7:57 pm
Club Member
September 3, 2008
Offline
So I have a unlimite rubicon and I came across a hp44 and a 9 inch rear in a trade and I can't figure out what to do with them. I really want to put them in my jeep. What would you guys do? I'm at the point where I buy cromo shafts for my rubi axles or do I put money in these axles? I only plan to stay around 37-39 inch tires and I don't think I need a 60 but I would love a true hp44 with cromo shafts instead of my rubi axles.
I know a couple of you have swaped axles. Did you do it yourself? I was thinking of getting the brackets professionally welded and then just bolt them in myself. I can rebuild the axles no problem. I got a quote from a shop and they said to burn the brackets on and bolt them in it would be 3k. Thats with 20 hours of labor at $90 bucks and hour.
What would you guys do? Thanks
Um...what?
8:06 pm
May 4, 2004
Offline We've had a couple guys in the club bend the housings on their TJ Dana 44 rear axles. One was on 33's the other on 37's. There may have been a third, I don't recall if Justin had a factory D44 in his. If you're going with 37's - 39's you probably should consider swapping in the stronger axles.
8:49 pm
Club Member
July 10, 2003
Offline Swap...but shop around, that price seems pretty high.
I used to wheel a lot. . .
9:06 pm
January 12, 2007
Offline "JohnDF" wrote: Swap...but shop around, that price seems pretty high.
x2
I would get rid of the factory axles if you plan on hard wheeling. I bent my factory D44 with only "mild wheeling". 😀
9:18 pm
"finder_87" wrote: ...I don't think I need a 60...
Famous last words... 😈
"JohnDF" wrote: Swap...but shop around, that price seems pretty high.
x3. That price seems way out there, but maybe there's more work in the brackets than I realize.
Are you trading for a 9-inch or a 60? Either will treat you fine, I'm just confused.
9:23 pm
Club President
April 2, 2003
Offline "finder_87" wrote: So I have a unlimite rubicon and I came across a hp44 and a 9 inch rear in a trade and I can't figure out what to do with them. I really want to put them in my jeep. What would you guys do? I'm at the point where I buy cromo shafts for my rubi axles or do I put money in these axles? I only plan to stay around 37-39 inch tires and I don't think I need a 60 but I would love a true hp44 with cromo shafts instead of my rubi axles.
I know a couple of you have swaped axles. Did you do it yourself? I was thinking of getting the brackets professionally welded and then just bolt them in myself. I can rebuild the axles no problem. I got a quote from a shop and they said to burn the brackets on and bolt them in it would be 3k. Thats with 20 hours of labor at $90 bucks and hour.
What would you guys do? Thanks
SWAP axles and get a 60 in the rear. I thought the ratios for a 9" and a 44 can't be exactly matched?
I recall you could buy a new HP60 built , shipped to your door for less than 4K. Why the high work price?
4:28 am
Club Member
September 3, 2008
Offline I got the axles out of a trade. I'm not trading my axles for them. The shop said it would be $700 for brackets but then it was $400 to burn the brackets on and $1500 to bolt them in, and $300 for steering. I figured the price for brackets and steering but almost $2000 for labor!! I thought that was alot. I don't know it looks like I have to get dirty now.
So you guys wouldn't cut down the front d44 and run it with the rear d44? Even if I got 35 spline shafts for the rear? Is it housing thickness that is the concern?
Thanks for the help guys.
Um...what?
4:43 am
Club Member
July 10, 2003
Offline Yes, it's the thickness of the tubes that are the concern. They bend and then everything inside breaks.
Bolt the axle in yourself. If they do the brackets the same, it will bolt right up. Then just set the pinion angles and you're done.
I used to wheel a lot. . .
1:18 pm
January 12, 2007
Offline "finder_87" wrote: I got the axles out of a trade. I'm not trading my axles for them. The shop said it would be $700 for brackets but then it was $400 to burn the brackets on and $1500 to bolt them in, and $300 for steering. I figured the price for brackets and steering but almost $2000 for labor!! I thought that was allot. I don't know it looks like I have to get dirty now.
Those prices are way too high! The brackets should be around $300 to $400 if you buy a kit, allot less if you piece one together. (I found I didn't use half the brackets in the kits).
I could see spending $300 on steering if that includes drilling and tapping the steering arms if you have flat top knuckles. And $400 to glue the brackets on! And $1500 to bolt them in! 😯 I would look for another shop.
