Noob axle question???
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JK Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2012
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From: Carolina
Noob axle question???
I'm running a 6" lift with 35" tires it looks pretty dumb I've already bought 37" tires and wheels I have a 08 wrangler JK sport X model I know it has the 44 in the rear I'm not sure about the front and I know that it has 3.21 ratio I'm wanting to regear to 4.10 or 4.88 not sure yet but I'm on the bench about my front axle what do I do beef it up? Or find a wrecked rubicon with 32 spline Dana 44's front and rear and just swap everything? Please give me some insite thanks in advance
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JK Jedi Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 11,463
Likes: 165
From: Austin <--> Colorado Springs
You have a D30 front, D44 rear.
Non-rubi
d30 front - 27sp inner shafts, 32sp outer shafts
d44 rear - 30sp shafts.
Rubi
d44 front - 30sp inner, 32sp outer (plus much better gears and a selectable locker)
d44 rear - 32sp (same gears as non-rubi, selectable locker)
Other than the center section for the larger gears, the d30 and d44 are basically the same housing. So you will want the same strength upgrades for either.
Since you have 3.21's, if you keep your front 30, you will need a new carrier in addition to gears and a master install kit. From your gear choice, I am assuming you have a 6-spd? 4.88's are fairly popular with 37's. 5.13's might be an option also.
For strength upgrades, it depends on the budget and usage. Plenty of threads recently talking truss vs sleeves, so I won't bother rehashing any of that.
If you can find a cheap takeoff rubi front, go for it. That would be a better route than keeping a front d30 with 37's. But - it goes back to use and budget. See what kind of prices you can find, then add parts + labor for gears and whatever strength upgrades you decide on, and start thinking about which direction to take.
Non-rubi
d30 front - 27sp inner shafts, 32sp outer shafts
d44 rear - 30sp shafts.
Rubi
d44 front - 30sp inner, 32sp outer (plus much better gears and a selectable locker)
d44 rear - 32sp (same gears as non-rubi, selectable locker)
Other than the center section for the larger gears, the d30 and d44 are basically the same housing. So you will want the same strength upgrades for either.
Since you have 3.21's, if you keep your front 30, you will need a new carrier in addition to gears and a master install kit. From your gear choice, I am assuming you have a 6-spd? 4.88's are fairly popular with 37's. 5.13's might be an option also.
For strength upgrades, it depends on the budget and usage. Plenty of threads recently talking truss vs sleeves, so I won't bother rehashing any of that.
If you can find a cheap takeoff rubi front, go for it. That would be a better route than keeping a front d30 with 37's. But - it goes back to use and budget. See what kind of prices you can find, then add parts + labor for gears and whatever strength upgrades you decide on, and start thinking about which direction to take.
Last edited by nthinuf; Jul 7, 2013 at 10:08 PM.
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 413
Likes: 0
From: Carolina
You have a D30 front, D44 rear.
Non-rubi
d30 front - 27sp inner shafts, 32sp outer shafts
d44 rear - 30sp shafts.
Rubi
d44 front - 30sp inner, 32sp outer (plus much better gears and a selectable locker)
d44 rear - 32sp (same gears as non-rubi, selectable locker)
Other than the center section for the larger gears, the d30 and d44 are basically the same housing. So you will want the same strength upgrades for either.
Since you have 3.21's, if you keep your front 30, you will need a new carrier in addition to gears and a master install kit. From your gear choice, I am assuming you have a 6-spd? 4.88's are fairly popular with 37's. 5.13's might be an option also.
For strength upgrades, it depends on the budget and usage. Plenty of threads recently talking truss vs sleeves, so I won't bother rehashing any of that.
If you can find a cheap takeoff rubi front, go for it. That would be a better route than keeping a front d30 with 37's. But - it goes back to use and budget. See what kind of prices you can find, then add parts + labor for gears and whatever strength upgrades you decide on, and start thinking about which direction to take.
Non-rubi
d30 front - 27sp inner shafts, 32sp outer shafts
d44 rear - 30sp shafts.
Rubi
d44 front - 30sp inner, 32sp outer (plus much better gears and a selectable locker)
d44 rear - 32sp (same gears as non-rubi, selectable locker)
Other than the center section for the larger gears, the d30 and d44 are basically the same housing. So you will want the same strength upgrades for either.
Since you have 3.21's, if you keep your front 30, you will need a new carrier in addition to gears and a master install kit. From your gear choice, I am assuming you have a 6-spd? 4.88's are fairly popular with 37's. 5.13's might be an option also.
For strength upgrades, it depends on the budget and usage. Plenty of threads recently talking truss vs sleeves, so I won't bother rehashing any of that.
If you can find a cheap takeoff rubi front, go for it. That would be a better route than keeping a front d30 with 37's. But - it goes back to use and budget. See what kind of prices you can find, then add parts + labor for gears and whatever strength upgrades you decide on, and start thinking about which direction to take.
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JK Jedi
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,222
Likes: 376
From: Southwest Reno, NV
You will want 5.38 gears with the 08 auto.
if money is not an issue call dynatrac and get a full float rear 60 and front pro rock 44 built to your lift size of 6" with arb lockers. Should only be around $13k
if money is not an issue call dynatrac and get a full float rear 60 and front pro rock 44 built to your lift size of 6" with arb lockers. Should only be around $13k
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 413
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From: Carolina
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JK Jedi Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 11,463
Likes: 165
From: Austin <--> Colorado Springs
'Fully' upgrading your front d30 will put you in the same ballpark as a PR44 or Tera44 shipped to your door. (since we are spending your money here, toss the d30 and call dynatrac 
) Anyway, decide what your actual needs are before taking that part of the discussion further.
An auto on 37's, 5.38's are probably the right call. If you keep the front d30, then 5.13's.
But, maybe you should back up a few steps and give us some insight on what your actual needs/usage are. Do you 'need' to dump 4 or 5 grand into a front axle? Do you 'need' lockers? Or is the 6" lift and 37's just for looks to get you over the speed bumps at the mall...
) Anyway, decide what your actual needs are before taking that part of the discussion further. An auto on 37's, 5.38's are probably the right call. If you keep the front d30, then 5.13's.
But, maybe you should back up a few steps and give us some insight on what your actual needs/usage are. Do you 'need' to dump 4 or 5 grand into a front axle? Do you 'need' lockers? Or is the 6" lift and 37's just for looks to get you over the speed bumps at the mall...