Opinions on running a rear Tj dana 44 spooled

NotMatt · Jan 23, 2008

Rich said:
Ok....... how hard is it to just slap a Spool in it? and if I have to have everything dis-assembled, why not just throw in a set of 4.10's or 4.56's

Well, do you have all the tools and know-how to set up gears? If this is going to be a daily driver and/or driven to the trails... the words "just slap a spool in" or "just throw in a set of 4.10's or 4.56's" are both contradictions... you need to do it right if you're going to change the carrier or the gears. This is why a mini-spool might be a good idea... it's not a whole carrier replacement, it just replaces the spider gears themselves with a solid chunk.

If you replace the whole carrier with a spool, you'll need to, at the very least, pull the old bearings off your old carrier, figure out how many and their thickness and then put new shims under the new bearings, run a pattern and make sure everything looks ok. This is a quick and dirty method, and if you don't have a clamshell bearing puller or a set of "setup" bearings for the D44, you're not going to get anywhere.

Of course, the gear change requires a whole new gear setup. If you haven't done it before, I wouldn't recommend doing it first on your daily driver. You need some special tools, need to be able to identify a good pattern, and need to have a LOT of patience.

Weld it or mini spool it.

Digger 5 · Jan 23, 2008

The product that Tigtorch is talking about is a mini spool. It's installs like a Lock Right into an open diff but fully locks up both sides.

The only durability issue I ever see with a spool or welded diff is that sometimes axle shafts get much more abuse. A good alloy shaft obviously will last longer. Problems here are much more common when the rig is very heavy, has big ass tires (the technical term) or the driver hot foots a lot on the street.

The other downside to a spool is turning radius. You lose a lot of turning radius in all but the wettest spots. A spool will push you much more than a Detroit or similar unless it is really gooey.

If you do a gear swap but weld or use a mini spool, you can keep your 3.73 down case and use the thicker Rubicon gears. Thick gears are available in 4.10, 4.56, 4.88 and 5.13 ratios. The lowest gear available for your Dana 30 is 4.88.

Totalled · Jan 24, 2008

Rich, just buy an aussie locker for the rear...

Rich1 · Jan 24, 2008

Totalled said:
Rich, just buy an aussie locker for the rear...

Isn't that a Ox - same thing?

I like the idea of selectable lockers, more or less kinda been waiting to get ahold of a salvaged rubi... even thought very serious about trading in for the new challenger. not sure now, have some very serious personal problems to deal with now. nothing evers goes right, when it starts to get good. something always fawks it all up. anyhow.........

since were on the subject;

anyone have 4 bolts to connect my rear D-line

*(them factory tiny head bolt types?) - stealership wants like $7 a bolt