Solid Axle

[Ricky-venezuela]

Hi there..
My question is about getting a solid axle on a 2000 sport explorer, i know chola (grey explorer from venezuela) did his but i was hinking about something different and i wanted some suggestions, how about a 98+ front Jeep grand cherokee axle, it has the same 4.10 gears as i do, it has the gears on the pilot side, it has ABS brake sistem compatible with the explorer one, it has 5 bolts for tires, but the only thing i´m not sure if its the same lenght as my rear end, if some body knows something about this or can correct me if i´m wrong post a replay to the thread.
Thanks

 

[jimbo74]

if you are asking if they are the same width, they are probably very close..... jeep cherokees use our rear ends a lot in their trucks..... actually having a wider at one end track will also help out a little bit too....

 

[Jason_25]

This is a good question.

Didn't the later model grands have a D44?

 

[Dannyboy]

certain ones did and it is an aluminum housing Dana 44 rear. All Grand cherokees have Dana 30 front axles.

 

[Fusion213]

Are you talking about 98 ZJ through 02 WJ? The WJ has a different bolt pattern, it's 5 lug but different diameter.

 

[Ricky-venezuela]

doing some reserch i found out that the xj cherokee front axle is a dana 30 reverse cut and it has a 5 on 4.5" wheel bolt pattern as the explorer does and in later model abs brake system is available, the wheel to wheel lenght is 60 3/4", now the thing to know its whats the wheel to wheel lenght in the explorer if someone knows let me know.
thanks

 

[94EBexplorer]

it would work.... but as i have seen with problems with the jeeps stock live axel it is weak..... but being that its live makes a jeep a very capable stock wheeler...... they have a thing about bending under pressure with larger tires and tourque...... i say just go with the d44... as for the abs .... when you go with a larger tire abs isnt always the best and can actully be more dangerous than helpful.....

 

[Ricky-venezuela]

Well i dont agree to much with you cause i've seen jeeps with dana 30 that has 36" tires and he does very hard 4wheeling and he hasnt have any problems at all with the axle....
but the other thing is wich dana 44 would fit to the explorer

 

[94EBexplorer]

any boxy style bronco... id go like 77 maybe.... the X is more heavy than a jeep..... your gonna have alot more weight on it.... i mean i have seen people in Zj's bend there soild axel.... once you get em all locked out and all... thats alot for a D30

 

[Ricky-venezuela]

The only thing i dont like about the Bronco 77 is that the transmition is 25 years old, and the jeep wold be 00 or 01 dana 30, so the years make a difference too...
On saturday i will be going with Oso_polar to find the transmition, I think i will be using a bronco steering box and coil springs as the xj does, cause i was thinking i have the same engine size and mine is 2 doors so it makes it lighter,,,
i´ll keep you guys informed about all my reserch

 

[JoshC]

I've been thinking about this conversion myself, why wouldn't you just up grade the axle shafts before you started the conversion on the D30. I go wheeling with a good friend that has a YJ and he's afraid to go any bigger then 31" tires because he doesn't want to fork out the money for the axle upgrade, just a possibility.

Happy trails!!

 

[94EBexplorer]

well what about using a grand wagonneer? that has a 44 in the front and you can get em all the way to 1990... and im sure the jeep tranny will adapt to that.... just a thought.....

 

[410Fortune]

There are guys that have been doing the D30 converion to Rangers and BII's for years. I would choose the D44 personally, since the D30 is weak. However if the D30 is used, I wouldnt use it on a heavy explorer, it may be okay for a Ranger, but the 00 Explorer is just to heavy to run the D30 and larger tires (obviously if you are putting a straight axle uner a late model you are going to be sitting on 8"+ lift so even 33" tires would look small.....

 

[Randall]

Originally posted by Ricky-venezuela
On saturday i will be going with Oso_polar to find the transmition, ...

Where does the transmission come in? What tranny are you trying to mate up to your explorer? and what does it have to do with an axle swap?

 

[Randall]

Originally posted by Ricky-venezuela
On saturday i will be going with Oso_polar to find the transmition, ...

Where does the transmission come in? What tranny are you trying to mate up to your explorer? and what does it have to do with an axle swap?

Personally I'd like to see someone swap in a d30, I think it might be interesting, to say the least

 

[410Fortune]

Well Mud there is a shop in Conifer called Marcy's Automotive. Basically they only work on Rangers, BII'sn and Cherokee's. They have done several D30's into BII's and they seem to hold up just fine even with big tires. Personally I wouldnt even think of it since the D30 is even weaker then the D35 TTB I have and if it wasnt for the damn spacing on the wheel bearings the D35 would be plenty enough for even 35's......

Save yorself a headach and do the D44. It would really suck to put all that $$$ into having the axle setup with gears, Abs, coil perch's, etc, modify the driveshaft, etc,,,onlyto have it bend the first time you go wheeling....

 

[Ricky-venezuela]

Sorry i mean the axle not the transmition, the thing is that i was thinking in spanish and thats the name of the axle in spanish, i´ll be going on saturday to the junk yard, i´ve been asking and it will be like 500$ for the axle, trax bars, spring coils with disc brakes and everything, but now that a lot of people agree about the dana 44 i will look for it and let you know...

 

[JoshC]

So if i were able to find a grand wagoneer or something, how do i distinguish between a D30 and a D44? On any vehicle really i guess. I don't know the differences.

Happy trails!!

 

[JDraper]

Originally posted by Jot017
So if i were able to find a grand wagoneer or something, how do i distinguish between a D30 and a D44? On any vehicle really i guess. I don't know the differences.

Happy trails!!

The Dana 30 kind of has a cover bolt pattern that is shaped like an "o", where the Dana 44 has a cover bolt pattern that is wider at the top than at the bottom.

To ID different axles, you can look at the bolt pattern on the cover. Check out Dead Link Removed to see what the different ones are.

 

[94EBexplorer]

yeah what jeff said