Rear Dana 44 advice

[Dylpickle200]

Hey guys! I know the topic of bent Dana 44s has been talked about before but this is less of a “what should I do to fix” question and more of a how should I move forward one. I picked up a rear Dana 44 on marketplace for cheap from someone who was running it in their LJ rubicon with a triangulated suspension (he had it trussed) rather poor self done job installing the truss I might add. Irregardless, after removing the truss and prepping the axle to weld on some factory brackets to throw it in my Tj I noticed a slight bend in the axle. I sourced a shop to straighten it for me so it’s currently there. But now I’m curious, should I truss the axle when I get it back again? I’m going to be running 35s and don’t see myself going bigger in the near future. I live in east Texas so the wheeling out here isn’t crazy but do plan on trips out west to Arizona / Utah for some camping / overlanding. Is the axle going to lose strength by being bent then bent back? Am I more likely to bend it in the future? Am I better off trussing while I have it out for peace of mind or is it a waste of time money and weight. Axle is getting fully built. regear, ox air locker, chromoly shafts, and Barnes brackets. Thanks in advance for any input you have!

 

[JMT]

The Dana 44 should be fine with 35’s. No need to truss it. Stronger doesn’t mean better when less strength is sufficient for your tire size.

You want 4140 rear shafts. ARB would be the air locker of choice around here.

 

[Dylpickle200]

The Dana 44 should be fine with 35’s. No need to truss it. Stronger doesn’t mean better when less strength is sufficient for your tire size.

You want 4140 rear shafts. ARB would be the air locker of choice around here.

Chose ox locker for the drive away lock and already have 4340 shafts (stronger than 4140) They’re also 35 spline to match my 35 ox carrier rather than the stock 30 spline

 

[JMT]

Chose ox locker for the drive away lock and already have 4340 shafts (stronger than 4140) They’re also 35 spline to match my 35 ox carrier rather than the stock 30 spline

The more important issue is how they are heat treated. Both can be overheated and cause them to be brittle. That’s why we recommend the trusted supplier Revolution, and their shafts are 4140 for a Dana 44. This also provides some needed ductility. The days of 4340 being better because stronger are over. There are other qualities we want in our axles for good reasons. Of course, you’re already down a rabbit hole with 35 spline, so it doesn’t really matter.

The way you’re choosing parts says a lot.

 

[Dylpickle200]

The more important issue is how they are heat treated. Both can be overheated and cause them to be brittle. That’s why we recommend the trusted supplier Revolution, and their shafts are 4140 for a Dana 44. This also provides some needed ductility. The days of 4340 being better because stronger are over. There are other qualities we want in our axles for good reasons. Of course, you’re already down a rabbit hole with 35 spline, so it doesn’t really matter.

The way you’re choosing parts says a lot.

Says what? I’m over building for my needs and buying with back up plans in mind so I’m not stranded in the middle of no where hours from civilization?

 

[JMT]

Says what? I’m over building for my needs and buying with back up plans in mind so I’m not stranded in the middle of no where hours from civilization?

You want stronger axles, so you bought a drive away locker. That moves the weak point to the locker. Would you rather your locker break or a shaft. A spare shaft is easy to trail fix, and with a Dana 44 you can drive out due to the retainer. A new locker and regear is another issue.

Are you wheeling alone? “Stranded in the middle of nowhere hours from civilization.”

FWIW, I think you’ll be fine. 30-spline 4140 shafts locked in a rear Dana 44 with 35’s will take you anywhere a 35” tire can go.

 

[Dylpickle200]

You want stronger axles, so you bought a drive away locker. That moves the weak point to the locker. Would you rather your locker break or a shaft. A spare shaft is easy to trail fix, and with a Dana 44 you can drive out due to the retainer. A new locker and regear is another issue.

Are you wheeling alone? “Stranded in the middle of nowhere hours from civilization.”

FWIW, I think you’ll be fine. 30-spline 4140 shafts locked in a rear Dana 44 with 35’s will take you anywhere a 35” tire can go.

Yes I will be in the middle of no where alone most of the time.. this is going to be an overland rig not a rock crawler.. lol goal is to never break either and have my drive shaft u joint be the weak point and keep the spares in the glove box. I can promise you I’m competent enough to wheel and not worry about breaking my carrier due to my axels being too strong. Also what does having a drive away lock have to do with my carrier strength that’s only changing the way the lock is engaged. Ox locker is a very reliable and reputable brand that has been around for years just as arb is. Arb just didn’t check all the boxes for me that ox did. It’s okay to have different opinions and different builds not everyone has to run 4140s and arbs. This post wasn’t for build advice I already had those parts purchased and here. I just was curious about the truss and the integrity of a bent and repaired axle thank you though

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Are you wheeling alone? “Stranded in the middle of nowhere hours from civilization. mistake.

X2, it's complete stupidity to wheel alone like that. There are too many plausible scenarios that could make that a very bad decision though from his previous replies I doubt he'll listen to warnings like that.

 

[Dylpickle200]

Have yall never done any type of solo trips/ overlanding? It’s a very common practice. Prepare properly and have a plan and you’ll be perfectly fine. Not sure where you’re getting that standpoint from. Some people enjoy the challenge and thrill of relying on their own capability and instincts, rather than wheeling a Moab trail 20 jeeps deep. I’ve done both and prefer the first. But like I said people have different styles and different builds that doesn’t make yours more right than mine

 

[astjp2]

If you are worried about bending an axle, you would have a heart attack with the yj serpentine belt, or at least the half of it that is left… and I go a hundred miles out in the desert.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Have yall never done any type of solo trips/ overlanding? It’s a very common practice. Prepare properly and have a plan and you’ll be perfectly fine.

