Ford 9" housings bend in the center and implode, just as a D35 will. A stock 9" housing is weak. It's still a lot better than a D35, which shouldn't even be mentioned in the same sentance. The only thing I have seen an 8.8 do is spin the tubes in the housing. Have you seen a housing break on an 8.8? Never mind the c clips, those are EASILY removed (simple as changing over to 9" axle bearings). The housing/tube problem is EASILY solved with welding the tube to the housing.

Don't get me wrong, I would rather have a 9" over ANY Dana axle and even a 8.8". But it would NOT have a stock housing.

 

[Jay5.9L]

so i just purchased a 2002 jeep wrangler x. it has the dana 35 rear but it has custom front bumper and rock sliders. im running 33x12.50 MTR's and so far its holding out. ive been discussing with my dad wat rear end we should put in it an so far we are thinking either a Dana 60, Ford 9in, or a unimog. feed back would be nice on what everyone thinks:greg:

I got another oppinion. It sounds like your new rig is slightly built as is. 33"s MTRs are a good place to start and the stock drive train should be fine if your smart. GO wheel it and have fun, become a better driver first. Invest in some of the basics like a good tow strap, gloves, hi lift, tow hooks/points if your custom bumpers don't have them, etc (if you have not already). Maybe throw in a lunch box locker in that back and a spare D35 shaft. Your will be supprised what a slightly modded TJ will do. The point is you got axles, not very good ones but see what thay can do and always wheel with friends who know how to swap a D35 shaft

 

[Milner]

Have you seen a housing break on an 8.8?

Actually....I have, a couple
One cracked through the cast, seen one break a pinion out, several spit teeth through the cover, a couple even trough the cast, yep, tube spins, lots of bearing problems, and some other random problems.

BUT, I could say that about almost any axle....seen a lot of broken axles over the years....some were VERY impressive!!

Seen the least problems with 9" and 44 rears, considering how many are out there, I have seen very few problems comparatively.

The big FF don't have a lot of problems, except I have seen lots of burned up spindles because people never service their wheel bearings.

Favorite break ever was a full size late 70's F250 that we had built several axles for. Finally we built him a "bulletproof" 14 bolt (10.5) with Dana 80 spindles/bearings/hubs. The guy was running a hopped up BB Ford. Yep he broke that too!! Double Wammy on GS. He had his foot in it, bounced off both ledges at the same time, truck hopped in the air, 3ft or so, gravity pulling him down hill, tires still spinning forward, SNAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Loadest break ever too. Both shafts!!

 

[mbryson]

I got another oppinion. It sounds like your new rig is slightly built as is. 33"s MTRs are a good place to start and the stock drive train should be fine if your smart. GO wheel it and have fun, become a better driver first. Invest in some of the basics like a good tow strap, gloves, hi lift, tow hooks/points if your custom bumpers don't have them, etc (if you have not already). Maybe throw in a lunch box locker in that back and a spare D35 shaft. Your will be supprised what a slightly modded TJ will do. The point is you got axles, not very good ones but see what thay can do and always wheel with friends who know how to swap a D35 shaft

There you go.


(and keep your eyes/ears open for a TJ D44 for sale while you're out there having fun)

 

[Devel]

I got another oppinion. It sounds like your new rig is slightly built as is. 33"s MTRs are a good place to start and the stock drive train should be fine if your smart. GO wheel it and have fun, become a better driver first. Invest in some of the basics like a good tow strap, gloves, hi lift, tow hooks/points if your custom bumpers don't have them, etc (if you have not already). Maybe throw in a lunch box locker in that back and a spare D35 shaft. Your will be supprised what a slightly modded TJ will do. The point is you got axles, not very good ones but see what thay can do and always wheel with friends who know how to swap a D35 shaft

ya it is set up pretty good and i know i am still considered a rookie even though i have been wheeling for over a year but im not one to go out and buy a lunch box locker. if i buy a locker its going to be a nice one and it wont be with this rearend. and i basically have all the stuff u need for a good wheeling trip. im not going to say im a great driver but i can hold my own

 

[waynehartwig]

Actually....I have, a couple
One cracked through the cast, seen one break a pinion out, several spit teeth through the cover, a couple even trough the cast, yep, tube spins, lots of bearing problems, and some other random problems.

BUT, I could say that about almost any axle....seen a lot of broken axles over the years....some were VERY impressive!!

Seen the least problems with 9" and 44 rears, considering how many are out there, I have seen very few problems comparatively.

The big FF don't have a lot of problems, except I have seen lots of burned up spindles because people never service their wheel bearings.

Favorite break ever was a full size late 70's F250 that we had built several axles for. Finally we built him a "bulletproof" 14 bolt (10.5) with Dana 80 spindles/bearings/hubs. The guy was running a hopped up BB Ford. Yep he broke that too!! Double Wammy on GS. He had his foot in it, bounced off both ledges at the same time, truck hopped in the air, 3ft or so, gravity pulling him down hill, tires still spinning forward, SNAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Loadest break ever too. Both shafts!!

True...

 

[Marshall]

I say wheel what you have (and carry spares) until you break it consistently, (this is why a D30 still lives in the front of my XJ). The real fun in this is that you really piss off the people who spent $2000 putting a D60 in :greg:

 

[mbryson]

.......... The real fun in this is that you really piss off the people who spent $2000 putting a D60 in :greg:

 

[Caleb]

.......... The real fun in this is that you really piss off the people who spent $2000 putting a D60 in :greg:

why would it piss the people off who spent the money to put a 60 in the only reason I can think of it cause they are always waiting on you on the trail while you have to repair your junk. After a point I'd just stop inviting you on trail rides

 

[Tacoma]

hahahahahahah

you're an axle snob, aren't you?

 

[Marshall]

I am not questioning the valuable investment of a D60, I'm just saying that usually when you are wheeling with people who have way more money dumped into their rig than you do, it tends to make you feel good about where your rig can go on a budget. (Especially at the end of the days when you DONT break) I'm not out there to brag about all the money I have dumped into something, I am out there to wheel and have fun while I'm at it! My philosophy has always been run it til it breaks, and then build up from there. (Probably fueled by the lack of $ to throw 60s under the front and rear of my rig):greg:

 

[mbryson]

I am not questioning the valuable investment of a D60, I'm just saying that usually when you are wheeling with people who have way more money dumped into their rig than you do, it tends to make you feel good about where your rig can go on a budget. (Especially at the end of the days when you DONT break) I'm not out there to brag about all the money I have dumped into something, I am out there to wheel and have fun while I'm at it! My philosophy has always been run it til it breaks, and then build up from there. (Probably fueled by the lack of $ to throw 60s under the front and rear of my rig):greg:

That's why my 'new' rig won't start with marginal axles. I've got WAY less than $2000 in my front and rear axles (D60 front/14 bolt). Maybe $4000-5000 total in my whole Jeep item (probably more than that, but I won't admit it).