I was wondering if I could swap out my Dana 30 in the front with a Dana 44 maybe from a junk yard. It's a 2008 2 dr x with 3.73 gears. Is this at all possible or even worth it or should I leave well enough alone.

 

Since the Rubi's come with Dana 44's in the front it is possible. If you going with an a junk yard axle make sure the gears match what you currently have in the back axle. Mismatched gears are bad things in a 4x4.

 

Junk yard ftw! You can get 44s for 100 here and 60s for 120

 

You'll never find a D44 with tone rings for your speed sensors to work with the computer for $100. If you csn find a JK Rubi 44 it will bolt right in but there aren't many in the scrapyards yet

 

screw speed sensors id still get one....but in a dana60 for a little more. But if im not mistaken you can get aftermarket axle shafts with the tone rings in them...

 

How much fabrication are you willing to do? A front 44 from a JK will be a direct bolt-in swap. Any other 44 will need to have all of the mounts/brackets swapped, and will have the added expense of getting the speedo/electronics to work again. If you go that route, why choose a 44? Just go d60 and be done with it.

 

I have contacted some of the largest wrecking yards looking for a Rubicon dana44 with no luck.

 

This x2!...

 

Yes, but most will have 4.10. 3.73 gearing is a newer option on JK Rubicons. The JK D30 and D44 housings have the same strength.

 

'Worth it' depends on your needs and budget.

Some people are beating the tar out their d30's with no issues, others are bending or shattering them onroad. If you can do the work yourself, building your current front housing can make sense. If you are paying labor, add up the costs and compare to the build costs of a junkyard axle or an aftermarket 44 or 60. 'Fully' upgrading a stock front housing (paying all labor) can get you in the same ballpark as a pr/tera 44.