Front axle swap Question

[Engir]

I have a 1987 Jeep XJ rear axle is a Dana 44 with 3.07 gears. I have a manual and the 4.0 the front axle is a Dana 30 if I wanted to swap a Dana 44 in the front my research says, "You can use a TJ Rubicon Dana 44 front axle from 2003-2006 (the years the TJ Rubicon was produced) on your 1987 Jeep XJ with a manual transmission and 4.0 engine, as the TJ Rubicon Dana 44 is a direct fit. The factory Dana 44 front axle in a Jeep TJ Rubicon typically comes with a 3.73 or 4.10 gear ratio."

My question since my Dana 44 in the rear is 3.07 which gear ratio will work with my rear axle gear ratio wise or does it matter?

 

[Jeepergeo]

The front and rear ratios need to match unless you want to do a complicated front/rear tire size mismatch (not recommended). IMHO, you won't be happy with 3.07 or 3.73 unless the Jeep is mainly o pavement with stock height tires. I'd even things out at least 4.10.

 

[prariepunk]

Automatic Rubicon axles are 3.73 & manual Rubicon axles are 4.10 from everything I've read & seen.

 

[Engir]

So, I have to change the gears or get both axles from the Rubicon

 

[superj]

Yes, but if you get the axles, you will have to add leaf spring plates to the rear since all rubicons have front and rear coil springs and you only have fronts while the rear is leafs on your cherokee

 

[Engir]

What I am thinking is get the front and change it to 3:07. The Front axle of the Rubicon is 30 spline as is my Dana 44 rear axle and both are open diffs which I do not like I would like to make the rear posi and the front limited slip