Rear axle longevity (carnage pics)

[1996cc]

In case anyone is wondering how the Dana 44s will hold up long term with our amazing motors, here is my experience-

After roughly 35,000 miles, the rear locker failed and also took out the pinion teeth. I’m on 37”s with beadlocks. I do run in 2wd most of the time, but don’t do any hard launches unless I’m in 4wd or 4auto. Only 2wd donuts have been on sand.

And the upgraded Dana Spicer chromoly shafts don’t like the power either

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[JeepinJason33]

What were you doing when it failed? Not surprising and everyone beat me up when these released for saying that even with the slightly beefed up axles it was too much power for the Dana 44 off-road durability.

 

[1996cc]

Nothing exciting when it failed, just snow wheeling in 4wd. Locker started clicking and not wanting to engage. Sounded like I had a baseball card in my spokes, but louder. But no noise when driving without locker.

 

[72Blazer]

Nice. Plans to go tons?

 

[AcesandEights]

With 1,000 miles left on the powertrain warranty?

 

[firedude]

Sorry to see but not surprised. Most of us know what we have here. I think we all have our eye's on axles for our futures. Thanks for the pics.

 

[Mikester86]

Tons should have been standard or at the very least an option from the factory. That’s a lot of power.

 

[1996cc]

With 1,000 miles left on the powertrain warranty?

I void warranties, lol

 

[beast40]

37s and rear D44 are suspect to start with.

37s, v8 and you are asking for the above pics.

 

[Tr4ckD4ys]

37s and rear D44 are suspect to start with.

37s, v8 and you are asking for the above pics.

Is the main issue here the torque, especially when running in 4Lo? I would imagine this to be an issue with the 4xe’s too since they have quite a lot of instant torque.

 

[beast40]

Is the main issue here the torque, especially when running in 4Lo? I would imagine this to be an issue with the 4xe’s too since they have quite a lot of instant torque.

Its the leverage of the 37s and the torque. The same reason they didn't put the 4 to 1 in the 392.

 

[1996cc]

Its the leverage of the 37s and the torque. The same reason they didn't put the 4 to 1 in the 392.

That’s not the only/main reason for the 2.72 Tcase ratio. Do you have a 392? Or even driven one in low range?

 

[AcesandEights]

TQ * 1st gear * t-case * differential

470 * 4.71 * 2.72 * 3.73 = 22,459

260 * 5.13 * 4 * 4.88 = 26,035

The 3.6L Rubicon with manual trans and 4.88 gearing has more rear wheel torque in 4-low than the 392 (unless optioned with the Xtreme Recon).

 

[azwjowner]

I always think about how Ford put a Dana 50 in the Bronco Raptor, which comes with 37s. They don't put more expensive axles in for fun, it's because the Dana 44 can't handle 37s. Jeepers who offroad on 37s with stock axles are living on borrowed time.

 

[AcesandEights]

We're all living on borrowed time...

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