"finder_87" wrote:
So you guys wouldn't cut down the front d44 and run it with the rear d44? Even if I got 35 spline shafts for the rear? Is it housing thickness that is the concern?Thanks for the help guys.
I am pretty happy with my cut down HP44 in the front, but I would recommend trussing the rear "Jeep" D44, if you are going to put any money into it. I dumped $1500 into mine (gears, ARB, Dutchman shafts) and ended up bending the housing, junking the whole thing, and building a D60 anyway.
1:32 pm
Club Member
July 10, 2003
Offline "Justin" wrote: junking the whole thing, and building a D60 anyway.
Done yet???
I used to wheel a lot. . .
1:38 pm
January 12, 2007
Offline "JohnDF" wrote:
Done yet???
Nope. It's hard to shoe horn a 60 into a Vespa. 😈
2:10 pm
"finder_87" wrote: The shop said it would be $700 for brackets but then it was $400 to burn the brackets on and $1500 to bolt them in, and $300 for steering. I figured the price for brackets and steering but almost $2000 for labor!!
Just out of curiosity, what shop are you talking to? I have a guess. 😀 It must be an extremely good shop to charge that much. Remember though extreme costs don't always equal extreme results when you get the gear offroad. 
"finder_87" wrote: So you guys wouldn't cut down the front d44 and run it with the rear d44? Even if I got 35 spline shafts for the rear? Is it housing thickness that is the concern?
You could run it for a while and save some cash to do the rear. Just don't do what we all did and spend money getting by then realize that it's not where you want to be. Then you spend twice as much. 
Which brings me to another point. If you're going to run 39s you'll probably want to start thinking 60 front.
2:28 pm
Club Member
July 10, 2003
Offline That's an EXTREMEly biased opinion GEARed to sway him away from spending too much money 
Oh ya...I second the 60s if you're going to run 40" tires.
I used to wheel a lot. . .
2:57 pm
Club President
April 2, 2003
Offline "Bender" wrote: [quote="finder_87"]The shop said it would be $700 for brackets but then it was $400 to burn the brackets on and $1500 to bolt them in, and $300 for steering. I figured the price for brackets and steering but almost $2000 for labor!!
Just out of curiosity, what shop are you talking to? I have a guess. 😀 It must be an extremely good shop to charge that much. Remember though extreme costs don't always equal extreme results when you get the gear offroad.
"finder_87" wrote: So you guys wouldn't cut down the front d44 and run it with the rear d44? Even if I got 35 spline shafts for the rear? Is it housing thickness that is the concern?
You could run it for a while and save some cash to do the rear. Just don't do what we all did and spend money getting by then realize that it's not where you want to be. Then you spend twice as much. Which brings me to another point. If you're going to run 39s you'll probably want to start thinking 60 front.
I was thinking he was making a mountain out of a foothill, but that's an extreme example. I'd call Grady's Hangtown Extreme on Placerville to get a second estimate. Seriously, I wonder who is coming up with that price.
3:05 pm
"BKGM Jeepers" wrote: I was thinking he was making a mountain out of a foothill, but that's an extreme example. I'd call Grady's Hangtown Extreme on Placerville to get a second estimate. Seriously, I wonder who is coming up with that price.
Finder, I'm not sure where you are, but WFO in Auburn did good axle work at a reasonable price for Larry and Predator Offroad in Auburn got my gears done on time at a good price. I'm not sure how complete their shop is though.
...or...
you could sell the Jeep and buy a Toyota and take it to Marlin Cralwer, the only shop that has gone above and beyond evertime I've dealt with them. 😀
3:44 pm
January 12, 2007
Offline "Bender" wrote:
and Predator Offroad in Auburn got my gears done on time at a good price. I'm not sure how complete their shop is though.
...or...
I second Predator. Mike is a good guy and does great work at a fair price.
4:10 pm
"Bender" wrote: [quote="BKGM Jeepers"]I was thinking he was making a mountain out of a foothill, but that's an extreme example. I'd call Grady's Hangtown Extreme on Placerville to get a second estimate. Seriously, I wonder who is coming up with that price.
Finder, I'm not sure where you are, but WFO in Auburn did good axle work at a reasonable price for Larry and Predator Offroad in Auburn got my gears done on time at a good price. I'm not sure how complete their shop is though.
...or...
you could sell the Jeep and buy a Toyota and take it to Marlin Cralwer, the only shop that has gone above and beyond evertime I've dealt with them. 😀
😀 x2
4:35 pm
Club Member
July 10, 2003
Offline W T Heck...my post dissapeared 👿
I used to wheel a lot. . .
