ok i have searched for about a half hour and could not find anything...i found a dana 44 off of a grand wagoneer at the junk yard today not sure of the gear ratio...my question is what ill i have to do to put it in and not have any problems with it...i am really anxious to go get the 44 and ditch my 8.25.

Was it centered diff or offset? You dont want an offset D44 rear axle.

it was centered...

Personally i wouldnt mess with it. It's 6 lug so you'll need spacers/adapters and setup spring perches and shock mounts. Then a gear change, all for a small increase in strength over an 8.25..

If a gear swap is planned anyway i think your better option would be an 8.8.

well is there anything i can do or get to strengthen my axle shafts

If your Cherokee is a late model 96 then your 8.25 would be a 29 spline and is actually pretty comparable in strength to a dana 44. If its early 96 its a 27 spline, just pick up some alloy shafts and run it.

how do you tell if it is a early model or late model

There has been no documented cut off date in the production line to determine when Chrysler switched over to the 29 spline axle shafts. It is only known that somewhere late in the production run, the supply of 27 spline 8.25s ran out so they went ahead and started installing the 29 spline version. Check the build date on the sticker of the drivers door. All of the 96's I have heard having the 29 spline axles had a production date in August of 96. That puts it in the last month of production and there is a chance of having the better axle. Unfortunatly the only way to positively tell the difference is to pull an axle out and count the splines.

agree with this guy, the 8.8 is stronger then a d44 both being factory, and in the long run u build it up and its still stronger, plus the work you would have to do for it is the same as a 8.8 plus you get disc brakes, same bolt pattern

philly what part lf wilkebarre u from, i live south of hazleton, maybe if u ever need help i could give u a hand

i live right in hanover township...its right down the road from nanticoke...my parents have a camper at council cup campground in wappwallopen. im up there once in a while

i am just south of hazleton in Schuylkill county well like i said you ever need help hit me up, always willing to help a fellow forum member