I went with the Teraflex Tera44 axle housing which is similar to the Dynatrac ProRock 44. I also went with the caster corrected front axle. It was a noticeable difference to me even though I was only at 2.5" lift when I started. I'm now at 3.5" and it feels great. It also helps that I went with the Teraflex BJs, high steer knuckles, and Teraflex draglink and tie rod all at the same time. My caster should be in the 6.5 degree range but haven't ever had a real alignment to confirm, I only used an angle finder.

 

What made you opt for the Tera44?

 

I have the PR44 with extra caster. I run a 4.5” lift and 37s. I have 5 degrees of caster and 5 degrees of pinion angle, which puts the pinion and driveshaft in a straight line at normal ride height. Before I got the PR44, I ran a stock Dana44 axle for a while with the same lift. As I recall, I had to run 3 degrees of caster to get the pinion/driveshaft angle low enough to avoid vibrations. The Jeep was a little flighty at such low caster. Tolerable for a weekend driver, but not ideal. With the 5 degrees, the flightiness is gone and I can take my hands off the wheel at 70 and the Jeep tracks straight.

 

There is a lot of discussion here about caster angle, but nobody has mentioned camber yet.

Remember, the PR44 has positive camber versus the stock D44's negative camber. I'm no expert, but I believe that the positive camber is for improved steering ability off-road. It sure doesn't seem to help with on-road handling.

 

I have never heard this before. What evidence do you have about it?

 

Interesting. I run almost no toe-in, so I know that will impact straight-ahead camber as well. I've measured my camber, and it is definitely positive.

 

Your post made me curious so I went out and measured about 1 degree of negative camber on each side of mine. Manufacturing variances, perhaps.

 

Weird, IIRC mine has about 1 degree positive, but I can't remember off hand if that is total or each side. I have a double-deep garage with my Jeep backed all the way in, and I notice the positive camber every time I look at it.

 

The stock specs' for camber are -0.6 to 0.1. A standard ProRock 44 will have the same caster and camber specs as a stock JK axle. The Unlimited comes with 4 more degrees of caster possible or they will build a custom axle with the specs you want.

 

I just checked. and my PR44 camber is .75 to 1 degree POSITIVE each side with my toe set at zero. I can't remember where I saw it, but I remember reading something about the PR44 having positive camber back when I installed it 4 years ago. Maybe I'll try contacting Dynatrac to see if they can confirm. It certainly makes sense, because positive camber typically makes it easier to steer, especially in off-road situations, and there is no reason for Dynatrac to keep the stock camber spec that is more on-road oriented.

 

It certainly makes sense, because positive camber typically makes it easier to steer, especially in off-road situations, and there is no reason for Dynatrac to keep the stock camber spec that is more on-road oriented.

Positive camber makes it easier to drive in a straight line. In a way I am surprised Jeep as negative camber at all.

 

i too have positive camber. was driving me INSANE! spoke to Dynatrac themselves....according to Dynatrac: they build 1 degree POSITIVE camber into the PR44 unlimited

 

Are you saying that the positive camber in your PR44 was driving your insane? How so? What did it feel like? Were you able to do anything about it?

 

ah...sorry i wasnt better with that statement. It was driving me insane because...well...Jeep doesnt normally have POSITIVE camber...something HAD to be wrong! Had all new axles, ball joints, etc...thought i had done something wrong with the install. tore it apart to reseat balljoints and everything, rotated tires...readjusted control arms...over and over and over. had about 3 alignments done to double/triple check toe settings,...recentered axles 3 times, etc.
thats what i meant by driving me nuts. finally i reached out to Dynatrac and they just simply confirmed that they build in 1 degree positive camber for the PR44 Unlimited. (which, according to the alignment papers...is EXACTLY what i had). ((the larger tires just make it extremely noticeable))

didnt feel any different. i guess i am a horrible one to ask since at the same time of installing new axles, i also put in all 8 adjustable control arms. i went back and forth with the caster angle. starting at 4 and ending up at 6 degrees. so, there was a bit of "change" in how the whole thing felt due to the different caster angles. i cant remember what it felt like beforehand at this point.

No...i was not able to do anything about it. i know that there are shims you can use to correct it, but i figured: 1. they(dynatrac) built it in...why am i changing it? 2. i rotate my tires every oil change, so i shouldnt have any wear issues 3. the shim idea felt like a bandaid to me. i could be way wrong on that...perhaps it is a viable permanent solution, but i was dead set on finding the ACTUAL issue (see the drove me insane part which turned out to not be an issue)...so i never did it.

hope this helps clear it up a little as to what i was saying (or trying to)

 

... finally i reached out to Dynatrac and they just simply confirmed that they build in 1 degree positive camber for the PR44 Unlimited.

Just to clarify, mine is a factory-spec caster PR44 (not the Unlimited version) with positive camber.

 

Interesting. I run the factory D44 with 4.5” lift, factory arms, factory driveshaft and Rancho geo brackets with the caster dialed in at 4.9 degrees. This set up is really nice on the highway, Very solid, no vibration. If I swap to a double cardan driveshaft am I to expect driveshaft vibration? Never had that issue with the old rig with a J.E. Reel double cardan front shaft.


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