it is a 6 bolt... and I am buying new wheels anyway.. need the backspacing.. stock ain't workin... (no kiddin huh) but what i'm wondering is what is that ford 9" and is it really that easy and cheap and what bolt pattern cuz that waggy 44 is a 6x5.5 so I want to do as little work as possible and as cheap as I can.. I'm not cheap just getting new tires.. lift (long arms) and wheels and axles.. ya know... SO Waggy 44 6 bolt OR ford 9"????? what do I go with in the rear for easy of install and rebuild price...
I don't think this is going to be as easy as it sounds like you want it to be. You'll have to make a decision on what YOU want to do. The 9" is probably the axle with the most aftermarket support out there. They come stock with 5 on 5.5" (as far as I know--maybe they're available in other bolt patterns?). Your factory XJ (that you "mob") is 5 on 4.5" so the XJ D44, XJ 8.25 29 spline or the F*rd 8.8 is the way to keep it cheap if you don't replace the front axle. I'd not be surprised if you could get the 9" in 6 on 5.5", or maybe even 5 on 4.5" (that I doubt, but ....)
I AM cheap if I don't have to spend money to make something reliable, but my first priority is reliable for the $$$.
33" tires, a D30/D44 or D30/8.8 or D30/8.25 you should have good/exellent reliability/capability and be able to keep your lift to about 4.5"
35" tires, a D30/D44 or D30/8.8 or D30/8.25 or D30/Toy 2WD with have OK reliability, but I'd take some extra shafts with you for the D30 and the tools to change them. You can keep your 5 on 4.5" wheels with any of those.
35-37" (maybe even 37-38" tires) a D44 will work OK, but if you "mob" the D44 it could have axle joint issues without upgrading to alloy axles and probably some cooler joints. Take your pick of lug patterns.....pretty much everything available EXCEPT 5 on 4.5"---TONS of options here---D44/D44, D44/9", D44/??, D60/D60, D60/14 bolt......pretty much anything you have but I'd stay away from a GM 10 bolt rear---I do know of quite a few guys with D44 running bigger tires with few/no issues. Again, it's up to you.
36"-42" tires (which I'd never suggest hanging off an XJ unless you think you know what you're doing), I'd just move to an 8 lug pattern and a front 60. There's been TONS of debate about the vailidity of a D44 for tires that big, but for my money, I'd not settle for anything less than a D60 front. Alloy shafts in a D44 will/could work depending on how you drive and how good of a driver you are.
I don't know that I can explain anything better than that. YMMV and other people will have different opinions. Those are mine. Again, for the XJ I'd plan on staying 35" or less (you end up with an uber modded wet noodle that you reinforce a lot with bigger tires--ask almost anyone that done it and they'll let you know) and
for my money, I'd stay with the stock D30 front (preferably non-disconnect) and use an XJ D44 or XJ 8.25 and run 33" tires.