Everything is perfectly fine until it's not.

There are no guarantees everything will go according to plan, even the best prepared journeys can have unexpected/unanticipated problems, some potentially very serious. Good luck being alone with no one to help you in a potential situation where minutes or even seconds might be critical to your survival in a very remote area.

 

[astjp2]

Everything is perfectly fine until it's not.

There are no guarantees everything will go according to plan, even the best prepared journeys can have unexpected/unanticipated problems, some potentially very serious. Good luck being alone with no one to help you in a potential situation where minutes or even seconds might be critical to your survival in a very remote area.

This reminds of that movie, “ the hills have eyes “ you just never know, if you spend all of your time worrying, you will never enjoy the trip.

 

[Dylpickle200]

If you are worried about bending an axle, you would have a heart attack with the yj serpentine belt, or at least the half of it that is left… and I go a hundred miles out in the desert.

lol I’m not worried about it in a sense that it scares me I’m just curious on opinions cause I’d rather just do it while I have it out and the axle shaved. I’m right there with you send it!!

 

[Dylpickle200]

Everything is perfectly fine until it's not.

There are no guarantees everything will go according to plan, even the best prepared journeys can have unexpected/unanticipated problems, some potentially very serious. Good luck being alone with no one to help you in a potential situation where minutes or even seconds might be critical to your survival in a very remote area.

Have you ever heard of satellite communications? SOS devices? I will have a passenger if you’re speaking health wise and both of us are well versed in first aid/ first responder skill sets. Let’s not forget the Oregon trail existed and plenty of people made it across the entire country with no modern supplies and practices. For anyone else reading this please don’t be scared of what could happen and enjoy what does happen! The world is a beautiful place, jeeps are about getting out there and seeing it

 

[JMT]

Have you ever heard of satellite communications? SOS devices? I will have a passenger if you’re speaking health wise and both of us are well versed in first aid/ first responder skill sets. Let’s not forget the Oregon trail existed and plenty of people made it across the entire country with no modern supplies and practices. For anyone else reading this please don’t be scared of what could happen and enjoy what does happen! The world is a beautiful place, jeeps are about getting out there and seeing it

I think your setup will be fine for overlanding. You may encounter a few ledges and rough spots, but it wouldn’t be anything like Poison Spyder, Pritchett Canyon, or the other 6+ rated Moab trails. I do think it’s overkill though. I also think that the weak link should be the u-joint in a front axle, but it should be the axle shaft in a rear axle. This is for the express purpose of getting out of the kind of situation you may find yourself in. But again, I think you’ll never see anything near what your ‘currently being built’ axles would require since there is no such obstacles that exists in the United States of America.

Of course, there are stupid people who do stupid things, but I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt since you’ve done this before. Go easy on the skinny pedal and let the Jeep do its thing. My .02c.

 

[Rickyd]

To get this back on track-

Can you find a frame and axle specialty shop who can give you advise?

Tj axles generally don't need trusses being narrower than jk's. I had the rear rubi 44 in my jeep straightened by a big rig frame and axle shop. The old guy who did it wasn't concerned about weakness or extra measures being needed,but it was only out by a 1/4". If you hit whoop de dos at high speed or catch air I'd be concerned.

 

[PNW_LJ]

Have yall never done any type of solo trips/ overlanding? It’s a very common practice. Prepare properly and have a plan and you’ll be perfectly fine. Not sure where you’re getting that standpoint from. Some people enjoy the challenge and thrill of relying on their own capability and instincts, rather than wheeling a Moab trail 20 jeeps deep. I’ve done both and prefer the first. But like I said people have different styles and different builds that doesn’t make yours more right than mine

Just my 2 cents:

35 spline rear TJ axles are uncommon. If you’re out in the middle of nowhere and break/bend one, finding 30 spline rears will be much easier. Plus you can carry your stockers with you.

 

[Dylpickle200]

I think your setup will be fine for overlanding. You may encounter a few ledges and rough spots, but it wouldn’t be anything like Poison Spyder, Pritchett Canyon, or the other 6+ rated Moab trails. I do think it’s overkill though. I also think that the weak link should be the u-joint in a front axle, but it should be the axle shaft in a rear axle. This is for the express purpose of getting out of the kind of situation you may find yourself in. But again, I think you’ll never see anything near what your ‘currently being built’ axles would require since there is no such obstacles that exists in the United States of America.

Of course, there are stupid people who do stupid things, but I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt since you’ve done this before. Go easy on the skinny pedal and let the Jeep do its thing. My .02c.

Yea definitely! Just for reference I learned how to drive a stick in an 06 rubicon in Moab and I go there annually just last year I did rusty nail backwards in the Jl while my dad followed me in his Suzuki side kick on 31s ( yes I have video footage you should check out his build on @sidekicknation on instagram) I have proper judgement and skill level for everything I intend to encounter. But I totally understand where you’re coming from

 

[Rickyd]

Just my 2 cents:

35 spline rear TJ axles are uncommon. If you’re out in the middle of nowhere and break/bend one, finding 30 spline rears will be much easier. Plus you can carry your stockers with you.

True but if he already has them why not run it? It isn't like they'll ever break in a tj 44.

I got my little brother a tj 44 that had dutchmen 35 spline axles and arb years ago. We weren't going to pull them out to install 30spline. Hes had no problems with that axle behind a 5.2l and 36" sx's.Would i buy them for mine? No,but it isn't the end of the world.

 

[Dylpickle200]

Just my 2 cents:

35 spline rear TJ axles are uncommon. If you’re out in the middle of nowhere and break/bend one, finding 30 spline rears will be much easier. Plus you can carry your stockers with you.

I completely understand and know the risks involved this was definitely a consideration but decided on going the 35 route anyway!