Time for axle input from you!

[Explorer 1]

With the added horsepower and torque I put in my 1990 XJ I am again having to visit the limitations of my Dana 35 rear axle.

I have alreday converted to the Superior super 35 axles and have added the Superior Dana 35 axle truss. I'm running 4.88 gears on a ARB locker. My understanding is that this is slightly stronger than a stock Dana 44.

With my style of driving I don't tend to break things but the problem is that I have "bent" things more than once, the most recent being on my Rats 2010 trip where I strained the axle enough to cause an air seal to leak.

It's getting to expensive and unreliable so my thinking is to go ahead and bite the bullet and go with one of the following with Danatrac alxes with the ARB locker.

1. Trail 44 - (ARB not avilable but a great price)
2. Trail 60
3. Pro-rock 60

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Fred
Explorer 1

 

[BIGdaddy]

8.25

xr8tdxj runs 37's on his...

I've got one in my garage that I got for $30.00

Gonna swap it in when I put my lift kit on.

BIG improvement in reliability and strength.

bolts right in.

 

[SWbySWesty]

pro-rock 60. If you strain your axle that much, sounds like you need some beef.

 

[BIGdaddy]

pro-rock 60. If you strain your axle that much, sounds like you need some beef.

He's straining a d35, garrett...my four year old daughter could strain a d35 by crying next to one...

 

[WickedZJ]

Put a D44 out of an older XJ in it. Should bolt right in if you can find one. I think mid to late 80's had them.

 

[SWbySWesty]

He's straining a d35, garrett...my four year old daughter could strain a d35 by crying next to one...

hehe :smiley_drive: anything that breaks is an opportunity for quality replacement...leaking seals is good replacement time, eh? I wish I wasn't in grad school - I'd be driving all over the west right now

 

[BIGdaddy]

hehe :smiley_drive: anything that breaks is an opportunity for quality replacement...leaking seals is good replacement time, eh? I wish I wasn't in grad school - I'd be driving all over the west right now

finished grad school in 07...masters in architecture. I been there, dude.

-B

 

[Explorer 1]

Dana 44 or Chrysler 8.25

With 300 lbs of torque and 290 Hp do you think the Stock 44 or Chry 8.25 will be Ok?

My research says there the same as the modified Dana 35.

By the way I didn't go to grad school, for that matter I didn't even go to college and now at 55 I living the dream while all my friends who went to college are try to fund their retirement as fast as they can while working full time + before they reach 65.

Just another way of doing it.

Thanks,
Freed
Explorer 1

 

[Scotsmanspride]

Go with the 8.8. There is a guy selling them here in mesa arizona at letz roll off road with tj brackets all set up to bolt in for $550 so for your application i know it would be alot less. This comes with the stock gear ratio and no locker but you could do that yourself and be done for $1200-1500 depending on the price drop with your brackets.
http://letzrolloffroad.com/

Just an idea for you.

 

[Waytec]

Hers my train of thought and what I have seen. with the modifications to the D35 you will be able to run 33's as long as you are very nice to it. Hug it before you leave and say you love it. I have seen them blow up on the street with stock tiers, and I have seen guys run 35s and not to have issues.

Personally I would go and get a 8.8 out of a Ford Exploder with rear discs and put that in. Upgrade in braking and strength, as well as the lockers are available. to do this swap you are going to have to fab up the mounting brackets.

 

[bigredcherokee]

The 8.25 is limited on gearing it stops at 4.56, but its stronger than a D35 and just about equal to a D44.

I remvoed my DC 8.25 and put in a 87 XJ D44 with 4.56 gears and a older Detroit electrac. The only thing I have done to the 44 that hurt it was twisting the splines on the right side. And that was b/c at the time I was running a lockright and got in a bad bind.

I would suggest a ford 8.8 or 9. Those have been used for years with massive power infront of them.

Or go with the D60 its a good choice.

good luck.

 

[A7XJ]

I personally think a dana 60 is over kill. The early to mid 90's corvettes run a dana 44 centersectoin with no problem. ya they don't have 35's under them but they have alot more power than a 4litre can even dream about. It all depends on your driving style though.

 

[BIGdaddy]

The 8.25 is limited on gearing it stops at 4.56, but its stronger than a D35 and just about equal to a D44.

I remvoed my DC 8.25 and put in a 87 XJ D44 with 4.56 gears and a older Detroit electrac. The only thing I have done to the 44 that hurt it was twisting the splines on the right side. And that was b/c at the time I was running a lockright and got in a bad bind.

I would suggest a ford 8.8 or 9. Those have been used for years with massive power infront of them.

Or go with the D60 its a good choice.

good luck.

Ford 8.8's or Ford 9in are good if you don't mind fabbing. no arguement there...VERY good choice.

Here's some available stuff for the 8.25.

4.88 gears
http://eastcoastgearsupply.com/i-160580-chrysler-8-25-4-88.html

example of stock spline upgraded axles
http://rustysoffroad.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=PA6218&Category_Code=AXL

ARB air locker
http://rustysoffroad.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=RD93&Category_Code=LOC

Detroit locker
http://rustysoffroad.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=187C179A&Category_Code=LOC

Aussie locker
http://www.aussielocker.com/make.php/TMf0a0ce/f0e7/10/.html

Diff armor
http://eastcoastgearsupply.com/i-135308-ruffstuff-8-25-chrysler-jeep-diff-cover.html

ubolts
http://www.ironrockoffroad.com/Merc...en=PROD&Store_Code=IROR&Product_Code=IR-XUBC8


I love that I'll be able to bolt mine right up with no sawing or scrabbling, and that there's ton's of aftermarket stuff for it now.

I'd feel perfectly safe running 33's-35's on my rig, if I regeared to 4.10's or 4.56's

 

[ExpoMike]

Though I have no issues with the 8.25 that I swapped in to replace my D35, I think if I was to do it all over again, I would do the 8.8 with the C-clip eliminator kit which widens the track to a stock XJ width so no spacers would be needed. This would give disc brakes at the same time and you can move your shock mounts up for more clearance.

Since I am not planning to go bigger than 31" tires nor change the 4.10 gears, the 8.25 will live under my Jeep for years to come.

 

[DaJudge]

I have a Chryco 8.25 under my XJ. I have been running 33" tires, 4:56 gears with a Detroit Locker for almost four years with no problems. I have traveled on some pretty rough trails with the XJ loaded to the gills. (I really do take too much stuff). I have had zero issues with it.

As far as strength/differences:

8.25 has stronger tubes, almost as strong axles but c-clips.
D44 weaker tubes than 8.25 but slightly stronger axles and no c-clips.

If money were not a concern I would have bought a Dynatrac 60 for the "no worries" comfort, but I can't really rationalize it considering the research I have done and my personal experience with the 8.25.

Glen