waggy 44 is it strong?

GT MOTORSPORTS · 10-02-2009, 01:13 AM

JEEPTECH77 wrote:
if you can weld a truss can be burnt on in a couple of hours in the rig i actually bent and used a long chevy tie rod its thick long and i had lots of them the aftermarkett bolt ons are junk i only wish i had skiped the 44 era in the xj i run a 60 now and yes with 37 13.00 boggers it is a tank shaved with 20 lbs of air i have 10.5 inches under front diff air down to 10 psi i hang on everything i go over

I can weld...I have been thinking of making a truss out of 3/16"x2"x4" tubing.

That is why i dont want 1 tons in this jeep...

BLAZERBRAD wrote:
I personally like the idea of the HP44 front axle, but it is likely more work to make a custom one versus bolting on a few things to the D30.

fab time is no big deal to me..I dig it!

BLAZERBRAD wrote:
I've never heard of the D44 having a "bad knuckle design that is hard on parts"???? Anybody care to elaborate? Both the D30 and D44 have the standard balljoint style knuckles of the same basic design from what I can tell, just that the D44 is bigger.

Yeah Id like to know why also..there is alot of dana 44 out there in all sorts of lifted trucks..

JEEP TECH77 wrote:
i only changed 1 or 2 over a couple of years so maby you got mud in a tire or something shaking the crap out of them

This jeep hardly ever gets driven on the street,it hasnt been tagged for 2 years..mud in the tire or sumn shaking it..possible but I dont ever really get alot of wheel speed..Im not sure but maybe ill try the Orielly ones like fiscus.

Flxratd · 10-02-2009, 09:50 AM

in defense of the 44 idea i run one in the front of my rig with an arb and 37" iroks for about 4+ years now and my only failure was a cheep replacement (car quest) u joint that popped and hurt one of the ears on the axle but i blame that more on me for using a substandard part. i know alot of guys hate the 44 but i cant really agree with them if you wheel anything enough you will see failure and i have seen many 60s give up just the same

ok just my 2cents

KennyTJ · 10-02-2009, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GT MOTORSPORTS

JEEPTECH77 wrote:

BLAZERBRAD wrote:
I personally like the idea of the HP44 front axle, but it is likely more work to make a custom one versus bolting on a few things to the D30.

fab time is no big deal to me..I dig it!

BLAZERBRAD wrote:
I've never heard of the D44 having a "bad knuckle design that is hard on parts"???? Anybody care to elaborate? Both the D30 and D44 have the standard balljoint style knuckles of the same basic design from what I can tell, just that the D44 is bigger.

Yeah Id like to know why also..there is alot of dana 44 out there in all sorts of lifted trucks..

JEEP TECH77 wrote:
i only changed 1 or 2 over a couple of years so maby you got mud in a tire or something shaking the crap out of them

I have an 8.8 and a Built D30HP on my '06 Wrangler. I can tell you that the Jeep D44 fronts are not HP, also When the Rubicon was intoduced the knuckles, ball joints, unit bearings, and brakes are the same for the D30 and D44 for '04-'06. The later D30's use the 297x / 760x u-joint, I'm not 100% but I think that is the same as the Jeep D44.
I basically kept the outter knucles, unit-bearings, brakes, and axle shafts from my '06 D30. Then took a D30HP center section, installed all new gears, bearings, seals, and ball-joints, welded up a truss and lower CA skids and now I have a tough D30HP with the large u-joints, unit bearings, and brakes. I have not invested in alloy shafts but that's supposed to add 30% to the shaft strength. I keep hearing the reverse cut gears running on the drive side (D30HP) will be as strong as the std. cut gear running on the coast side (D44) I haven't broken a ring gear yet so don't know. I am probably pushing my luck running 36" SXs on beadlocks with this axle, but i like to pick good lines and wheel smart. Know when to hit the skinny pedal and know when it's time to pull winch cable.

Just my typical long winded 2 cents worth.

Good luck with the build!

TheJeepGuy · 10-02-2009, 01:09 PM

Just my two cents.......I run waggy 44's front and rear.In the front is 4.10 gears with a aussie locker,stock axles.The only problem i have had is with the half circle C clip on the axle u j .The clip was coming off and the cup was working out.I caught this before any damage was done.So to correct this problem i machined the ears on the axle to accept full circle snap rings,and upgraded to spicer 297x u j's.I wheel this rig pretty hard with no problem.I'am also running 36" swampers on beed locks.

94Dodge Truggy · 10-02-2009, 03:22 PM

I ran 36's with a somewhat heavy rig and a strong motor (well used rpm's) to boot and broke inner and outer shafts, ring and pinion and a true track before retiring it for a 60 which broke only once. It was a dodge dana 44 high pinion with ball joints. It would have been fine on a lighter rig with 1/2 the HP.

