Axle Swap Question for a 1984 CJ-7

[diddy2003]

I have been trying to find a set of axles with 3.73 gears to save me some money from re-gearing my stock Dana 30 /AMC20 setup. I posted wanted adds on various sites and received a phone call today. Ideally I wanted the same axle set-up only with the different gears, but I was open to other options as well.

So I got a call from a guy and he told me that he has a set of 3.73s. They are wide track Dana 30 front and Scout Dana 44 rear with Trac Lok.

Is there any issue to running this set-up? The Scout axle is longer than the 30. Are there spacers available to get them to the same length? How much would it be to shorten the 44? I know the 30 will be a direct bolt in, but what about the 44 rear from the scout?

Thanks for the help. I just want to make sure that this set will be a good option for me.

 

[diddy2003]

Also, will I be able to use my CJ wheels with the Scout Axle?

 

[BusaDave9]

The scout axles have the correct bolt pattern (5x5.5).
They are a good swap. The only issue is the caster angle on the front axle.

To get the caster angle correct for stable steering you have to tilt the axle back but then your u-joint will be too low and the u-joint angle will be too steep.

A lot of people have done this swap but to do it correctly you need to cut and re-weld the steering knuckles.

 

[RangerRick]

So I got a call from a guy and he told me that he has a set of 3.73s. They are wide track Dana 30 front and Scout Dana 44 rear with Trac Lok.

Is there any issue to running this set-up? The Scout axle is longer than the 30. Are there spacers available to get them to the same length? How much would it be to shorten the 44? I know the 30 will be a direct bolt in, but what about the 44 rear from the scout?

Thanks for the help. I just want to make sure that this set will be a good option for me.

I am assuming from the way you wrote this that the front axle is a wide-track Dana 30 from a later CJ7 not a scout, is that correct? If it is correct, you won't have to worry about caster of the front axle, it will be correct automatically if it's a wide-track Jeep CJ7 axle. If it's a scout front axle, that's where you'd have to be concerned about the caster angles etc. The rear axle is what is out of the scout and running it is no problem really, it's just wider than a wide-track CJ7 but not by much. You can install wide track CJ7 axles in your 5 and benefit from a more stable Jeep for street handling and better off-camber handling on the trail. As far as getting the two to match, if the front is from a wide-track CJ7 you can add wheel spacers to make the axle match the Scout rear axle or at least be very close in width. Your original wheels will work with both axles and not cause any trouble for you. Id definitely consider it an upgrade to the narrow-track axles but as far as strength, it will be at least as good as what you have now.

 

[diddy2003]

Thanks for the replies.

The jeep has wide track axles now. Dana 30 up front with a AMC20 in the rear. The issue is gearing. It has 2.73 gears and the Transmission is a T-176 . The tires are 31s right now but I was hoping to install a 4 inch lift and 33s when the axles go on, so gearing is the main issue. I am trying to avoid the expense of re-gearing the axles I have.

So the Dana 30 with 3.73s would be a direct bolt in because it is also a wide track. But what about the rear Dana 44 out of the Scout? That was my concern. I just don't want some super wide looking axle with a clearly narrower one in front. I just wanted to make sure that these two axles would be a good choice in my jeep.

Do you guys have a link to where I can get the spacers for the front axles to match the rear length? The other thing nice about the rear scout Dana 44 is that it is a trac-lok. That is much better than my open diff.

Thanks for all the help.

Is 500 bucks a good price for the set?

 

[BusaDave9]

CORRECTION: my earlier comments about cutting and re-welding the steering knuckles were based on my assumption that you had a scout front axle.
A CJ front axle would be an easy swap. So would the rear 44 from a Scout.
The Scout axles are 1.75 inches wider per side.
I have Alloy Usa wheel spacers. Here are some that are 1.25 inches wide. The difference won't be too noticeable.
Alloy USA 11302 - Alloy USA 1.25" Wheel Spacer Kit for 55-86 Jeep® CJ-5, CJ-6, CJ-7 & CJ-8 Scrambler with 5x5.5" Bolt Pattern - Quadratec

 

[diddy2003]

So I just found out the lengths of those axles on the website The New Jeep Tech Pages

Wide Track Dana 30 is 56 inches from wheel to wheel.

Wide track AMC20 is 54.5 inches from wheel to wheel.

The Scout II Dana 44 is 58 inches from wheel to wheel.

That is a pretty big increase in width over stock. Even with 1.25 inch spacers in front that is a big difference. I wonder what the stance would be like. The wheels are aligned right now, so I would imagine the back spacing has to be different from front to rear. I just don't want it to look stupid.

 

[Old Dog]

So I just found out the lengths of those axles on the website The New Jeep Tech Pages

Wide Track Dana 30 is 56 inches from wheel to wheel.

Wide track AMC 20 is 54.5 inches from wheel to wheel.

The Scout II Dana 44 is 58 inches from wheel to wheel.

That is a pretty big increase in width over stock. Even with 1.25 inch spacers in front that is a big difference. I wonder what the stance would be like. The wheels are aligned right now, so I would imagine the back spacing has to be different from front to rear. I just don't want it to look stupid.

You will notice that all the front axles are always a little wider than the rears. This is due to how it will trak and handle on the road. You don't want the rear to be wider.

 

[diddy2003]

You will notice that all the front axles are always a little wider than the rears. This is due to how it will trak and handle on the road. You don't want the rear to be wider.

But even with with the spacers that would mean that the front axle would be 57.25 inches in length. What you're saying is that having the Dana 30 be shorter it would be a bad thing. Is that true? This is a street jeep so I don't want to ruin the great driving jeep I currently have.