wintersjm

Hi all,

The Dana 35 3.55 rear axle in my '01 XJ needs completely serviced. My plan is to buy a salvage yard axle, have it overhauled by a local shop, and swap it in when the weather gets warmer (assuming the old one holds up that long).

Can anyone tell me what years and models of Jeeps I should be looking for to find an appropriate donor axle?

DieselD

I didn't knoe 01s had d35 rears?


Might want to double check that.

Either way id go for a Chrysler 8.25 would be about the same price and a better axle.

wintersjm

It's definitely a D35.

I'm open to swapping in a different rear axle, as long as doing so doesn't deteriorate into a nightmare of modifications and parts-chasing. This vehicle is a my daily-driver and doesn't really require being built up for off-road duty.

If the Chrysler 8.25" was geared at 3.55 (did they even offer that?), would it be a direct drop in?

Am I shopping for '99 and up, or will an older axle work?

DieselD

Id stay with 97+ because I'm pretty sure those will be your 29 spline shafts vs. Earlier 8.25s 27 spline.


Its a direct drop in the only parts needed to swap is the axle.

DieselD

If its a 4.0, auto, NON TOW package it should have 3.55s.

It'd be harder to find something besides 3.55s

Lowrange2

Yes and yes.

wintersjm

So my current D35 rear end is a 29-spline?

And a '97-up 8.25" axle from a Cherokee would be a drop-in improvement?

How far back did the 29-spline D35 go?

Are there any other Jeep models with the same axle, or am I specifically looking for an XJ donor?

Lowrange2

Dana 35 is 27 spline, iirc.

The spline count of your Dana 35 has nothing to do with the new axle.

97-2001 C8.25 axles were 29 spline. This will bolt right in to your Jeep.

evan00xj

Well if u need a new rear and currently have a turdy five, trash it and find a new axle at they jy. Now if u want direct bolt on without modification, and your not going hardcore off road and want to keep cost down find yourself a c8.25 29 spline. Some 97+ with abs had the d35. Just always pop the diff cover to confirm gear ratio. It will be stamped on the ring gear.

salad

XJ donor. The front axles are found on a lot of vehicles but the XJ is the only leaf spring-over-axle. Axle shafts and disc brakes can be pulled from KJ Libertys. They run coil-sprung 8.25s with 5x4.5 bolt battern.

If you have a hard time getting your hands on an 8.25, a D35 will be fine for DD duty or light wheeling. Though finding one that someone didn't break may be a challenge lol

NewKindOfClown

Guys, plenty of late models had D35s, and it doesn't mean the XJ has ABS. It was a very common axle.

D44: No ABS
C8.25: No ABS
D35: Possible ABS

My '01 had a D35 w/o ABS.


To the original poster, you want to get rid of your D35 rear because the axle is crap. The easiest upgrade is a C8.25 from any XJ. The 97+ (new body style) had a stronger version of the 8.25 than the older XJs, but either version is stronger than your D35. Any XJ rear axle is bolt-in, and if it's a 4.0L auto XJ, it probably has the same gear ratio.

Aljay

My 01 has a Dana 35 with no ABS I just bought an 8.8 to swap under my jeep I put money in my 35 last year I been fighting axle seals for the last 1800 miles .
I'm done !

wintersjm

Thanks to all who have answered!

Let me see if I've got all this right:

The three options for a direct bolt-in replacement for my '01 Dana 35 3.55 (non-ABS):

1. '97-up 29-spline Chrysler 8.25" 3.55
2. Pre-'97 27-spline Chrysler 8.25" 3.55
3. Non-ABS Dana 35 3.55

I'm most likely to find suitable rear axles in auto XJs without the towing package.

If the ID tag is missing from the pumpkin, the gear ratio is visibly engraved inside.

In addition to being generally better and more robust, getting a junkyard 8.25" will lessen the chances that I'll be buying one that's also worn out.

If I go with the 8.25", I can upgrade to rear disc brakes by taking the half-shafts and brake gear from a Liberty.

freegdr

Dana 35 takes longer driveshaft grab from donor xj ....jm2cw

wintersjm

Good info - so since I'm already running the Dana 35, trading up to a 8.25" will require the driveshaft from the donor car, as well?