im looking to build my xj on 35 or 36 inch tires, probaly a inch iron rock long arm kit, i have a dana 30 front and 35 rear, i was thinking of swapping in some d44s but ive searching the forum and found that a lot of u guys recommend just strengthing the stock axles? i guess im confused on which route to go, im gonna use it for mud, rocks and trail wheeling, definetly will be locked up front and rear, im just looking on a little input on which way to go before i start buying parts? thanks guys

 

without a doubt get rid of the 30/35 combo for d44's if you are going to run those tires. i'd even go as far to say run d60's or a rear 60 or 9 inch if you come across them for cheaper

 

Replace the Dana 35 rear with a Chrysler 8.25, or Dana 44, the Dana 35 is not worth the money to upgrade it. The Dana 30 can easily be upgraded to handle 35 inch tires.
I would run lunch box or Detroit locker in the rear on either the 8.25, or the Dana 44. In the front I would run a selectable locker. I would run 4.56-4.88 ring and pinions

 

ya i was thinking 488s only because its not daily driver, and for what ever reason i wanna stay with the dana 44 instead of 8.25 definetly in the rear, and u guys are saying the d30 beefed up with a selectable locker in the front should be sufficiant? i was wantig to run a ox locker in the front and a detroit in the rear

 

The Dana 30 is fine for these tire sizes... so is the chrystler 8.25 if u get the proper one... Dana 35 sucks... Dana 44's are hard to come by but plenty strong and can cost around $350... the guys saying u need 60's for 35's is lost... 60's take a ton of money and time to build since there not a bolt in... these others are a bolt in axle... strong enough for what u want...

And I'd look at 4.56's for this tire size... but depends if your a stick or auto...

 

i got the 5 speed in mine, do u guys know the factory axle width, ive found a couple d44s on craigslist, but there from the comanchee and i dont know if that would work or not, ive also found some out of a couple wagoneers front and rear

 

Not off hand but the Comanche Dana 44 is the proper width and bolt pattern but its spring under axle so still have to cut off perches and weld new ones on.... waggy Dana 44's are between full widths and regular widths for a Cherokee... not a bolt in... 6 lug pattern and depending on the year will have the disco front end...

 

And with the 5 speed u should run 4.10's or 4.56's with 35's

 

ok cuz whatever gears the xjs come with stock is way to high gears imo as it is

 

i said if he finds a 60 or 9" for cheap, otherwise 44's.

i ran 35's on a locked 30 and locked 44 for a few years and it was fine. just don't be too crazy on them

 

I would run the 4.88 gears with the 5 speed for a lower crawl ratio, unless it was going to be used for a DD. I do rocks, and a low crawl ratio is needed more in a manual than an automatic.

My perfect set up will be 4.88 R&P, 4 to 1 Tera low in my 231 transfer case, AX15 5 speed. That will give me a crawl ratio of 74.76 which is decent for rocks. ( Course an NP4500 with a low of over 5 to 1 would be better. )

 

Thats pretty much what I was going to say.