so i pick up a 8.25 rear axle from a 1994 cherokee and found out it have 27 spline instead of the 29 spline which i was hoping for. is there cheaper route i can upgrade to 29 or 30 splines without spending a ton of money or im stuck with the 27 splines? i am new to this jeep thing so please dont scream at me to do the search.

 

Your mistake was picking a 94. 97+ had the 29 spline. You can buy new shafts and a carrier from the junk yard or just buy the shafts and replace the whole carrier with an ARB locker or something similar like the Eaton E-locker that uses a whole carrier.

However It would probably be easier to just go back and pull a whole axle from a 97+ and give them the 94 one and just ask if you can do a direct trade since you just bought it from them and realized the gear ratio wasnt right(little white lie)

 

i might just buy whole new carriers since it's going to need rebuild anyway even tho if i did had the 97+. about the shaft, if i buy new set can i buy 29 spline or do i have to stay with the 27.

 

You'll need the carrier to go along with the 29 spline shafts. And you'll also need new spider and side gears too. And if you do it, you'll have to set the backlash on the gears which requires a special tool to spin the adjuster nuts.

 

damn that's a lot of parts and work. i thought i hit jack pot when i bought it. found it at craigslist actually so no i can't return it. i feel like selling this one and go find one off the 97 plus c8.25.