Obi-Wan's XJ Dana 44 Rear Axle
Here's the low-down on the Jeep XJ ('84-present Cherokee) Dana 44 rear axle I'm trying to sell. 3.54 gears. Open carrier. Gears & housing look good to my untrained eye. Brakes are kinda rusty and will probably want a rebuild before you drive on them. Drums are included. I got it from a boneyard, where it had already been removed from the '87 XJ. No clue how many miles it has, but it appeared to have sat idle for quite some time when I got it.
This axle should bolt into any XJ, and will will fit MJ's (Comanche pickups) and YJ's ('87-'95 Wranglers) by modifying only the spring perches and shock mounts. The bolt pattern and axle width (60.25" mounting flange to mounting flange) are identical on all three of those vehicles. It should also fit TJ's ('97-present Wranglers) if you wanted to fabricate coil spring and locating arm mounts.
The distance from the axle center line to the center of the pinion yoke is virtually identical to that of the Dana 35, so you shouldn't need to change your driveshaft length. I don't know how it compares to the Chrysler 8.25" axle. It uses a Spicer 1330 style U-joint, which is also used on the '94-present YJ's (and maybe XJ's). The older Dana 35's used the smaller Spicer 1310 U-joint, so you may need to change the rear yoke on your driveshaft.
I bought it for $600 a year ago intending to put it in my YJ when I went SOA this spring. It turned out that the gear swap & lockers would have more than doubled the total cost of my upgrade, so I'm still running open, stock axles (4.11 gears) and the XJ D44 still sits on my garage floor. The axle swap is at least a year off now (school & baby taking priority), and I think a friend has talked me into going a different route when I do end up upgrading. I could really use both the cash and the space in my garage, so the axle is up for sale.
I'm asking US$600 OBO + shipping, since that's what I paid for it. The axle is located in Lincoln, NE. I'm willing to drive a short distance to meet you if you decide to pick it up rather than ship it. I'm guessing shipping would be in the $150 range for most of the continental U.S.
Here is a writeup of someone installing an axle like this in a YJ.
Email me if you have any more questions.
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last updated 9 Jun 99 Obi-Wan (obiwan@jedi.com)