TJ's ZJ Build

It was an option up until 97. If you can find them they are a good rear end. Strength tests still rank the 8.8 higher in stock form. Also 8.8s are cheeper because they are a lot more of them out there to be had given the sheer number of explorers, Navigators, and Mountaineers for sold with that solid rear end.

You have the disconnects together the wrong way!!!
The bracket at the top goes OVER the sway bar, YOU HAVE IT UNDER THE SWAY BAR.
Here is the installation instructions.
http://www.quadratec.com/Assets/Installation/11405.pdf

Mark wrote:You have the disconnects together the wrong way!!!
The bracket at the top goes OVER the sway bar, YOU HAVE IT UNDER THE SWAY BAR.
Here is the installation instructions.
http://www.quadratec.com/Assets/Installation/11405.pdf

oh you are correct, that means one's right and one's wrong...should fix that

fixed, thanks for catching that. picture removed to prevent someone making the same mistake as me thinking it's right.

OverlandXJ wrote:It was an option up until 97. If you can find them they are a good rear end. Strength tests still rank the 8.8 higher in stock form. Also 8.8s are cheeper because they are a lot more of them out there to be had given the sheer number of explorers, Navigators, and Mountaineers for sold with that solid rear end.

yea i found this d44 with 3.73s which is what i'm at now which will do a direct bolt in for 200. What a guy wanted me to buy his 8.8 for which I'd have to pay to finish getting it stripped and then re welded. I'll poke around the jy and see if I can find one from an xj...are they direct bolt ins for the zj's too?

Btw if someone has the extra space to store an axle for me, let me know. I have 0 room for it at this point. Would gladly make it up to ya.


ah yes...according to my search the xj's never came with the 3.73's in the D44...correct or incorrect?

I believe that there is or recently was someone selling a d44 from a ZJ for 200 in brentwood NH on craigs list but I could be mistaken.
I think it is one of those with an aluminum center section, not very strong from what I hear.

http://providence.craigslist.org/pts/3712796748.html
This one looks like it is not an aluminum center section.

87 TO 89 XJ may have come with a dana 44 rear with 373s
It is not a direct swap to a zj,, you have to weld on correct brackets, it is a direct swap for a YJ

Sorry that's my bad, I forgot to add, you will need to ass brackets because Xj is a leaf sprung rear end

Mark wrote:I believe that there is or recently was someone selling a d44 from a ZJ for 200 in brentwood NH on craigs list but I could be mistaken.
I think it is one of those with an aluminum center section, not very strong from what I hear.

http://providence.craigslist.org/pts/3712796748.html
This one looks like it is not an aluminum center section.

87 TO 89 XJ may have come with a dana 44 rear with 373s
It is not a direct swap to a zj,, you have to weld on correct brackets, it is a direct swap for a YJ

Everything I've seen shows d44 is stronger then d35. so is d44a and there's a mod to the aluminum section too. Always fun. Add says it's a d44a.

See with that much work, screw it throw in the 8.8 lol.

Is there something wrong with the d35 that you have, it's not broken is it?
I would not mess with an aluminum 44.

I wouldn't either if you ever went bigger or wanted a truss you would have to swap axels again. Steel and aluminum are not very good friends, one enjoys eating the other and as far as I know you can't weld one to the other. I would stick with the 8.8. You won't break it, you can get them with disc brakes , and a limited slip.

OverlandXJ wrote:I wouldn't either if you ever went bigger or wanted a truss you would have to swap axels again. Steel and aluminum are not very good friends, one enjoys eating the other and as far as I know you can't weld one to the other. I would stick with the 8.8. You won't break it, you can get them with disc brakes , and a limited slip.

Well if someone has a welder and the experience I can get a 8.8 with 4.10's and an lsd that's disc for 200 or 250. Then I'd have to buy d30 4.10's for the front.

Don't forget to factor in $200 plus for a bracket kit and most likely a new yoke flange for the rear drive shaft and u joint to match the 8.8.
As far as purchasing the 8.8 goes don't depend on someone to weld it just yet,,first you have to get one so you can get things rolling along.

Mark wrote:Don't forget to factor in $200 plus for a bracket kit and most likely a new yoke flange for the rear drive shaft and u joint to match the 8.8.
As far as purchasing the 8.8 goes don't depend on someone to weld it just yet,,first you have to get one so you can get things rolling along.

first i have to find a place to store it

That's a tough predicament to be in.
There's always something holding up progress.

Mark wrote:That's a tough predicament to be in.
There's always something holding up progress.

I know right. If I had the space I'd love to start workin on it. Might have to wait a while to start on that part of my build.

Just focus on what you can get done other than that.

desertzj wrote:

Mark wrote:That's a tough predicament to be in.
There's always something holding up progress.

I know right. If I had the space I'd love to start workin on it. Might have to wait a while to start on that part of my build.

Where there's a will there's a way.

This is where I rebuilt my axle:


That was in the corner of our Laundry room, ha ha. I got banished to there after rebuilding the first axle under a tarp in the middle of our living room, ha ha ha.

haha I'm surprised you weren't sleeping in that little tent.

So i've slacked on updating my thread here so here we go.

Recently I pulled the VIC and replaced that with a 2WD cubby a JF guy sent me. Loving that extra storage space.


 Also got the wheels on, and got them black since they weren't in the best condition cosmetically. Liking that a lot. 

Did some small stuff today, finished up the mount spot for the quick discos when they're disco'ed. Replaced a parking light bulb since it has been burned out for about a year (don't ask me how I passed inspection) and replaced air filter.

And apparently you can't go off image url to post them using the insert image anymore? so here's the link to my build in JF Build

Recently I pulled the VIC and replaced that with a 2WD cubby a JF guy sent me. Loving that extra storage space.???????????????HUH

Mark wrote:Recently I pulled the VIC and replaced that with a 2WD cubby a JF guy sent me. Loving that extra storage space.???????????????HUH

you clearly don't have a zj lol!
The have a "Vehicle information center" that's a screen that tells time and will say washer fluid low, or other messages. The 2wd zj's didn't have this option, they had a cubby for storage. If the pictures were working you'd see what I meant. So I pulled out my VIC and replaced it with a cubby.

No I do not have a ZJ, but if it is a matter of making room in the jeep then i'm all for that.
If I were out in the trail one of my last concerns would be how much washer fluid I have.
Just open the hood and look haha.

it tells lots of other stupid things and some good things. pretty sure i can tell if im in 4lo without you telling me, the handle is 4 inches away. but when they get old they start beeping for no reason and need to be resoldered. so this was a better idea. its just hard to find 2wd grand cherokees to get the cubbies from. i was lucky.

well brown santa brought me my springs yesterday...pretty excited to get off the bb...just dont feel comfortable on it on the trails.

Very nice sir!

almost 5 months later! springs are finally on, and good lord did she not want to give up the old ones or fit the new ones in.

Now to fix the stuff I learned was broken:
Plus/wires
motor mount
Double cardon on front drive shaft (if anyone knows what else I need besides some 1310 spicer u joints let me know, and if you're good at putting them in as I have 0 experience and would love the help/knowledge.

Pics to come, stuck at work and shes parked in the garage.


If anyone wants my 2.25" pucks I'll sell them to ya. 2 got a tiny bit oblong shaped haha