Project Grand Expedition

[BigDaveZJ]

Huh, I wheel with a LOT of ZJ's and WJ's with the 44A (wife has one too) and have never seen one fail due to an issue with a bearing cap. I've only seen a very small handful of occasions I would even consider a failure. I think I can count 2 snapped shafts, and a couple other bent ones. Would I run one hard on 37's? No way, but for 32's and 33's I would be perfectly happy with the 44A in there.

Never had an issue with the c-clips in my 8.8 after 5 years of beating on it with a V8 and 33's and then 35's. Are they ideal? No, but with the ease of an 8.8 swap into a ZJ it doesn't bother me at all, nor do I worry about the c-clips out on the trail.

An axle from Currie may be ideal as you say, assuming budget is not a concern at all.


My ZJ:

 

[WickedZJ]

I am on a tight budget. I am trying to do the best upgrades for the least amount of money I ca. I know the D44A was a direct swap and with a truss and skid I heard its was a tough axle. I have thought about an 8.8 swap but with no welder or experience welding and not sure my brother inlaw could get an axle setup correctly. I am not sure what to do know. I know with the 8.8 swap I have to add coil spring buckets and all the brackets for the trackbar and CA's.Other than the D44A is there any thing that would be a direct swap or am I better off paying a shop to setup a D44 or an 8.8? Trying to decide now so I know how much I need for each part of the build. I don't mean to be a pain or keep and deate going but since I am on a budget I gotta explore every choice fully.

 

[BigDaveZJ]

For 32's and the kind of wheeling you should be doing with 32's, the 44A will be just fine. My wife runs 32's on her ZJ with the aforementioned 44A as well as an Aussie Locker. She bent a shaft trying to keep up with me on 35's, but other than that it's been a great axle for her.

 

[WickedZJ]

Yea from what I have seen on the other forums I am on, the D44a with an aussie, truss and skid is pretty tough with 32 and 33's. I talked to my mechanic friend who has a 98 said he went to the junk yard to replace his rear D44A and got one for like $50 . Hard to beat on a budget. I think I am probably going that root. Direct swap with disks is pretty nice.

 

[slomatt]

I ran a D44A w/ 33" tires for 6 years on all kinds of trails and never had a single problem with the differential other than peeling the cover on rocks. If you can find one for a reasonable price I think it would be a very nice upgrade over the D35. If you were going to run 35" or taller tires and drive aggressively then I would consider upgrading to an 8.8 or a "real" D44.

- Matt

 

[WickedZJ]

So heres my plan. I am going to swap my NP249 for a NP242. Get Skid Row engine, TC and gas tank skids. I am not sure if the lower control arm skids are worth it or not. I am going to swap the rear axle for a D44A with an Aussie locker, truss and Skid. Swap the front LP D30 for a HP D30 with a air locker. Then get some Cragar soft 8's and 32" Maxxis Bighorns. With in the next two months I am getting a full set of RE adjustable control arms and I have front and rear JKS track bars. I am wanting to get a rear bumper and tire carrier that can carry some gas cans and an ARB bull bar up front. Please tell me what you think and offer any suggestions that could help.

 

[BigDaveZJ]

Sounds like a good plan to me. The LCA skids to me were more about strengthening the mount there than actually acting as a skid plate. I had one of the OEM control brackets taco on my stock LP30 a few years back, not fun.

 

[WickedZJ]

Does anyone know if there is a place that you can get doors for a ZJ? All four of my doors are rusting bad at the pinch seams and need replaced. Plan on checking the JY but if I could get new for not much more may be a better idea. I also need a new hatch. Same problem as doors. Also I am trying to decide which way to go with an OBA system. I am wanting to use a york 210 but am not sure if I have the space under the hood. Would I be better off to make it work or look into 12VDC Compressors?