Do I need 4340 chromoly shafts for a Dana 44 that is locked running 33's?

[JMT]

Do I need 4340 chromoly shafts for a Dana 44 that is locked running 33's? Or is that overkill?

 

[suicideking]

Chromoly shafts definitely recommended. Especially if you're wheeling it on rocks.

 

[Irun]

I ran stock 44 axles for a long time with no issues, and so have many others. I only switched when I found some slightly twisted splines. Unless you have a heavy foot, or get yourself in bad situations routinely, I see them as more of a nice to have than must have.

Edit: Nice to have on 33" tires

 

[mrblaine]

Do I need 4340 chromoly shafts for a Dana 44 that is locked running 33's? Or is that overkill?

Very much overkill. But, a simple solution is to carry a spare set of front shafts put together with u-joints. If you get to the point where you've had to swap them in due to a break, then solve the problem. Right now, you don't have the problem, don't solve it.

 

[mrblaine]

I ran stock 44 axles for a long time with no issues, and so have many others. I only switched when I found some slightly twisted splines. Unless you have a heavy foot, or get yourself in bad situations routinely, I see them as more of a nice to have than must have.

Edit: Nice to have on 33" tires

I would rather he not wind up like the buttheads who recommended everyone run RCV shafts right after they first came out. I asked all of them I ran across how many shafts they broke before the swap. Across the board it was none. What other alloy shafts have you run? None, just stock. Oh, so you are telling everyone to run some newfangled unproven shaft and you've never even broke a stocker? Yep, that's right because RCV. Yeah, go away.

 

[Irun]

I would rather he not wind up like the buttheads who recommended everyone run RCV shafts right after they first came out. I asked all of them I ran across how many shafts they broke before the swap. Across the board it was none. What other alloy shafts have you run? None, just stock. Oh, so you are telling everyone to run some newfangled unproven shaft and you've never even broke a stocker? Yep, that's right because RCV. Yeah, go away.

I personally have seen broken Dana 30 and 35 axles, but never a 44. I have seen a couple sets of twisted 44 splines though. Not horrible mind you, but definitely tweaked!

 

[mrblaine]

I personally have seen broken Dana 30 and 35 axles, but never a 44. I have seen a couple sets of twisted 44 splines though. Not horrible mind you, but definitely tweaked!

I've seen lots of broken stuff. Almost none of it on 33's.

 

[Steel City 06]

I bought front big u-joint and rear chromoly shafts for my D44s (35 inch tires). Probably don't truly need them, but I tend to travel very far from home and a breakdown could cost me a lot of money and time if I couldn't keep going.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Do I need 4340 chromoly shafts for a Dana 44 that is locked running 33's?

The short answer... no.

 

[JMT]

Very much overkill. But, a simple solution is to carry a spare set of front shafts put together with u-joints. If you get to the point where you've had to swap them in due to a break, then solve the problem. Right now, you don't have the problem, don't solve it.

Good advice, I saw a set of stock Dana 44 shafts off of a TJ for $40. Thought I might swipe those up for trail insurance.

 

[JMT]

I ran stock 44 axles for a long time with no issues, and so have many others. I only switched when I found some slightly twisted splines. Unless you have a heavy foot, or get yourself in bad situations routinely, I see them as more of a nice to have than must have.

Edit: Nice to have on 33" tires

I'm very easy on the skinny pedal. As you know, off-road driving takes finesse, you're just looking for traction, a small bump here and there can be helpful, but rarely does a lot of gas solve a lot of problems, it usually is the cause of them.

 

[Irun]

I'm very easy on the skinny pedal. As you know, off-road driving takes finesse, you're just looking for traction, a small bump here and there can be helpful, but rarely does a lot of gas solve a lot of problems, it usually is the cause of them.

For me....I'm old, I'm slow, and that's okay!

 

[Rubicon88]

I'm very easy on the skinny pedal. As you know, off-road driving takes finesse, you're just looking for traction, a small bump here and there can be helpful, but rarely does a lot of gas solve a lot of problems, it usually is the cause of them.

^^^^^^^This ^^^^^^^

A sense of feel. Too many off readers just hammer down with no sense of feel.

 

[Irun]

Too many off readers just hammer down with no sense of feel.

I see this frequently, which is usually followed by wheel hop and the crack of an unhappy u joint!

 

[Apparition]

I see this frequently, which is usually followed by wheel hop and the crack of an unhappy u joint!

It’s a way o life to some and they need to show off their hemi even if they aren’t very lite bright.

 

[J R]

We talking front and/or rear or does it matter?

 

[jjvw]

We talking front and/or rear or does it matter?

I've seen several front axle shafts break with 33s and 35s, but no rear shafts so far.

 

[Vinman]

The only axle shaft I ever broke was a Dana 44 rear Ten Factory while running 35’s. Tire was slightly wedged and as soon as I let the clutch out it popped, less than 2,000 rpm and very gentle with the clutch pedal. Shitty part was it also destroyed the Rubicon locker.

 

[mrblaine]

The only axle shaft I ever broke was a Dana 44 rear Ten Factory while running 35’s. Tire was slightly wedged and as soon as I let the clutch out it popped, less than 2,000 rpm and very gentle with the clutch pedal. Shitty part was it also destroyed the Rubicon locker.

Identical here.

 

[jazngab]

How about stock vs chromoly shafts for a locked front Dana 30 axle on 33s? Overkill as well?