"Intermediate" Step for Axle Assembly Upgrades Nowadays?

[dxjeeper]

Sorry in advance if this is a dumb question/has been answered here before, I was searching through the forums and couldn't find an answer.

Is there an "intermediate" step for axle assembly upgrades nowadays?

I have the M186 front and M220 rear, and I need to re-gear it + I was considering adding lockers.

I was looking for Rubicon Take-offs for a long time, but those have gotten very hard to find (cost: $4k-5k)

I was then going to either buy a brand new MOPAR Rubicon Axles or get the Rubicon rear and the ADVANTEK Dana 44 Ultimate Front, but the new Rubicon axle assemblies have been discontinued. (Cost: $5k-8k)

I was speaking to several product reps about my options, and it looks like now, unless I get lucky and find Rubicon takeoffs, my options are to either get a 44 front and 60 rear or 60 front and 60 rear (cost: $14-16k)

Is there an option available that doesn't cost $14k?

I was hoping to get beefier axles than what I currently have, but as of now, it seems my only two options are "regear and add lockers to the M186 and M220 for 6k" or "get 60s for $14k" with no in-between.

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[dxjeeper]

Looks like ProRock sells a 44 in the Sport width that you can add lockers to, so I could possibly do a ProRock 44 front, add lockers to both and regear the rear to what I want. I think that would be ~$10k instead of ~$15k

 

[Jtclayton612]

You can regear the rear axle+locker and get either a rubicon or sport width d44 front. Having slightly different track widths causes my eye to twitch but it’ll be fine for driving.

 

[dxjeeper]

You can regear the rear axle+locker and get either a rubicon or sport width d44 front. Having slightly different track widths causes my eye to twitch but it’ll be fine for driving.

Interesting, I guess I thought that different widths would mess with the drivetrain

Maybe I can just do that and name my Jeep "FrankenJeep" ;P

 

[Omen]

Get a Gladiator non-WideTrack front D44. Same width as a D30 in the JL/JLU.

Omen

 

[dxjeeper]

You can regear the rear axle+locker and get either a rubicon or sport width d44 front. Having slightly different track widths causes my eye to twitch but it’ll be fine for driving.

I could just use wheel spacers on the rear for now, right?

 

[dxjeeper]

Get a Gladiator non-WideTrack front D44. Same width as a D30 in the JL/JLU.

Omen

I'll try looking for those, thanks

 

[Jtclayton612]

I could just use wheel spacers on the rear for now, right?

yeah you can find some that are .75” that are quality, I had at one point but forgot to save the page lol. Remember to get a kit with longer wheel studs too since it won’t be like the longer wheel spacers that have their own embedded.

 

[WontonJLUR]

I was looking for Rubicon Take-offs for a long time, but those have gotten very hard to find (cost: $4k-5k)

I just took off a set of Rubicon axles this weekend and they will soon be up for sale. I'm located in Virginia.

 

[Omen]

I'll try looking for those, thanks

Maybe contact Benny @AllMoparParts.com. He has been known to frequent these forums.

This thread might be helpful in understanding what Jeep is up to.

Omen

 

[CaJLMetalHead]

Sorry in advance if this is a dumb question/has been answered here before, I was searching through the forums and couldn't find an answer.

Is there an "intermediate" step for axle assembly upgrades nowadays?

What are you trying to solve / improve?.. what is your current gear ratio / tire size?..

 

[dxjeeper]

What are you trying to solve / improve?.. what is your current gear ratio / tire size?..

Current gear ratio is the default 3.45 gear ratio with the JLU Sport

I upgraded my tires to 33" BFG KO2 All-Terrain tires and my gas mileage and acceleration tanked (like 21 MPG to 15 MPG overnight)

I want to regear and have stout enough axles to eventually go to 35" inch tires. I also want to get Lockers because my friends have Rubicons and I'd like to be able to hang with them when offroading.

I'm thinking of getting the ProRock 44 front axle in 4.56 with an Eaton E-locker when they come back in stock, then based on this conversation probably getting wheel spacers + regearing the rear to 4.56 + getting an Eaton E-locker installed at the same time.

