Swapping out a Dana 35 for Dana 44

[VodkaMan]

Hi,

Was wondering if I swapped out my rear Dana 30 diff and axles will a Dana 44 diff and axles bolt right in using the rest of the existing stuff on the car?
Such as is the brakes, hubs, ball joints, Cs, knuckles, and steering the same?

Thanks

 

[Plumber1]

Hi,

Was wondering if I swapped out my rear Dana 30 diff and axles will a Dana 44 diff and axles bolt right in using the rest of the existing stuff on the car?
Such as is the brakes, hubs, ball joints, Cs, knuckles, and steering the same?

Thanks

I am little confused most jeep have a Dana 35 in the rear and a Dana 30 up front ? and then ask about steering ? are you looking to swap out your rear or front

 

[Jerry Bransford]

I think you meant your front Dana 30. A Rubicon Dana 44 front axle will directly replace your Dana 30 since s TJ Rubicon's front Dana 44 is only a Dana 44 at its center pumpkin and inner axle shaft. The rest of the Rubicon's front Dana 44 is pure Dana 30 so it's a direct swap.

Brakes, hubs, ball joints, C's, knuckles, and steering are all identical between the TJ's front Dana 30 and a '03-06 Rubicon front Dana 44.

But for most of us, there's not a lot of benefit to converting the front Dana 30 to a Dana 44 though since it doesn't see nearly the amount of stress the rear axle does.

 

[VodkaMan]

Sorry was meant to say changing rear 35 to a 44. Will it bolt straight in?

 

[Chris]

X2 to everything Jerry said.

 

[Ehallspqr]

I did the rear Dana 35 to Dana 44 on a 01 TJ. As I recall it was pretty much a straight fwd swap. Are you pulling a junkyard axel or buying a rebuilt, regeared axel from a vendor. You can check online sellers and see if they have multi versions for different model and years.

 

[wildbill]

Make sure the gearing is the same as your front.

 

[fljeeper]

The pinion on the Dana 44 extends further than on the Dana 35. Depending on your suspension height this may require a different length drive shaft. I have 2" BDS springs and when I put in a Dana 44 in the rear I got drive shaft vibrations between 40 and 50 MPH due to the new shorter shaft creating a more severe drive shaft angle and greater u-joint angle mismatches. I ended up installing a SYE and adjustable control arms. Now I have no vibration issues. I think the BDS 2" springs might be taller than 2".

 

[Fouledplugs]

Calling @JMT

 

[JMT]

Sorry was meant to say changing rear 35 to a 44. Will it bolt straight in?

With a little vodka it will bolt right in! I did the Dana 35 to Dana 44 swap in January. Parking brake cables are bolt in, brakes, whether disc or drum are bolt in, just pay attention to where everything is, take pics, and make the swap.

As @fljeeper said, the Dana 44 pinion is longer than the Dana 35, so you may need a shorter driveshaft. But if you have some lift the lift offsets the distance, so you will probably be fine.

I did have some shock interference with the lower perch after the swap, so that is something to look for.

 

[Francis Perry]

Eventually swap my XJ 44 rear, and HP 30 front in mine. Not wasting one dollar building a 35....

 

[Akitadog]

I did this swap, but I have a SYE and Woods Drive shaft w/ 4" lift. I do remembering having to notch the the spring seats on the axle to clear the shock body. And I went from Drums to disc without issues. Took myself about 3 hours to do, with beer breaks now and then...

 

[doktormane]

With a little vodka it will bolt right in! I did the Dana 35 to Dana 44 swap in January. Parking brake cables are bolt in, brakes, whether disc or drum are bolt in, just pay attention to where everything is, take pics, and make the swap.

As @fljeeper said, the Dana 44 pinion is longer than the Dana 35, so you may need a shorter driveshaft. But if you have some lift the lift offsets the distance, so you will probably be fine.

I did have some shock interference with the lower perch after the swap, so that is something to look for.

View attachment 100944

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View attachment 100945

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Is that a brand new Dana 44??

 

[JMT]

Is that a brand new Dana 44??

LOL. Thanks, but no. It came off a 2005 Sport. Pinion teeth were broke. I sanded the surface rust and painted it with Zero Rust. It did look new going in

 

[Fouledplugs]

LOL. Thanks, but no. It came off a 2005 Sport. Pinion teeth were broke. I sanded the surface rust and painted it with Zero Rust. It did look new going in

It really does.

 

[JMT]

It really does.

How’s it going man? Just moved to the PNW. Ready for some new adventures

 

[Southernyankee]

The pinion on the Dana 44 extends further than on the Dana 35. Depending on your suspension height this may require a different length drive shaft. I have 2" BDS springs and when I put in a Dana 44 in the rear I got drive shaft vibrations between 40 and 50 MPH due to the new shorter shaft creating a more severe drive shaft angle and greater u-joint angle mismatches. I ended up installing a SYE and adjustable control arms. Now I have no vibration issues. I think the BDS 2" springs might be taller than 2".

Don't mean to sound stupid but what's an sye this is the first time owning a Wrangler my rear end locked up so I'm replacing it and I got a 44 cause that's what the metal tag said it was (someone switched tag it was originally a 35) I have it in but one side has no clearance it's rubbing on the spring and one side has clearance so I'm trying to figure out how to fix the issue

 

[Pokahpolice]

Don't mean to sound stupid but what's an sye this is the first time owning a Wrangler my rear end locked up so I'm replacing it and I got a 44 cause that's what the metal tag said it was (someone switched tag it was originally a 35) I have it in but one side has no clearance it's rubbing on the spring and one side has clearance so I'm trying to figure out how to fix the issue

Slip Yoke Eliminator

 

[mrblaine]

Don't mean to sound stupid but what's an sye this is the first time owning a Wrangler my rear end locked up so I'm replacing it and I got a 44 cause that's what the metal tag said it was (someone switched tag it was originally a 35) I have it in but one side has no clearance it's rubbing on the spring and one side has clearance so I'm trying to figure out how to fix the issue

I'dreallyliketohelpbutireallystrugglewhenfolksdontbreakupwhattheyrasking4in2somethingthatsortaevenremotelyresembleatleast2sentences

 

[williambmac]

I'dreallyliketohelpbutireallystrugglewhenfolksdontbreakupwhattheyrasking4in2somethingthatsortaevenremotelyresembleatleast2sentences

I would refer you to the "Piss and Moan" thread, beginning at post # 503.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/piss-moan-table.39677/page-26#post-1051027