There were two on the forum over the last few months. Mine will be for sale this fall.

 

That's one way to go. A swap makes sense when someone such as the OP starts talking about regearing, lockers, axle shafts, ball joints, etc. Cheaper to buy used D44s already built with those parts.

 

Most I find are $2-3k just for the front D44 and most of the time that's not built. I'd swap in some rubi axles if price was reasonable and I had the money at the time. Otherwise for what I'm seeing people charge for a set I can build a 14boot rear and D60 front-which is now the plan especially since the new artec swap kits they have out

 

The deals are out there. I agree that a pair of junkyard axles can be built for a good price (but not as cheap as people would think). Artec kit helps, but that was just released. Lastly, 97% of people on this forum don't have the ability to build junk yard axles. Rock Solid sells them ready to bolt in and they are over $10K for a pair. And generally, there is more to it than just the axle work. Custom tie rod, steering, new wheels for the bolt pattern, etc. The stock frame side brackets for the CAs and track bars should be replaced with aftermarket brackets with a lot more beef. It's a ton of work and not cheap in the end. Now, it is logical for someone who needs D60+ beef. The case here is someone who doesn't.

Maertz had his built rubi axles for sale this year and would have sold the pair for under $4k. Those were fully built.

 

I snapped my short side axle on my 30 with my 37's climbing on cars a few years ago, I rebuilt my whole dana 30 for about $600. USA Standard 4340 chromoly shafts $345 made my Yukon, evo sleeves $140, evo gussets $60, USA Alloy balljoints $118.. Its held up ever since and I've beat the snot out of it since. Throw gears and install in there and its still under a grand for basically a complete axle.

 

I have poly ball joints,an artec truss, USA standard 4.88 gears and eVo lower control arm skids,sleeves and c gussets on a dana 30 rolling 37x13.50x17 Nitto mud grapplers with soft 8 steel wheels. With stock axle shafts that have been cryo treated. I am not worried about breaking anything. If I snap a shaft I have a spare set and then I will just find another spare set. I might have $800 into the axle. I can weld so that saves some $$$

 

thanks for all the replies.
1) If I were to save for a dana/terra 44, then I would have to buy it built already because nothing from my d30 would fit, correct?
2)did I understand it right that my d30 won't take the 4:56 gears with 37's
3)how much does a 44 cost w/out lockers. I have a sport and not sure about an elocker

 

The 32 spline outer shafts/brakes/hubs can be re-used in a rubi44/pr44 (and I am assuming a tera44). The inner shafts, joints, gears, carrier can not.

You can run any gearing up through 5.13 in a d30 (or 5.38 if you can find an old set sitting on a shelf somewhere), whatever ratio is appropriate for your needs. If you are asking what ratio you should run, give a lot more info and be prepared for a debate.

A new complete rubi 44 should be around $2700 + shipping, with gearing options of either 3.73 or 4.10. A new rubi 44 empty housing should be around $1200. The factory locker is somewhere around $1350. Aftermarket lockers should be around $1000 +/-. I am not aware of any open carriers for that housing. Used, it will vary based on what the owner thinks he can get for it.

Bare housings for the tera30, tera44 and pr44 are around $2000. Filling them with aftermarket parts brings them up to somewhere around $5000

 

Edit. Already been answered.

 

Oh I still love the avatar.