to replace the rear diff in my 2000 Jeep Cherokee Sport -- am I getting ripped off by my mechanic?

 

Yep you are..

 

Thought so, how much should this cost?

 

I replaced mine for $300 and just had friends help me with it...Tj

 

ya i got a 4x4 shop telling me they charge $1200 for a SYE install on my 99 classic not including parts, saying they have a blanket amount in case something goes wrong...< seems like a major rip off

 

Everything you do yourself will be much cheaper.

 

sorry to say it but... Any time you take a vehicle to a shop you are gonna get ripped off! for nearly 1500 bucks you can get a new built axle and put it in yourself

 

check with the local community college or auto trade schools around you, most of the time they have auto tech classes going on and will only charge you for parts, labor is free. only down side is the students will be learning and putting it in but everything gets checked over by the teachers which are all ASE Mechanics and they make sure everything is done right before it goes out the door.

 

Does anyone know of any write-ups on replacing the rear diff on a dana 35?

 

WOW, $1450!

You can do a lot with that. Rip Off.

 

just go find the same axle you have now and swap it in.

 

yeah, and probably for under $200 depending on where you live.

 

Cool, would a dana 35 from a 95 xj fit on a 2000 xj? And how hard is it to swap?

 

It's a very easy swap. Just make sure the gear ratio matches the gear ratio of your front axle.

 

I'm not sure if there is any install difference but if your gonna replace the axle look for a Chrysler 8.25, its a bit stronger.