rear axle options

[N-Smooth]

i have a d44 in the back of the xjbug and i was wondering about it...

what size tires can i safely run on that axle with a lightweight rig like mine? i have 36.5's that i bought cheap to run until i want new tires. i would like to get much bigger ones like 38-39's but wonder about the strength issue. the mantis is pretty lightweight, especially over the rear end... but i still wonder.

should i beef up the 44 or get another axle?
it has 5.38 gears and a yukon spool, stock shafts
i could make it a ff or just get chromo shafts, but is it worth it?

if i was to swap that axle out i would like to get another one that is 6 lug and has a 15" rim... which is like impossible! i could get a toy rear but i don't think they gear to 5.38, and it would be weak geared that low anyway.

what size tires are you running on your rear herzog? i know you sleeved it.

give me some opinionated action here
-nate

also, i could sleeve it and build a bridge/truss for it too

 

[Herzog]

what size tires are you running on your rear herzog? i know you sleeved it.

I run 38x12.5 TSL SX. Along with rockstomper beadlocks which makes for a pretty heavy package on each corner. I'm running Moser alloy shafts, 5.13 r&p, and a Detroit. No complaints yet... I'm gonna hang on to it for as long as possible in spite of all the D60 junkies out there.

 

[N-Smooth]

I run 38x12.5 TSL SX. Along with rockstomper beadlocks which makes for a pretty heavy package on each corner. I'm running Moser alloy shafts, 5.13 r&p, and a Detroit. No complaints yet... I'm gonna hang on to it for as long as possible in spite of all the D60 junkies out there.

i would like to hang onto my axle too, but if i could upgrade for a reasonable price i would.
how much are alloys, about 4 bills?
i also plan on diy beadlocks, but i want to run a lighter tire like a mtr... i dunno about that though
if i could get a d60 that fit a 15 inch rim and 6 lug, i would be there for the fullfloating alone.

 

[Herzog]

i
how much are alloys, about 4 bills?

$300 shipped to my door about 3 years ago. I don't know what they run now.

 

[Andy]

I run Mosers in the Hero so far so good. We will see how well they hold up to 37's soon.

Andy

What about your front shafts?

 

[N-Smooth]

I run Mosers in the Hero so far so good. We will see how well they hold up to 37's soon.

Andy

What about your front shafts?

don't you have a 60 in the rear of the hero?
my front shafts are stock, and i don't think i will have a prob with them seeing as how it is so dang light. but we will see
i also have a 4cyl, so it's not like there is a lot of power going to the axles.

 

[Caleb]

I think with alloys in the rear you would prolly be alright. You may want to truss it but I think (not positive) the tubes on most D44s are pretty close to the same thickness of that of the average D60 (I'm sure Andy can verify or deny this)...I actually wanted to go with a smaller axle, I was looking into the Toy rear end and the only reasons I didnt go that route was the D60 I got was super cheap and the Toy rear was a little too narrow for my taste. If I upgrade or change out my rear it will be to a Ford 9" (especially if they finally come out with a decent priced true HP) with 40 spline axles. Or I may (in the far future) do mog9s...overall I say get some alloys ($295 from Moser) and run it till you are having issues with keeping it alive.

 

[ryslc]

i have a d44 in the back of the xjbug and i was wondering about it...

what size tires can i safely run on that axle with a lightweight rig like mine? i have 36.5's that i bought cheap to run until i want new tires. i would like to get much bigger ones like 38-39's but wonder about the strength issue. the mantis is pretty lightweight, especially over the rear end... but i still wonder.

should i beef up the 44 or get another axle?
it has 5.38 gears and a yukon spool, stock shafts
i could make it a ff or just get chromo shafts, but is it worth it?

if i was to swap that axle out i would like to get another one that is 6 lug and has a 15" rim... which is like impossible! i could get a toy rear but i don't think they gear to 5.38, and it would be weak geared that low anyway.

what size tires are you running on your rear herzog? i know you sleeved it.

give me some opinionated action here
-nate

also, i could sleeve it and build a bridge/truss for it too

\
if you beef up the insides. i ran a d44 in the rear of a tj with 37s and broke a lot of stuff(main ring/pinion). like andy said upgrade the shafts for sure!!!!

 

[N-Smooth]

I think with alloys in the rear you would prolly be alright. You may want to truss it but I think (not positive) the tubes on most D44s are pretty close to the same thickness of that of the average D60 (I'm sure Andy can verify or deny this)...I actually wanted to go with a smaller axle, I was looking into the Toy rear end and the only reasons I didnt go that route was the D60 I got was super cheap and the Toy rear was a little too narrow for my taste. If I upgrade or change out my rear it will be to a Ford 9" (especially if they finally come out with a decent priced true HP) with 40 spline axles. Or I may (in the far future) do mog9s...overall I say get some alloys ($295 from Moser) and run it till you are having issues with keeping it alive.

next step is getting hydro assist steering and then i will look into shafts for the rear. i actually have a bunch of other stuff i need to get too.

