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axle swap

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by ABE D., Jul 8, 2006.

  1. Jul 8, 2006
    ABE D.

    ABE D. New Member

    SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2006
    Messages:
    23
    this is my first build and i own a 71 cj-5 with a 225 v6 and i am think about an axle swap to put bigger tires. it has a stock dana 27 in front and a dana 44 in the rear. i want to swap out the front for a 44 but im not sure if i could perform an axle sawp. dose any one have any tips on what i sould be awear of or alturnatives and about how much would it cost. also how to identify a front dana 44.
     
    ABE D., Jul 8, 2006
    #1
  2. Jul 8, 2006
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    4,585
    what kind of trails do you have? The stock axles can handle alot more than people give them. I only swapped mine because i was tired of going on my side. But if it is your first built, run it till it breaks then you can upgrade from there, and in the meantime of using the jeep, save up and get the larger axles if the time comes. Probably best thing to do first is get a locker, then you can go alot more places that you would ever think :) I know i should have blown up my front end bouncing the jeep up and down on a rocky climb, but it kept on going. The jeeps are so fun :)
     
    DanStew, Jul 8, 2006
    #2
  3. Jul 8, 2006
    brandon11130

    brandon11130 Master ghetto fabricator

    bethlehem PA
    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2006
    Messages:
    305
    well there is no way you are going to find a 44 front that has the same width as your 44 in the rear. and there is no way you are going to find an offset 44 rear other than the one you have.

    so first off you need to decide how wide and hardcore you want/need to go, as dan mentioned all you may need is a locker. but if you plan on bigger tires and need more trackwidth i would say go to a widetrack setup from a later cj. but if you are feeling really hardcore you could go to wagoneer d44's they are wider than the widetrack cj's axles and much tougher, but not full width because in my opinion that would be way way to wide for a stock wheelbase ecj5.

    next topic, if you do plan on putting bigger tires on that means more lift, more lift on a ecj5=stupid, unless you extend the wheelbase.
     
    brandon11130, Jul 8, 2006
    #3
  4. Jul 9, 2006
    brandon11130

    brandon11130 Master ghetto fabricator

    bethlehem PA
    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2006
    Messages:
    305
    oh and d44's look like this

    all of them! isnt that great!
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    but remember there is a lot of stuff you have to learn before you can just go picking up d44's
     
    brandon11130, Jul 9, 2006
    #4
  5. Jul 9, 2006
    JeepTherapy

    JeepTherapy Sponsor

    Negaunee, Michigan
    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2006
    Messages:
    695
    If your not sure you can perform a front 44 swap, you probably shouldn't attempt it without help. A later model 30 narrow track with disk brakes and a new set of springs would be a nice start. Unless you plan on 37's and hardcore wheeling... I run 30's in the front of both my jeeps with good results. The lockers really help in that you arn't on the jeep so hard trying to get through.
     
    JeepTherapy, Jul 9, 2006
    #5
  6. Jul 9, 2006
    Sledgehammer

    Sledgehammer Sure, I'll try it

    Ellery, Il
    Joined:
    Jun 7, 2006
    Messages:
    341
    I think the locker would be a good idea also. My Jeep is still running stock axles with lockers and it will go and pull like you wouldn't beleive.
     
    Sledgehammer, Jul 9, 2006
    #6
  7. Jul 9, 2006
    wjCJ5

    wjCJ5 New Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2006
    Messages:
    16
    If you are looking for a hardcore wheeler then I would suggest waganeer axles 30 spline front and rear 44s that for the most part measure 60 WMS which doesn't look bad on a small jeep and makes it alot more stable.
     
    wjCJ5, Jul 9, 2006
    #7
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