Stick with stock axles or swap for a Dana 44 on a daily driver?

I see this argument all the time in here and I keep noticing people jumping straight to swapping axles before even knowing what they really need. I drive a 1999 Cherokee with 33s and a lunchbox locker in the rear D35, and I've had no issues for 2 years of light wheeling and work commutes around Nashville. But then you got guys saying if you don't swap to a Dana 44 or a Ford 8.8 you're just asking for a broken shaft on the trail. I think it comes down to how hard you actually wheel and how much you're willing to spend, cause a decent 44 setup runs like $1,200 used and then you gotta weld on brackets and regear. What do you all think, are stock axles fine for 33s and mild trails or am I just lucky so far?

2 comments

2 Comments

coleman.seth12d ago

Nah, you're just lucky so far.

reesepatel11d ago

You ever have one of those days where everything lines up perfectly and you just know it won't last? Last week I hit three green lights in a row on my way to work, found a parking spot right out front, and the coffee machine actually worked. Felt like I won the lottery. But @coleman.seth probably knows the score, cause the next day my tire went flat and I spilled that same coffee all over my shirt. So yeah, maybe luck is just borrowing time before the universe balances the books.