Front Diff of a WK??

benmar2000 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 10, 2006 12:26 am

With all the talk of switching out the front diff from a WK into a KJ, I started to look into it just out of my own curiosity.. Well.. Everyone here says they think it might be a Dana 44.. Well.. If you look at the specs.. It says the front diff has a 7.9in (200mm) ring and pinion.. Here is a website with the specs http://www.allpar.com/model/jeep/grand-cherokee-2005-specifications.html

A Dana 44 has a 8.5in ring gear.. What kind of diff uses a 7.9in ring? A Dana 30 is 7 1/8in.. Could it be an American Axle? I know that Dodge has switched to using American Axle for their full size trucks..

Thanks,

Ben

Guest · **Posted:** Fri Feb 10, 2006 12:34 am

Everything I've read says it's a D30

NU ARTY BOY · **Posted:** Fri Feb 10, 2006 2:01 am

Everything that I've read says that the XK/WK has a D44 front.

ManicMechanicJoe · **Posted:** Fri Feb 10, 2006 7:26 am

everything i have seen is Dana 44 front, perhaps the electronic limited slip required a change of ring gears?

My old chevy 10 bolt was available with two sizes of ring gears and 8 different ratios... I know the 12 and 14 bolt are like that too.

There have been countless variations of the Dana 44 axle, reverse cut, ford, scout, chevy, Jeep, high pinion-you're trying to tell me that all these used the same size ring gear regardless of ratio? That doesn't sound right.

Edwin · **Posted:** Fri Feb 10, 2006 8:25 am

Dana 44a?

NU ARTY BOY · **Posted:** Fri Feb 10, 2006 8:26 am

Agreed.

NU ARTY BOY · **Posted:** Fri Feb 10, 2006 8:36 am

Edwin wrote:

Dana 44a?

D44a would be aluminum. I don't think they make the 44 in aluminum. No, all D44s are made of steel.

benmar2000 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 10, 2006 9:21 am

Quote:

I don't think they make the 44 in aluminum. No, all D44s are made of steel.

I have to disagree with that one.. THe ZJ came with a Dana44 aluminum center section... As for the WK.. I am not sure.. I think I will call the dealership this morning...

Ben

benmar2000 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 10, 2006 9:48 am

Well. I called the Jeep Customer Service.. The person didn't know.. She couldn't find it on her PC.. She put me on hold to go talk to her superviser.. He didn't know.. She could tell me all about the quadra drive electronic LSD and about the transfercase and blah, blah, blah.. So she put it in for escalation and they should be calling me back in a few days.. It is becoming a mystery now...

Ben

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Fri Feb 10, 2006 10:58 am

The rear is a chrysler 8.25, why would they put a stronger axle in the front? I think its a steel D30.

NU ARTY BOY · **Posted:** Fri Feb 10, 2006 11:59 am

And we all know the weaknesses of aluminum. Why would they continue to make it out of it? Why would they make a heavy duty axle out of a weak material? I'd find it difficult to comprehend if the D44 in the XK/WK is not steel...

Guest · **Posted:** Fri Feb 10, 2006 3:55 pm

it's an AAM 7.9".
supposed to be a stout unit.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Fri Feb 10, 2006 4:52 pm

The front axle in the 5.9 ZJ's was a Dana 44a.

ManicMechanicJoe · **Posted:** Fri Feb 10, 2006 7:59 pm

Who makes American Axle? I see them used on all sorts of new trucks (GM and Dodge). I have never seen or heard of American Axle untill last summer. Are there any aftermarket parts? I can't seem to find any. Did American Axle formerly operate under a different name?

AmericanMetal · **Posted:** Fri Feb 10, 2006 10:13 pm

American Axle... Makes American Axle. Site : WWW.AAM.COM
I remember doing some research about them 2 or 3 years ago when dodge fist started using them for their diffs. in the p/u trucks. I beleive it was in 2002. If you go to their website under front axles they have units that look like ours. Don't know if they'd fit ??? The do make all their own stuff in house. From the housings, diffs, gears, lockers, etc.
I remember reading an article some time ago comparing their 11.50 rear unit to the 14 bolt. Their product seems pretty stout and like the article said " only time will tell ". American made too...

Guest · **Posted:** Sat Feb 11, 2006 12:12 am

Tell ya what
I'll get a whole front axle housing from a WK/XK under one condition...

we can take up a collection from LOST members and if it doesn't fit, they can pay me back for it

ManicMechanicJoe · **Posted:** Sat Feb 11, 2006 5:17 am

If it doesn't fit I will buy it from you and make it fit my rig!

Guest · **Posted:** Sat Feb 11, 2006 6:58 am

sounds like a deal:D

what ratios are available in the XK/WK?

an 03 Liberty owner was telling me that the 45RFE KJs came with 3.73s...any truth to that? according to my window sticker i have a 45RFE..

naturally i'd want the front ratio to match the rear:P

Taz · **Posted:** Sat Feb 11, 2006 8:29 am

American Axle and Manufacturing was formed when some investors bought GM's final drive line manufacturing. Since then they have been aquiring other businesses and expanding their product offerings. The new Wrangler's disconnecting sway bar is an AAM product.

ManicMechanicJoe · **Posted:** Sat Feb 11, 2006 10:33 am

I think 80% of KJ's are 3.73's.

Anything with the V6 and auto is a 3.73

4 cylinders (gas) get the 4.10

4 cylinders (diesel) get the 3.73

Some stick shifts got a 3.55

On the Commander side:

3.07 is standard for all but the Limited

3.73 is optional for all but standard on the Limited

Hope that helps!

Front Diff of a WK??

Who is online