4:42 pm
May 4, 2004
Offline "JohnDF" wrote: W T Heck...my post dissapeared 👿
I haven't deleted any posts. It's possible you may have hit the "preview" button rather than the "submit" button. I've done that a couple times since we upgraded the forum software.
5:37 pm
Club Member
July 10, 2003
Offline I'm sure it was operator error
What it said was...the cost of your axle swap will pay for an already built Toyota 😛
Of course, now it's out of context and doesn't make as much sense 🙄
Okay...I'll shut up now...
I used to wheel a lot. . .
5:39 pm
"FAM" wrote: [quote="JohnDF"]W T Heck...my post dissapeared 👿
I haven't deleted any posts. It's possible you may have hit the "preview" button rather than the "submit" button. I've done that a couple times since we upgraded the forum software.
Wasn't me either. I randomly discovered the log this morning and just checked it. It doesn't show that any moderator deleted any posts.
5:41 pm
"JohnDF" wrote: What it said was...the cost of your axle swap will pay for an already built Toyota 😛
I didn't think about it that way, but you're 100% right!
6:42 pm
Club Member
July 10, 2003
Offline "Bender" wrote: I randomly discovered the log this morning and just checked it. It doesn't show that any moderator deleted any posts.
I'm sure it was my fault...dang students kept bothering me while I was trying to post
I used to wheel a lot. . .
7:30 pm
Club Member
September 3, 2008
Offline To suprise you all the quote was from WFO. I agree, I like that shop and i've had work done there before but I don't know if this was a miss quote or what. They gave me a print out. I'll see if I can post it. Extreme gear told me $700 to burn brackets on just the front axle. 😯 WFO was $185. 
I don't think I need a 60 as I'm not super extreme but I want to run 38.5sx soon and thats what I had on my toyota before I turned to the dark (expensive) side. 😈
Um...what?
7:41 pm
Club Member
September 3, 2008
Offline Ok here is a copy and past. This is with me bringing in the axles rebuilt and ready to go. I guess swapping is just expensive for jeeps.
RE9968 TJ Front Axle Bracket Kit 1 409.99 409.99T
DISCOUNTS GI... DISCOUNT -15.00 -15.00
RE9969 TJ Axle Bracket KIt, Rear 1 367.99 367.99T
DISCOUNTS GI... DISCOUNT -15.00 -15.00
LABOR LABOR to weld front bracket kit on axle 1 185.00 185.00
LABOR LABOR to weld rear bracket kit on axle 1 185.00 185.00
ES2233LM 7/8-18L Tierod End (Tapered) 1 34.99 34.99T
ES2234R 7/8-18R Tierod End 2 33.99 67.98T
ES2027L 7/8-18L Double pivot Draglink End 1 30.99 30.99T
ES7818L 7/8-18 Lefthand Jam Nut 1 5.00 5.00T
PARTS New track-bar bracket to match flat draglink with
steering flip
1 19.99 19.99T
EXML10-12 3/4" x 5/8" Bore Male Heim Joint, LH, Radial Static
Load 16,565 lbs.
1 16.99 16.99T
WFO 1750-L 1 1/16" I.D. Tube Insert, 3/4-16 Left Hand Thread, 1.25"
Hex
1 11.99 11.99T
WFO 3416-L 3/4"-16 Jam Nut, Left Hand 1 2.00 2.00T
SG108 5/8 X .500 rod end spacer 2 4.99 9.98T
LABOR LABOR to shorten track bar to fit new bracket 90.00 90.00
WFO 1100 TJ/YJ Stock TJ/YJ pitman arm, Reamed for Large Chevy,
ES2026R/ES2027L (If you still have your stock one, we
can use that)
1 65.99 65.99T
EXP 220230 Steering stabilizer, 8", stem to stem, Pro-comp 1 39.99 39.99T
EXP 2525 Bracket for steering stabilizer with u-bolts 1 11.99 11.99T
WFO 5302 Mount Tab, Axle 1 3.50 3.50T
DAN2-94-28X 1310 1330 U-bolt kit 2 9.00 18.00T
LABOR LABOR to install front and rear axle, hook up steering,
modify front bracket kit to fit heavy duty steering in
stock knuckle location, tapered from top down. Try to
hook up e-brake cables
16 hours 90.00hr 1,440.00
total: $3,067.55
Um...what?
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