my 2000 xj has the d35 rear in it and my 97 junker has thd 8.25 in it. i want to have the 8.25 in my 00. how hard would it be to swap them?

 

Unbolt drive shaft, rear brake line, shocks, and u-bolts...then put it back together.

 

the drive shaft is my main worry, how is it done??

 

There are 4 bolts on the yoke on the axle side.

 

so all that i have to do is unbolt the d35 and bolt up the 8.25??? no different drive shaft lenghts or anything?

 

Yes the drive shafts are different lengths.

 

so that means that id have to swap the shafts too, would it even be worth all of the work for a mainly DD?

 

id do it...unless you really have no free time. wouldnt it be more fun to turn wrenchs then to watch "Truck U" and "Xtreme 4x4" on TV?

 

Yep, sure would.

 

8.25 have longer pinions and thus shorter drive shafts than the D35's on similar setups. Also whether or not they were on Autos / Straight drives along with about 10 other things can make the drive shaft a different length. So break out the measuring tape and check. A good driveline shop can cut down, lengthen, or make you a new drive shaft for a decent price. Or just simply use the drive shaft that came out of the jeep with the 8.25 and you should be good to go.

 

Patiently waiting to see your list of 10 different things.

 

From our friends at JeepForum.com...
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=538882

 

Oh, please don't quote me with that jeepforum link. Yes 10 is an over exaggeration but I tried finding where that guy in your link got his numbers from when I was doing my axle swap and I ended up just doing the work my self. I currently have a 94 D35 with ABS in the rear end of my jeep. A 95 8.25 forsale along with a 87 D44 I'm doing a disk brake swap on. All of them have different drive shaft lengths. The guy I got my 8.25 from mangled the original drive shaft which I have. He pulled one out of a 2 door auto to replace it and it was not the same size. Therefore it can be said that 2 door vs 4 door makes a difference. Also auto vs straight drive transmission makes a difference. Those are what I know from experience. I believe I read that 97+ rear drive shafts are different than 96 and down drive shafts but that might just be the type of yoke they use. I don't believe the T-case you run makes a difference but I've never messed with the drive lines on a jeep with a 242.

Just out of curiosity what was the point on trying to flame up and argument on what factors that make you have a different drive shaft length. I was supporting your statement that they were more than likely a different length and therefore he should not use it along with an alternative replacement for it. If you got a comment like that to make do it in a pm so this thread can stay on topic.

 

another difference is the output shaft from pre-97 np231 vs. post-97

 

What about U-bolt size on the diff/spring perch. Aren't they different sizes too?