I'm still learning and don't know what I don't know, so if you have any thoughts/suggestions I'd love to hear them

 

[CaJLMetalHead]

Current gear ratio is the default 3.45 gear ratio with the JLU Sport

I upgraded my tires to 33" BFG KO2 All-Terrain tires and my gas mileage and acceleration tanked (like 21 MPG to 15 MPG overnight)

I want to regear and have stout enough axles to eventually go to 35" inch tires. I also want to get Lockers because my friends have Rubicons and I'd like to be able to hang with them when offroading.

I'm thinking of getting the ProRock 44 front axle in 4.56 with an Eaton E-locker when they come back in stock, then based on this conversation probably getting wheel spacers + regearing the rear to 4.56 + getting an Eaton E-locker installed at the same time.

I'm still learning and don't know what I don't know, so if you have any thoughts/suggestions I'd love to hear them

ohh ok.. too bad Rubicon Take-off axles are getting more expensive... I bought front/rear in 4.10 gear ratio almost brand new for $2500 a couple of years ago.. that is the simplest option since they are a direct fit .. a weekend job... perhaps visit local shops and ask if there are take-off axles the owner wants to sell for cheap?... or tell them to let you know whenever a JL gets upgraded so you can buy the take-off axles?

ProRock 44 + upgrading your rear axle is a valid option.. the question is.. how much is a shop going to charge you for the job?.. how much money would you be investing (wasting?) paying a shop for the job vs waiting a bit and looking around shops and Ebay .. ?

 

[dxjeeper]

ohh ok.. too bad Rubicon Take-off axles are getting more expensive... I bought front/rear in 4.10 gear ratio almost brand new for $2500 a couple of years ago.. that is the simplest option since they are a direct fit .. a weekend job... perhaps visit local shops and ask if there are take-off axles the owner wants to sell for cheap?... or tell them to let you know whenever a JL gets upgraded so you can buy the take-off axles?

ProRock 44 + upgrading your rear axle is a valid option.. the question is.. how much is a shop going to charge you for the job?.. how much money would you be investing (wasting?) paying a shop for the job vs waiting a bit and looking around shops and Ebay .. ?

Yeah I was hoping for Rubicon takeoffs, I'd been looking online for the better part of a year for takeoffs to order or ones close to me and haven't had any luck.

I've been speaking to some local shops and it sounds like swapping the axles, installing switches, installing + regearing the rear locker, and hooking them up would run me around $2.5k which isn't too bad. Then I'd be looking at ~$5500 for the axle + 2500 for shop fees so 8k instead of spending 14k-15k on axle assemblies before any shop costs

perhaps visit local shops and ask if there are take-off axles the owner wants to sell for cheap?... or tell them to let you know whenever a JL gets upgraded so you can buy the take-off axles?

TBH I didn't know that was an option, I'll try calling around and see if any shops would do that for me

 

[Jtclayton612]

Current gear ratio is the default 3.45 gear ratio with the JLU Sport

I upgraded my tires to 33" BFG KO2 All-Terrain tires and my gas mileage and acceleration tanked (like 21 MPG to 15 MPG overnight)

I want to regear and have stout enough axles to eventually go to 35" inch tires. I also want to get Lockers because my friends have Rubicons and I'd like to be able to hang with them when offroading.

I'm thinking of getting the ProRock 44 front axle in 4.56 with an Eaton E-locker when they come back in stock, then based on this conversation probably getting wheel spacers + regearing the rear to 4.56 + getting an Eaton E-locker installed at the same time.

I'm still learning and don't know what I don't know, so if you have any thoughts/suggestions I'd love to hear them

If you’re only going to 35s and you know you’re staying there then I think a d30 will be fine. Even with either an auto locker or selectable locker up front.

in my experience trails that say “at least one locker necessary” can be defeated with some smart line choice, at least near me.

I’ve been running 35s on my d30/d44 combo for quite a while.

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