GT MOTORSPORTS · 10-07-2009, 03:30 AM

Kenny tj, only the rear axle is form a waggy..the front is a 79 ford HP...
I thank you for your axle specs.Good tech.I have the larger U-joints and a HP D30.

Jeep guy,you ever break axles?

94 truggy, so you think I could get by with the d44 in a cherokee with 35's?

94Dodge Truggy · 10-07-2009, 06:32 AM

I think it will be fine and if not you can always install bobby longfield shafts!

KennyTJ · 10-07-2009, 07:54 AM

A big thumbs up on the Longfield shafts!

10-02-2009, 01:13 AM	#1
GT MOTORSPORTS Custom fabrication Join Date: May 2009 Location: Lynchburg,Ohio Posts: 92	JEEPTECH77 wrote: if you can weld a truss can be burnt on in a couple of hours in the rig i actually bent and used a long chevy tie rod its thick long and i had lots of them the aftermarkett bolt ons are junk i only wish i had skiped the 44 era in the xj i run a 60 now and yes with 37 13.00 boggers it is a tank shaved with 20 lbs of air i have 10.5 inches under front diff air down to 10 psi i hang on everything i go over I can weld...I have been thinking of making a truss out of 3/16"x2"x4" tubing. That is why i dont want 1 tons in this jeep... BLAZERBRAD wrote: I personally like the idea of the HP44 front axle, but it is likely more work to make a custom one versus bolting on a few things to the D30. fab time is no big deal to me..I dig it! BLAZERBRAD wrote: I've never heard of the D44 having a "bad knuckle design that is hard on parts"???? Anybody care to elaborate? Both the D30 and D44 have the standard balljoint style knuckles of the same basic design from what I can tell, just that the D44 is bigger. Yeah Id like to know why also..there is alot of dana 44 out there in all sorts of lifted trucks.. JEEP TECH77 wrote: i only changed 1 or 2 over a couple of years so maby you got mud in a tire or something shaking the crap out of them This jeep hardly ever gets driven on the street,it hasnt been tagged for 2 years..mud in the tire or sumn shaking it..possible but I dont ever really get alot of wheel speed..Im not sure but maybe ill try the Orielly ones like fiscus. __________________ Regret not what you've done,Only what you have'nt.

10-02-2009, 09:50 AM	#2
Flxratd Retired Join Date: May 2008 Location: Hamilton/Ross Posts: 645	in defense of the 44 idea i run one in the front of my rig with an arb and 37" iroks for about 4+ years now and my only failure was a cheep replacement (car quest) u joint that popped and hurt one of the ears on the axle but i blame that more on me for using a substandard part. i know alot of guys hate the 44 but i cant really agree with them if you wheel anything enough you will see failure and i have seen many 60s give up just the same ok just my 2cents __________________ One of these days Zuk 2.0

10-02-2009, 01:09 PM	#4
TheJeepGuy Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 25	waggy 44's Just my two cents.......I run waggy 44's front and rear.In the front is 4.10 gears with a aussie locker,stock axles.The only problem i have had is with the half circle C clip on the axle u j .The clip was coming off and the cup was working out.I caught this before any damage was done.So to correct this problem i machined the ears on the axle to accept full circle snap rings,and upgraded to spicer 297x u j's.I wheel this rig pretty hard with no problem.I'am also running 36" swampers on beed locks.

10-02-2009, 03:22 PM	#5
94Dodge Truggy EX-Vice President Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Fairfield, Ohio Posts: 3,048	I ran 36's with a somewhat heavy rig and a strong motor (well used rpm's) to boot and broke inner and outer shafts, ring and pinion and a true track before retiring it for a 60 which broke only once. It was a dodge dana 44 high pinion with ball joints. It would have been fine on a lighter rig with 1/2 the HP. __________________

10-07-2009, 03:30 AM	#6
GT MOTORSPORTS Custom fabrication Join Date: May 2009 Location: Lynchburg,Ohio Posts: 92	Kenny tj, only the rear axle is form a waggy..the front is a 79 ford HP... I thank you for your axle specs.Good tech.I have the larger U-joints and a HP D30. Jeep guy,you ever break axles? 94 truggy, so you think I could get by with the d44 in a cherokee with 35's? __________________ Regret not what you've done,Only what you have'nt.

10-07-2009, 06:32 AM	#7
94Dodge Truggy EX-Vice President Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Fairfield, Ohio Posts: 3,048	I think it will be fine and if not you can always install bobby longfield shafts! __________________

10-07-2009, 07:54 AM	#8
KennyTJ The Pirate Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lebanon, Oh. Posts: 297	A big thumbs up on the Longfield shafts!