I'm considering a D44 axle (5.13 gears) to replace my D30. Should I rebuild my D44 with an arb plus 5.13 gears or go with a Rubi D44 and rebuild?
Thx for your opinions.

 

I would go with the ProRock 44 or something similar with the ARB locker.

 

I would say it depends on the price of each and your technical ability. If I am reading correctly you already have a D44? If so, it would be easier to answer knowing what you are starting with (which scrap D44 and current parts)

 

Sorry for lack of clarity here. I will purchase a Rubi D44 (w/5.13 gears) for the front end. The Sahara has a D44 in the rear. I'm thinking either rebuild the rear D44 on the jeep now (w/ 35 spline shafts, 5.13 gearing and an arb or Eaton elocker) or go with a Rubi D44 with 5.13 gearing. I plan on running 35" duratrac's (LT315/70R17D2). Moab next year!
I know I should go with the Prorock, but I can't afford it and I need some lockers on the Jeep.

 

unless you find a rubi rear for a good price or a deal on the pair (front and rear) the rebuild of your Sahara D44 you are suggesting would be far stronger than the stock rubi D44 and would be the better choice of the two. Either choice would work with 35's.

Two possible benefits of swapping a straight stock rubi rear I can see:
1. if you were not doing the axle rebuild yourself- may save some money since the rubi is already has a locker in place- but regearing would decrease the savings.
2. if you are doing a staged build your front and rear gearing would match likely 4:10 unless the donor rubis have already been regeared.

 

The only benefit to the rubi rear axle would be the locker. They both have the same weak housing. They both have the 44 gearset. You are replacing the shafts, so the 32sp stock shafts on the rubi are not a benefit. I guess the question becomes: How much is that rear rubi locker worth to you?

Add shafts and an ARB to your stock rear axle.

Up front, go with gussets and 'outer' sleeves, and see if you can find the 35sp shafts that are used with the 35sp ARB. That way, you are set up to just drop one in when the stock elocker fails.

 

Looks like the most cost effective route will be the rebuild on my D44 currently in the Jeep. Now to find a good shop in the bay area (San Jose). If anyone has any suggestions, I'm open.

 

How much of the work do you plan to do yourself on your frontend? Will you be adding the outer sleeves, the gussets, etc that will be needed? If you've not going to do the work yourself, the money you save compared to a ProRock may be minimal, if any.