Building axle question

[Cube]

Ok I have a new project jeep. A sahara TJ. Rear dana 44 and front dana 30. I will be running 35x14.5 boggers on it. So I want to update my front axle. The question is it better just to find one cut it down and mess around with all the BS or just buy on from danatrac or curries or something. Seem like by the time I add in gears, shafts, locker and labor it just worth it to buy from danatrac. What do you guys thinks, maybe it will save me some headache?

[Grandman]

It will cost you more then building it your self but it will safe you a shit load of headache . Trust me im working on the same project for the Grand

[Cooter]

I still haven't broken my D30 in the TJ- I have been running 35x14.50 Boggers and Q78 Swampers since '02. You most likely point of failure will be the u-joints in either a D44 or D30, and the TJ runs the same size u-joints as the D44. My only upgrade to the TJ in the front will be a D60, once I go to 38.5s and a crawler box.

You can run a Waggy D44 and not cut it down at all, BTW.

[PavementPounder]

It depends on whether you want to bother trying to retain the 5x4.5" bolt pattern. People get hung up on that and are afraid of more lugs for some reason.

[Cube]

Originally Posted by PavementPounder

It depends on whether you want to bother trying to retain the 5x4.5" bolt pattern. People get hung up on that and are afraid of more lugs for some reason.

yea, I am not too hung on that haha just what to make my spare, hmmmmmmmmm. After I swapped out my axles out of my CJ I was like I am not going to do another swap unless something breaks. Maybe I should wait and see how they do before I swap them out

[One Arm Steve]

Originally Posted by Cube

yea, I am not too hung on that haha just what to make my spare, hmmmmmmmmm. After I swapped out my axles out of my CJ I was like I am not going to do another swap unless something breaks. Maybe I should wait and see how they do before I swap them out

If its not broke don't fix it!!!

[Grandman]

I held a D 30 together very well in the past , then when i started breaking shit it has been continuous .

D 44 runs the same joint as the newer 30 but the shafts are larger dia and the ring gear is quite a bit larger . I will go to superior or yukon shafts and joints after i put in the 44 . I could bring my self to put 900 bucks in a D 30 then start breaking ring gears .

[Cooter]

I can see running a custom D44 with aftermarket shafts, but by then you are at D60 prices, IMO.

[Grandman]

Originally Posted by Cooter

I can see running a custom D44 with aftermarket shafts, but by then you are at D60 prices, IMO.

possible but im scrapping up parts and do my own work so i will get away for the cost of gears locker and shafts . You can not do a 60 for the same money even if i did the same work and you have a hell of a lot less clearence with a 60 .

Ill order waggy shafts , on a 60 you have no choice but to order custom shafts unless you leave it full width .

[busyfixin]

you could probably do some junk yard scrounging and get the outer "c", spindle, bearings, hub, rotor, caliper, stubs, and lock-outs from a '82 era dodge half ton, when they had the 5x4.5 bolt pattern and put them on a late wagoneer front. then you would still have to build all the mounts and such. but it wouldnt be too bad.

[Cooter]

Just a quick correction- Dodge went to a 5 on 5 1/2" BP by '81. You would want a '75-79 1/2 ton or Ramcharger/Trailduster for your outers.

[busyfixin]

sorry, i thought it was later, i must be wrong. another question, when did they use the 6 bot chevy pattern, wasnt that '78 -ish? for like two years?

[Cooter]

If you are asking about Dodge, they never used the 6 lug pattern, except for the Dakota/Durango starting in the '90s, and it didn't match any other 6 lug pattern that I know of.

[Monkeyevil]

If you said you were going to run a 35 x 12.5 MT, I would say keep the d30, pick a quality strong gear, and run WJ outers with good steering. Alloy shafts after you start breaking stockers.

But with the width and weight of those tires, I would say that a d44 is almost necessary. If it were my build I would swap out the rear to 6 lug shafts (with dics) and get an FSJ 44.

I have always had a dream about having new axles dropped off by a truck for my junk someday... but it's stupid. For the price of that front axle I could setup one for you, install a sport cage, and probably a front winch bumper *lol*

[busyfixin]

ive seen several dodges with the 6 lug pattern, and im sure they were all late 70s-early eighty's. all ramchargers though. maybe swapping in ten bolts was the thing to do at some point and time.

[bogginboy]

correct old dodge ram chargers had 6 lug. bellmer on this site has one.

and i jsut happen to have a fsj dana 44 for sale cube and its in petoskey still

pm me if interested its a 6 lug with lal parts there and i even have a fsj 44 rear out of same rig

[Cooter]

False. No Ramchargers ever had 6 lug from the factory. Send pix of whatever axle you assume is a 6 lug Ramcharger, and we'll figure uot what it really is, but it wasn't factory. RCs and TDs ran 5 on 4 1/2" and 5 on 5 1/2" bolt patterns only.