 

[muleskinner]

Buy a 14 bolt shave it and convert it to 6 lug and disc. Detroits are cheap and you wont break it. Plus they are FF.

 

[N-Smooth]

Buy a 14 bolt shave it and convert it to 6 lug and disc. Detroits are cheap and you wont break it. Plus they are FF.

how much is a 6lug convo? who sells them?
i would love to have a 14b! but it would require bigger than 15" wheels wouldn't it?
what size wheels do they require normally? i am planning on diy beadlocks and i could just buy 2 six lug 16" wheels for the front and 2 eight lug 16" wheels for the rear and weld on the rings. since i will have beadlocks i can just bring an extra tire with me, not on a wheel.
but 14ff don't go to 5.38 do they?

 

[muleskinner]

how much is a 6lug convo? who sells them?
i would love to have a 14b! but it would require bigger than 15" wheels wouldn't it?
what size wheels do they require normally? i am planning on diy beadlocks and i could just buy 2 six lug 16" wheels for the front and 2 eight lug 16" wheels for the rear and weld on the rings. since i will have beadlocks i can just bring an extra tire with me, not on a wheel.
but 14ff don't go to 5.38 do they?

Charles @ Rockymountain Axle does them. I'm not sure on price but I doubt its more than $100-$150. 15'' wheels will fit with drums or disc. I think gears go to like 5.13 or 5.18

 

[Caleb]

Or you could go the BLING route and get the aluminum hubs from Gradys Offroad in Cali...they are super sweet but $$$...and muleskinner si right, the 14FF only goes to 5.13...

 

[N-Smooth]

Or you could go the BLING route and get the aluminum hubs from Gradys Offroad in Cali...they are super sweet but $$$...and muleskinner si right, the 14FF only goes to 5.13...

not a solution then cause i have 5.38's up front
could i do the same with a d60?

 

[Caleb]

not a solution then cause i have 5.38's up front
could i do the same with a d60?

yeah, D60s go to something really low like 7.17s and the 6 lug conversion would be indentical to the 14ff

 

[N-Smooth]

maybe i will look into the d60 option.
i am trying to think of the necessary mods to make it work. will 15" rims work on the stock drums?
5.38 gears, a 6 lug adapter, different driveline yoke?, what else would i need?

most 60s are around 64" wms to wms aren't they?
should i consider getting a 9" maybe? i don't think it is a good axle stock. but is a 60 a good axle with 30 spline? at least it is a floater though.

 

[muleskinner]

Not as strong as a 14 unless you get 35 sp stuff, but alot stronger than what you have.

 

[N-Smooth]

Not as strong as a 14 unless you get 35 sp stuff, but alot stronger than what you have.

i agree, the fact that it is a floater is worth it imo. for the ease of fixing an axle on the trail alone!

it's way hard to find a 35 spline stock isn't it? and otherwise you have to get your spindles bored out and all that other crap.
what is the best 60 to look for, that is findable.

 

[Caleb]

maybe i will look into the d60 option.
i am trying to think of the necessary mods to make it work. will 15" rims work on the stock drums?
5.38 gears, a 6 lug adapter, different driveline yoke?, what else would i need?

most 60s are around 64" wms to wms aren't they?
should i consider getting a 9" maybe? i don't think it is a good axle stock. but is a 60 a good axle with 30 spline? at least it is a floater though.

15" rims should work, never tried though...the yoke prolly wont need to be changed if you have 1310 ujoint right now...most 60s have either a 1310 or 1330...most FF60s (ok, basically all) are 67" wide or wider...the 9" is a great axle and is cheap to build but like you said its not FF...you can find tons a parts for the 9" for chump change because of the racing circuits...they change their stuff just as it get broken in so there's a lot of things to be had cheap...BUT the downside to the 9" is the LOW pinion...once its turned up its not too teribly bad but it is worse than a D44 D60 or even a 14T...

 

[N-Smooth]

15" rims should work, never tried though...the yoke prolly wont need to be changed if you have 1310 ujoint right now...most 60s have either a 1310 or 1330...most FF60s (ok, basically all) are 67" wide or wider...the 9" is a great axle and is cheap to build but like you said its not FF...you can find tons a parts for the 9" for chump change because of the racing circuits...they change their stuff just as it get broken in so there's a lot of things to be had cheap...BUT the downside to the 9" is the LOW pinion...once its turned up its not too teribly bad but it is worse than a D44 D60 or even a 14T...

67"??? thats way too big. i have 2" spacers on the frontend to help with width, but i don't think it is near 67", probably more like 64"
whats the width on a waggy front?

so who makes 6lug conversions?