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Dana 44 from 98 Sahara

4K views 36 replies 13 participants last post by  JeepBlitz 
#1 ·
i've been looking for a used dana 44 rear axle for a bit. Found one here very close by. it's geared at 3.73. the seller is firm at 975 dollars. seems a little high, anyone's thoughts?
 
#14 ·
I would also see what a ford 8.8 goes for from ecgs them as its an option as well.
 
#17 ·
the owner of a local 4x4 shop frowned upon the 8.8 swap. he said it's a real hassle to get the right pinion angle with the 8.8 and it has to be set up just right. he wasn't looking for my business, i just mentioned that the 8.8 swap seems cheaper to do.
 
#16 ·
Thank you Jerry, i guess it's not that bad of a price. i'll try to go see it tomorrow after work but honestly, i'm not sure what i'm looking for as far as the axle being straight/damaged?!?! Is there a easy way to tell if the axle is bent? I'm sure it's easier if it's already out of the vehicle but i won't be certain until i speak with them in the morning, thank you all for your input and info!
 
#18 · (Edited)
8.8 axles are a dime a dozen but there's a lot of work required to set them up properly. Not to mention the pinion angle is offset to the side more than the Dana 35 or 44 is which creates even more of an angle for the driveshaft u-joints to have to work into. Plus the 8.8's pumpkin is bigger so it gives less ground clearance. Some claim the 8.8 is a tad stronger than the Dana 44 is but the Dana 44 has no strength issues running tires typically found on a TJ or common on an 8.8. To me, the strength difference is insignificant. If it was significant, we'd be seeing 8.8 axles a lot more often and running bigger tires than is common.
 
#28 ·
If you are going for gears lower than 4.11 you have a large sunk cost no matter what but if your final goal is 4.11 you would be many hundreds of dollars ahead to pay someone to weld brackets on a disc brake 4.11 8.8 as you would only pay 100ish for the complete axle and with no regear cost plus the much cheeper cost and the strength edge, as it looks like you will pay more for a less than desired ratio 44 that is being sold for questionable reasons and then either have to not use 4wd or pay to regear both axles or just redo front to a ratio you don't want in the end

44 is a fine rear axle but just not adding up for me the way I understand it

Don't get me wrong I have an ARB 44 4.56 with warn full floaters and locking hubs and 5.5 bolt circle and discs in my TJ and my wife runs a stock rubi D44 in her 04 rubi but both these D44 came with the TJs from the factory and if my daughter wanted to upgrade her turdyfive in her YJ I would not pay the current used prices you quote for a 44, too many other cheeper better more easily available options. Might go toyota or izzsu 4.56 if she wanted to go for an off road build but would have to deal with lug pattern issue
 
#29 ·
i totally get what you are saying cost wise. It's not the most important fact for me though. I don't need the axle done or regeared right away so i'll take it as a project that i can learn from and work on. As i stated above, the 4x4 shop i deal with steered me away from the Ford 8.8 swap due to the needed brackets and welding, plus to get the pinion angle right is a big PITA. I'll do this over gradual time along with the front axle. I'm not in a big hurry, i do appreciate everyone's input.
 
#31 ·
I paid $650 for my 44. Make sure the LSD (most have them) isn't falling apart. The one I bought had a few friction discs tear apart and ruin the ring and pinion, but that didn't affect me dice it's now stuffed with 4.88s and a zip locker
 
#32 ·
Not pushing anything on anyone course could Ask if a naysayer like you has ever installed one or run an 8.8

Guess you don't have to own one to have an opinion and express your reasons?

Just cannot see the upside in paying a premium for a used 44 with a ratio I don't want while wondering why the old owner decided to get rid of it

Where as a u pull it vehicle with no lift or over sized tires or signs of abuse and no rear end damage and that was not removed by owner because of some unidentified issue seems like a reasonable gamble especially with a low price and a 30 day exchange policy and many more to pick from if once home and cleaned up and inspected you find an issue

Scarcity certainly increases price but in and of itself scarcity does not make tj parts better just more expensive partially because so many TJs were sold with an axle that was only marginally up to the task many would ask of their TJ the stock turdyfive which drove up the demand and price of the 44 not because of the inherent value of the 44 but rather the weakness of the 35 and the abundance of tj's shipped with the 35 and the ease of the install of the tj44 which is its strongest selling point just gotta decide if the ease of install makes it worth the price

Just out of curiosity what was the d44 up barge on a factory upgrade back in 98

I am guessing it was not all that much unless they only sold it with a lot of other required upgrades
 
#34 ·
Not pushing anything on anyone course could Ask if a naysayer like you has ever installed one or run an 8.8 Guess you don't have to own one to have an opinion and express your reasons? Just cannot see the upside in paying a premium for a used 44 with a ratio I don't want while wondering why the old owner decided to get rid of it Where as a u pull it vehicle with no lift or over sized tires or signs of abuse and no rear end damage and that was not removed by owner because of some unidentified issue seems like a reasonable gamble especially with a low price and a 30 day exchange policy and many more to pick from if once home and cleaned up and inspected you find an issue Scarcity certainly increases price but in and of itself scarcity does not make tj parts better just more expensive partially because so many TJs were sold with an axle that was only marginally up to the task many would ask of their TJ the stock turdyfive which drove up the demand and price of the 44 not because of the inherent value of the 44 but rather the weakness of the 35 and the abundance of tj's shipped with the 35 and the ease of the install of the tj44 which is its strongest selling point just gotta decide if the ease of install makes it worth the price Just out of curiosity what was the d44 up barge on a factory upgrade back in 98 I am guessing it was not all that much unless they only sold it with a lot of other required upgrades
I think it came with the canyon package and if I remember it was like $600 or something close. It came with special wheels tires gearing and a 44
 
#33 ·
I also bought an 8.8 and considered putting that in. After I added it all up the 8.8 was too much of a pain to get to fit also was about the same price. To get an 8.8 just ready to bolt in (no gearing):
Axle- $100
Artec truss $300
Brakes and lines- $200ish
Welding $150-$200
Yoke adapter $25-$50

It's about $775-$850 about the same as a stock 44 with less work. Needless to say my 8.8 is collecting dust in the corner of my barn.
 
#35 · (Edited)
By itself, the D44 upgrade to the Dana 35 that became available some time after I bought my TJ in '96 was only something like $271 IIRC. It was a stand-alone option then. It was probably 3 years later I spent $800 to buy my TJ Dana 44 from a local friend. Too bad Dana 44 upgrades weren't available yet in early 96 when I bought my first TJ.
 
#37 ·
well after much debating i decided to pass on the 44. I'll just wait until i decide what i really want to do and probably just have new axles built the way i want them. As i said, i'm in no hurry so time is not important. Thanks everyone for their input and if anyone is looking for a Dana 44 out of a 98 Sahara i know where to find one lol......:whistling:
 
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