Dana 44

I have a 2wd 07 JKU. I'm trying to do a conversion to 4wd. I don't know a whole lot about jeeps because I'm new to this. I found a dana 44 for sale for $1000 but it's a 1985 with a "crossover steering knuckle for straight axle swap". Could This be put on my 07 JKU eventually after I get the rest of the parts I need?

 

IMO Jeeps have made some significant incremental changes over the years enough that 1985 versus 2007 could be very different. Unless you have decent welding skills and it bolts up it could cost you plenty to make that questionable 44 fit. You should be able to locate a front Dana 35 or 44 from a exact fitting 2007 from the thousands out there. Not to discourage your ambitious plans (which are achievable) but obtaining a solid 4x4 JK would be my suggestion.

 

Yes with enough skills you can make anything fit. What did the 44 come out of? $1000 for an '85 Dana 44 is way way too much money. I paid $200 for mine. $1000-1800 is what you should expect to pay for a 2007-current Rubicon Dana 44 a direct bolt on.

Other issues. In '85 there wasn't an option for a Dana 44 in jeeps except for the full size Grand wagoneers and Pickups and those are too wide for your jeep by like 7in +/-. If it was a narrowed 44 out of a CJ which is a pretty common find it would be way to narrow for you by like 10 inches.

If it were any other full size Dana 44 including jeeps full size, with a lot of work you could make it fit and they range from 69in to 75 in wide WMS to WMS and your jeep is 65in WMS to WMS. So if you found a shorter 69 - 72in axle you could probably use it and add 2 in. spacers on you rear axle.

Lastly, by the time you got the axle to fit, you would have invested enough time and money that you would probably come out even had you just purchased a used Rubicon, teraflex, currie, etc front Dana 44 axle that will bolt right in.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Jeep-Rubico...ash=item3610d123fe:g:LIsAAOSw5cNYQHGW&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/07-16-Jeep-...ash=item237a6a6464:g:rDkAAOSw5cNYaCwV&vxp=mtr (your steering knuckle will bolt right onto this one)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/J8-Rubicon-...ash=item3613fd85dd:g:2IoAAOSwOgdYrFs-&vxp=mtr (same with this one)

 

Yeah, what Offgrid just said. Driving+speeding+texting is not cool so I can't add anymore..LOL