Clayton Off Road Dana 44 Rear Axle Truss Builder Series for 1997-2006 Jeep Wrangler TJ/LJ

Is This for You?

• You're a fabricator building a custom 4-link or triangulated upper control arm system on a TJ or LJ Dana 44 rear axle — this truss ships without tabs welded on so you can position and trim the 4 included tabs to your exact control arm angle before welding.
• You need a truss that bridges the Dana 44 housing and provides a flat, high-strength mounting surface for upper control arm brackets — CNC laser-cut from 1/4" and 3/16" steel, this truss is pre-welded and ready for tab placement without secondary machining.
• You want Clayton's axle truss geometry without the fixed tab positions of a bolt-on kit — the Builder Series gives you the structural foundation with full tab placement freedom for non-standard lift heights, arm angles, or custom geometry.

The Result

• Pre-welded truss body CNC laser-cut from 1/4" and 3/16" steel — bridges the Dana 44 rear axle housing and provides a flat, rigid mounting surface for upper control arm tabs.
• 4 equal-length tabs included unattached — trim to your required angle and weld in position for custom control arm geometry without being locked into a fixed tab layout.
• Designed specifically for the Dana 44 rear axle on TJ/LJ platforms — will not fit Dana 35 or Ford 8.8 without significant modification.

The COR-1200020 Builder Series rear axle truss is Clayton's tab-less version of their standard Dana 44 rear truss, designed for fabricators who need the structural foundation of a CNC-cut truss without fixed tab positions. The truss body is pre-welded and CNC laser-cut from a combination of 1/4" and 3/16" high-strength steel — the thicker material is used at the primary load-bearing sections of the housing bridge, while the 3/16" sections reduce weight in lower-stress areas without compromising the truss's role in distributing axle wrap and lateral load across the housing. Four equal-length tabs are included loose, allowing the fabricator to trim each tab to the required angle for their specific control arm geometry before tacking and welding in position. This approach accommodates non-standard lift heights, custom triangulated upper arm angles, and builder-specific pivot locations that a fixed-tab truss cannot. The truss is dimensioned for the Dana 44 rear axle housing as found in 1997–2006 Jeep Wrangler TJ and LJ — the housing diameter, width, and spring perch geometry of the Dana 35 and Ford 8.8 are not compatible without significant modification. Made in the USA.

Audit Table

Verified Fitment (OFAS Standard)

✅ Fits 1997–2006 Jeep Wrangler TJ — Dana 44 Rear Axle
✅ Fits 2004–2006 Jeep Wrangler LJ Unlimited — Dana 44 Rear Axle
❌ Does NOT fit TJ/LJ models with Dana 35 rear axle — different housing diameter and geometry; significant modification required
❌ Does NOT fit TJ/LJ models with Ford 8.8 rear axle swap — different housing profile; significant modification required
❌ Does NOT fit Jeep Wrangler JK (2007–2018) — different rear axle housing geometry
❌ Does NOT fit Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ/WJ — different axle housing profile
❌ Does NOT fit Jeep Cherokee XJ — different rear axle housing

Installation & Fabrication Notes

• Professional fabrication required. This is a weld-on component. Tab placement and welding requires fabrication experience, proper welding equipment, and knowledge of control arm geometry.
• Verify your rear axle is a Dana 44 before ordering — TJ Rubicon models came standard with Dana 44; non-Rubicon TJ/LJ models came with Dana 35 and will require an axle swap before this truss applies.
• Clean axle housing to bare metal in the truss contact zone before fitting — remove paint, undercoating, and rust for full-penetration welds.
• Dry-fit the truss to the housing and verify alignment before tacking — the truss must sit square to the housing centerline to ensure correct control arm geometry.
• Trim tabs to your required control arm angle before tacking — verify tab angle against your specific arm pivot location and lift height before final welding.
• Tack all tabs in position and verify control arm alignment and pinion angle before final welding — incorrect tab angle will result in bind, NVH, or driveline vibration.
• Full-penetration MIG or TIG welds on all truss-to-housing and tab-to-truss contact surfaces — do not stitch weld only on load-bearing joints.
• After welding, coat all bare metal with weld-through primer or chassis paint to prevent corrosion at weld zones.

Wheel & Tire Fitment

Axle truss component — no direct wheel or tire fitment restriction. Compatible with standard TJ/LJ wheel and tire combinations. Tire clearance is determined by your control arm geometry and lift height, not by the truss itself.

Engineering Question: Have you confirmed your TJ or LJ is equipped with a Dana 44 rear axle? Non-Rubicon TJ/LJ models came from the factory with a Dana 35 — this truss will not fit a Dana 35 housing without significant modification. Check your axle tag or differential cover bolt count (10 bolts = Dana 44, 10 bolts in a D-shape = Dana 35) before ordering.