Just got back from Moab. MUST GET BACK THERE!!!

I have an 88 XJ, 31" tires, 4.0 that had a rear 35 and front 30 with 3.06 gears. I went to the junk yard and got what I think is an 8.25 rear, it has 3.72 gears in it and really brought my XJ back to life. I looked at alot of XJs at the junk yard and this was the only one that had the 3.72 gears in it, most were 3.55. What XJs had those gears in them? I think it's an 8.25, it has flat allen head cover bolts and the ends of the axles have what looks like a 1/2 inch drive socket inset into it. Is it an 8.25? Is it better than the D35? I was not able to get the entire front axle because the jeep was sitting on it and I could not move it and the yard would not help me at all. But I was able to pull the ring and pinion from it. The doner axle and my axle are both d30s but I noticed that the doner XJ had CV type u-joints on the axles while mine has regular u-joints on the axle shafts. I THINK the ring and pinion (I have the entire carrier to swap) from the doner axle will still be the same spline count and I can use my axles, am I right. I'm ready to do the front now and get my 4x4 back. Will I be ok with the 3.72 front carrier and gears for my axle spline?
Thanks.

Top of Hey Joe Canyon, Moab. The jeep was free I just put in a new clutch, lift, made some bumpers and a rack and am loving it.

 

Is the bottom of the pumkin Flat? if so its an 8.25. Sounds like your is modified or has aftermarket cover or bolts. D44 maybe. are you sure it was a XJ, never heard of CV axles in a stock XJ, ZJ and WJ yes.

 

Yes they were C/V type front axles, the rubber dust boots were torn and I could see the ball type joints. I'm calling them C/V joints maybe there called somthing else. I just know they were not standard cross style u-joints. I dont know the year of the doner jeep but it looked just like my cherokee 4 door.

 

Do you have any pics of the new rearend?

 

Here are some pictures of the rear axle.
What is it 8.25,D35, somthing else???

What are the rings the red arrow is pointing to? They are on both sides, just solid rings that go all the way around.

Thanks

 

8.25 is better then a 35... should have pulled the whole front axle though... would have been cheaper then regearing you current one... now u gotta pay somone to install them cause you wont be able to yourself... and there not CV's... its just a rubber dust boot... underneith is a axle joint like all the rest...

 

3.73's came in the 4cyl XJ's...

 

also i ran 31's and had 3.07 gears... went to 3.55's and my speedo was to far forward... so 3.73's is gonna make your speedo say like 70 when your like frickin doing 50

 

it looks like you got a d35 not a 8.25

 

yeah thats def not an 8.25

 

here's how all the stock diff. covers look