Hi every one. New to the forum and Jk Ownership. I need some help.... hopefully my post is in the right area

Just bought a 2012 jk Rubicon Unlimited and plan on Running a Tera Flex 2.5 inch coil lift w shock extensions. 35x12.5x15 inch MT mtz's tires with 15 pro comp 1079 alloys with 3.75 inch back spacing. 70% pavement queen and 30% light to moderate off roading

My question is this:

Do you really need to have your factory dana 44 axles sleeved and gusseted so they will not "BOW" ??

I heard/read a couple people/magazines saying that the jk's 44's are wider than say the older Tj's 44 and are prone to bowing with

moderate to heavy off roading... is this true... would love to hear some feed back regarding this issue from people who have been

running a 35x12.50 tire on there jk unlimited. Im stumped and find it hard to believe that this is even true..

Bowing Really?????

 

yes ....

really you should at the least do the c-gussets... and the selves are cheap insurance... does not take much to bend the c's...

 

On the JK the main difference between the Dana 30 and the Dana 44 is the size of the ring and pinion. As far as thickness, diameter of the tubes, etc they are the same which means they are about the same strength.

I looked into "building up" my Dana 30. Parts come to about 3k (lockers, gears, shafts, sleeves, truss, etc, plus labor.
The Prorock 44 Unlimited has the same thickness tubes as the Dana 60 and costs $2200. You will still need lockers, gears, shafts and labor to install.

 

It is just too cheap/easy of an insurance policy to not do it. At least the gussets. I haven't sleeved mine, but I definitely threw on the gussets. The stock C's are just too weak for bigger tires.

It is also going to be a matter of how you drive it, and what you're planning on doing with it.

 

Just the front axle???

 

I sleeved and gusseted my D44 last June during my buildup and ran 35x12.5 all summer. David Johnson of Northridge 4x4 advised me to do this. The Rubicon's from the factory are designed for 32's and I know people who have bent the stock D44 setup with 35's when doing moderate to hard core wheelin. With heavier wheelin the next thing to go is the stock ball joints. I blew through mine in 5 months and upgraded to Dynatrac heavy duty ball joints. I have since upgraded to 37's and no problems so far on some big rock crawling.

Gary T

 

I just got my EVO gussets in from Northridge. Right now I am just debating whether i am going to pull the joints and stuff to put them on or just weld slowly.

 

I recently joined a forum for Alberta JKers and no one there has ever even seen or heard of anyone bending their C's or breaking an axle running bigger tires on a stock set-up.

 

you guys kick a$$ ..... thanks for the responses..
I will prob just do the SLOW welded gussets now and heavy duty ball joints from dynatrac when mine wear out.. maybe possibly do the sleeves later when i swap out the joints..