For decades the Dana 44 has supplied Jeeps, Fords, Dodges, and Chevys with an excellent middleweight differential. Though the 44 has held its own throughout the years, it is often overshadowed by its heavyweight big brother, the Dana 60. Though the Dana 60 is a much stronger axle right out of the box, it is also a much heavier and expensive axle assembly. And in these modern times of conserving fuel and money, the last thing we want to do is add more weight under our 4x4s. So what’s a wheeler to do if he needs more strength from his 44, but doesn’t want the heavyweight and hassle of stepping up to a Dana 60? The answer comes in two parts. Are you looking to run 40-inch-plus tires and a million horsepower? If the answer is yes, then even a well-built Dana 44 might not work for you. One the other hand, if you are a somewhat conservative wheeler and want to get the most out of your middleweight axle, then you just might be in luck. Since the Dana 44 is more common under the front of a 4x4, we’ve compiled a few of the latest Dana 44 front axle goodies, tips, and tricks that are all designed to let you get more out of your middleweight front axle. Modern Jeep Wrangler Dana 44 axles are equipped with a somewhat thin-walled tubes and axle Cs that can allow the axle to bend more easily.Modern Jeep Wrangler Dana 44 axles are equipped with a somewhat thin-walled tubes and axle An easy way to prevent your axle from tweaking is by reinforcing the axle Cs with gussets and inserting metal sleeves into the housing. We’ve had great luck with our Evo Manufacturing (www.evomfg.com) setup, as this weld-on axle upgraded was an easy and low-cost way to beef up our JK’s Dana 44.An easy way to prevent your axle from tweaking is by reinforcing the axle Cs with gussets Large tires, big wheel offsets, and a heavy rig can wreak havoc on ball joints. To help deal with the rigors of your larger cleats, companies like Dynatrac (www.dynatrac.com) and Synergy Suspension (www.synergysuspension.com) have created heavy-duty lines of ball joints that replace the weaker factory joints. While this upgrade isn’t exactly dirt-cheap, it is something most wheelers can do themselves and will save you a lot of time and money in the long run.Large tires, big wheel offsets, and a heavy rig can wreak havoc on ball joints. To help de Big brake kits are on the increase for the Dana 44 axle, as is a plethora of rear disc break conversions. Most of these kits are easy bolt-on systems that can nearly double your vehicle’s breaking force. SSBC (www.ssbrakes.com) and Vanco (www.vancopbs.com) both specialize in brake kits for the Dana 44 axle.Big brake kits are on the increase for the Dana 44 axle, as is a plethora of rear disc bre Probably one of the biggest advancements in Dana 44 technology has come by way of RCV Performance (www.rcvperformance.com). What makes RCV unique is that the CV shaft maintains strength as the angle changes (wheels turned), while U-jointstyle shafts do not. Though these HD shafts will set you back a little over a grand, they’ll make your Dana 44 axleshaft almost as strong as a 35-spline Dana 60.Probably one of the biggest advancements in Dana 44 technology has come by way of RCV Perf If building your existing Dana 44 sounds like too much work or you are looking to upgrade your existing axle to a ready-to-go 44, then the aftermarket can help. With companies like Dynatrac (www.dynatrac.com), Currie (www.currieenterprises.com), and G2 (www.g2axle.com) all offering bolt-in Dana 44 axles for a variety of applications, getting a better 44 under the front of your rig is easier than ever.If building your existing Dana 44 sounds like too much work or you are looking to upgrade By Ali Mansour Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!
