Topic: d44 or ford 8.8?

[fade]

I bought a cherokee for my girlfriends little brother recently. He already wants to ugrade the rear end to ditch the weak d35. So what is a better choice a ford 8.8 out of a exploder? or a d44 out of a older cherokee or a newer grand(I know their hard and rare to find but their out there). Thanks for any help.

[Sparkplug]

id say 8.8 myself, easier to find too

[yota4x4sc]

all i know is all my buddys runnin the 44s have broke them just as easy at the 35 brakes.. the 8.8 holds up to some abuse for sure..thats wat id run

[THK Matt]

Ford 8.8in, Same bolt pattern
Get one from a 95+ they are disc brakes. and remember they are SUA.

[fade [OP]]

I know about the sua. Thats no issue easy fix really. The grands are the same bolt pattern no? I dunno I'm not a jeep guy just figure hes gonna be running 33s and he has a heavy foot. The 8.8 looks like the best option. Thanks guys.

[Nimyad]

The grands with a d44 have a cast aluminum center section. Not good

[THK Matt]

I know about the sua. Thats no issue easy fix really. The grands are the same bolt pattern no? I dunno I'm not a jeep guy just figure hes gonna be running 33s and he has a heavy foot. The 8.8 looks like the best option. Thanks guys.

i was thinking the older grands... which are 6lug. my bad.

[Irongrave]

and 8.8 is good if you want to do a little fab work to get it in.  quick bolt in swap for a better axle is the 96+ Chrysler 8.25 from a Cherokee, 29 spline shafts and quick swap. plus they tend to be dirt cheep.

[THK Matt]

and 8.8 is good if you want to do a little fab work to get it in.  quick bolt in swap for a better axle is the 96+ Chrysler 8.25 from a Cherokee, 29 spline shafts and quick swap. plus they tend to be dirt cheep.

all it is, is new spring pirches. lol

[kneedownnate]

i was thinking the older grands... which are 6lug. my bad.

From the moment they were introduced, they were all the same lug pattern, except for maybe the new.  The original cherokees, wagoneers, and grand wagoneers were 6 lug.

[yjay]

I ran an 8.8 in my YJ. They are 31 spline 1 3/8  shafts and are readily found with Trac-Lock limited slips. 5 on 4.5 lug pattern, same as small Cherokee's. The only weak point I have heard of is the axle tubes possibly spinning inside the housing, which is easily avoided by stitch welding the tubes to it with a high nickel rod or wire. They are stronger than a d44 imo due to a slightly larger ring gear and another spline and definitely stronger than a 8.25, plus disk brakes in a 95+. They are a c-clip type axle, but I was never worried about that because if a shaft did break it would be held in by the disk and caliper. The only disadvantage is that locker selection is a little lacking if that will ever be a consideration.
That being said, if you happen to find a Cherokee d44, it's not a bad way to go considering it's a direct bolt in.

[THK Matt]

I ran an 8.8 in my YJ. They are 31 spline 1 3/8  shafts and are readily found with Trac-Lock limited slips. 5 on 4.5 lug pattern, same as small Cherokee's. The only weak point I have heard of is the axle tubes possibly spinning inside the housing, which is easily avoided by stitch welding the tubes to it with a high nickel rod or wire. They are stronger than a d44 imo due to a slightly larger ring gear and another spline and definitely stronger than a 8.25, plus disk brakes in a 95+. They are a c-clip type axle, but I was never worried about that because if a shaft did break it would be held in by the disk and caliper. The only disadvantage is that locker selection is a little lacking if that will ever be a consideration.
That being said, if you happen to find a Cherokee d44, it's not a bad way to go considering it's a direct bolt in.

[THK Matt]

This should help you find a limited slip axle... using the axle codes below

Axle Codes

L - Limited Slip Differential
C - Conventional Differential

Code ... Ratio
41 ...... 3.27C
42 ...... 4.10C
43 ...... 3.08C
45 ...... 3.55C
46 ...... 3.73C
D1 ...... 3.27L
D2 ...... 4.10L
D4 ...... 3.73L
D5 ...... 3.55L

[NorCalToy]

Ford 8.8in, Same bolt pattern
Get one from a 95+ they are disc brakes. and remember they are SUA.

It was possible to get a factory rear 44 with certain options in the cherokee. Like OP said its rare but they do exist. and they were 5 on 4.5

[1slowhatch]

I've got a factory XJ D44 swapped in my 91 cherokee. It has a mini spool in it and has held up great so far! (34" ltbs). I'm sure the 8.8 is stronger and has discs, but if you come across a factory D44, go for it! No problems so far (aside from leaky tube seals). Stay away from grand cherokee stuff.

[yotaneck13]

Fix it right T100