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Dana 44a swap into '99 TJ

5K views 18 replies 6 participants last post by  DaJeepNotCheap 
#1 ·
i know it's a 44a and wouldn't even consider it an "upgrade" given the aluminum pumpkin, but this guy is "asking" $100 OBO. open diff, 4.56 R&P, and was pulled out from the vehicle due to front end total damage. according to him the axle seems fine, and was just a family car until the wreck. i offered him $80 and he said he'd go $80. he just needs the space it's taking up in his garage and my right axle shaft is bent. i know what i'm looking at for replacement parts cost and can do the work myself. i found JY D35Cs to go for at least $300 around here, and they are either not straight or need new control arm brackets and brake parts. i suppose i could swap all my brake parts over since they're only a year old. but the JYs won't part anything and would much rather sell a whole axle assembly...

i would like to know what modifications we're talking about from those of you who have done this or looked into it; brackets, brake lines, e-brake cable, bolt pattern differences (i can take it to school and have my friend in Machine Tech drill the shafts and brake components for 5x4.5 if it is different). i have access to tools, grinders and a welder and am fairly competent for a non-certified mechanic/fabricator. if anything i have friends who are certified welders. and as mentioned, it does have a 4.56 in it, which i am already running in both my current axles.

i'm only a year away from finishing my degree and would rather not spend more money replacing broken parts from off-roading that i could use to fund my school supplies (beer, beer, beer, beer, folder paper, beer, coffee, beer, condoms, beer, books, beer, beer, tuition, and toilet paper).

i am only interested in this 44a only for the reasons as follows:
i need my jeep back on the road before long (in about a month and a half) to get me to my temp job 10 miles away. i work and go to school within walking distance, but ride my bike instead until my seat gets stolen again.
i won't be doing this swap for the strength upgrade, and would never wheel the jeep off-road until i finish school. TBH, the jeep sees pavement majority of the time and off-road conditions as much as my gravel driveway anyway. but if i can save more money on swapping this 44a in than rebuilding my 35C then i will not hesitate. i know where i'm at for new 35C axle shaft, bearings, and possibly more.

thanks in advance. -Joe
 
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#2 ·
The D35 is only $220 more and it is a direct bolt in with no fabrication of anything and will last just as long as the 44A. Either one you will end up replacing in the future more than likely depending on how you wheel it, but personally I would go with the $300 35 and know that I could swap it in within a day and have no issues and be done with it. The 44A is by no means any kind of an upgrade which is why they can be had for so cheap.
 
#4 ·
in this case, Sarge, i have no interest in wheeling my jeep anytime soon. let alone with the 44A installed. i am aware of its short comings. but i just need the jeep on the road for the time i will be at my temp job and can worry about how much more i will have to spend to swap in something else once i have more money.

i called 2 local JY yesterday morning and everything they have is going to cost more to get it installed because of damage to the brackets and the brakes need to be changed. the least they want is between $300 and $400 in its current condition. and i don't even know if they're straight or not either.

i would rather spend $150-$200 swapping in this 44A than more than $400 on a drop-in D35. either way, i'm gonna have to cut and weld brackets. the difference is overall price between the two. and if the 44A can hold up to a ZJ, what's the worst it will do in a TJ if it will never see anything but pavement?
 
#7 ·
The D44a is not only not worth installing, it'd be a PITA to install since none of its mounting bracketry geometry matches the TJ's. You'd have to grind their existing welds, relocate, and weld the brackets into different locations so it could be bolted up to a TJ.

Like wanting to buy size 6 shoes because they're cheap when you wear size 10, the cost savings aren't worth it and it'd be a painful decision.
 
#10 ·
i'm looking at the initial cost of everything to make the D44A work in my TJ and comparing it to getting another D35C harvested from somewhere or rebuild my current one to get my jeep on the road again. right now, adding up the costs between the two, the D44A is still cheaper to sling up under my jeep by a couple hundred. i really don't care about its strengths or weaknesses for off-roading...because i won't be off-roading for a while until school is done. by then i should have more money to think about another axle to replace the D44A if anything.

right now, i have the money to rebuild my 35, but will end up having to sacrifice some stuff for school and what not. i just can't do that right now. so if i can save some of it by swapping the D44A in then i will not hesitate.
 
#11 ·
put it this way, is the D44A suitable for street use, and what do i have to do to make it work?

i have my mind set on this, and am sorry for going against your word, Sarge and Jerry. but i don't want to fork out all my money at once on a D35 right now. the D35 parts are more expensive to get than trying to adapt a 44A out back from what i managed to work out, and the JY D35s are going to need new brackets and brakes anyway. so what would be the difference if i would have to do the same for the 44A brackets, ya know?
 
#18 ·
that's why i was so interested in this 44a. it has 4.56 gears and i too am running it in my 30 and 35 already. so the cost of regearing was deducted from the swap. all i had to get was the brackets for the CA and TB. i figured i could make the brakes work with the tools i have access to, or can have my friend bend or flare the ends, whatever it would take i guess. plus, the guy said the cable would be included if i can make it work.

i wasn't too worried about cutting off the brackets and welding the new ones on, but since the widths are different, i ain't putting spacers on the front. them things are just as expensive.
 
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