Roy94XJ

Does anybody run this setup? I find it weird that the rear wheels are tucked under the wheel arches quite a way and the front are not, does anybody run less backspacing on the rear so that they both line up the same with the flares, or am i just thinking about this way too much?

winston427

Ah, your just thinking about it to much.

Roy94XJ

yeah probably but i'm looking to order some new wheels and just wondering if there's any good reason not to get less backspacing for the rears so they sit in line with the fronts.

nick_n_ii

The reason the rear is tucked under like that is it makes it easier to steer.

Look at any GM pick up to understand.

And if you look up the numbers the rear is narrower.

So if you run spacers in the rear to make them the same it will make it handle "odd"..

Roy94XJ

Interesting... will an inch either side make much of a difference though? I can see the logic if you compare something really narrow to something really wide but don't know if an extra inch or so at the rear would make that much difference.

93gc40

Besides it makes tire rotation impossible for a DD.

Roy94XJ

good point, this is my only vehicle.

93XJRay

a friend of mine runs spacers in the front and the rear is not spaced. i believe it was more of a rubbing issue than anything, but even if you buy a set of four backspaced rims the rear will only go out so much because it is shorter and the front will still stick out more. to answer your question i dont think you would have any problems but like nick_n_ii said it will handle a little different thats all..

mike37

your whees should already line up
the axles are the same width front and back
if they are not then you or someone else has swapped axles

ToyComa

the rears tuck because the front sheet metal isn't as wide. the fenders taper inward from the cab (wider at the cab) towards the grill (narrows at the grill). A lot of SUV/Pickup type trucks do that. My brother's 96 2wd Chevy 1500 has 31x10.5 BFG ATs (previous owner) on some AR rims and it looks the same way.

nick_n_ii

Not true the rear axle is narrower by almost a full inch..

mike37

an 8.8 is but not a 35 or 8.25

mike37

http://www.csloffroad.com/jeepzjxjwjaxleinfo.aspx

Stock XJ Cherokee Axle info:

• Pre-95 Cherokee XJ
  • Front Axle: Dana 30 with a vaccume disconnect
    • Differential Location: Drivers side
    • Stock axle splines: 27 (upgradeable to 30 splines)
    • Lug Pattern: 5 on 4.5"
    • Width: 60" from wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface
    • Notes: This was not the most desirable axle due to the vaccume disconnect which was prone to failure. A Dana 30 from a '95 1/2 or later XJ/ZJ is a common upgrade which eliminates the vaccume disconnect. If you choose the 95+ XJ D30 it is a a stronger High-pinion version. Many lockers are available for the D30 axle.
  • Rear Axle: Dana 35 with c-clips or Chrysler 8.25"
    • Differential Location: Centered
    • Stock axle splines: 27 (upgradeable to 30 splines)
    • Lug Pattern: 5 on 4.5"
    • Width: 60" from wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface
    • Notes for D35: Not a bad axle with 33" or smaller tires. Many people upgrade this axle with 30 spline axles and lockers. The upgrade many times is known as a SUPER 35 kit. The weak part of this axle is the axle tubes. Under extreme pressure they flex which results in broken axles or pinion failures.
• 95 1/2+ Cherokee's
  • Front axle: High pinion D30
    • Differential Location: Drivers side
    • Stock axle splines: 27 (upgradeable to 30 splines)
    • Lug Pattern: 5 on 4.5"
    • Width: 60" from wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface
    • Notes: Stronger the earlier D30's. Not a bad axle with 33" or smaller tires. Many people upgrade this axle with 30 spline axles and lockers. The upgrade many times is known as a SUPER 30 kit. The u-joints are the main weak point and can be easily upgraded.
  • Rear axle: Dana 35 c-clip OR D44 (rare)
    • Differential Location: Centered
    • Stock D35 axle splines: 27 (upgradeable to 30 splines)
    • Lug Pattern: 5 on 4.5"
    • Width: 60" from wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface
    • Notes: Not a bad axle with 33" or smaller tires. Many people upgrade this axle with 30 spline axles and lockers. The upgrade many times is known as a SUPER 35 kit. The weak part of this axle is the axle tubes. Under extreme pressure they flex which results in broken axles or pinion failures.

Stock ZJ Grand Cherokee Axle info:

• 93-98 I6 Grand Cherokee's
  • D30 low pinion front axle
    • Differential Location: Drivers side
    • Stock axle splines: 27 (upgradeable to 30 splines)
    • Lug Pattern: 5 on 4.5"
    • Width: 60" from wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface
    • Notes: Stronger the earlier D30's. Not a bad axle with 33" or smaller tires. Many people upgrade this axle with 30 spline axles and lockers. The upgrade many times is known as a SUPER 30 kit. The u-joints are the main weak point and can be easily upgraded.
  • D35 c-clip rear axle
    • Differential Location: Centered
    • Stock D35 axle splines: 27 (upgradeable to 30 splines)
    • Lug Pattern: 5 on 4.5"
    • Width: 60" from wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface
    • Notes: Not a bad axle with 33" or smaller tires. Many people upgrade this axle with 30 spline axles and lockers. The upgrade many times is known as a SUPER 35 kit. The weak part of this axle is the axle tubes. Under extreme pressure they flex which results in broken axles or pinion failures.
• 93-98 V8 (5.2L or 5.9L) Grand Cherokee's
  • D30 low pinion front axle
    • Differential Location: Drivers side
    • Stock axle splines: 27 (upgradeable to 30 splines)
    • Lug Pattern: 5 on 4.5"
    • Width: 60" from wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface
    • Notes: Stronger the earlier D30's. Not a bad axle with 33" or smaller tires. Many people upgrade this axle with 30 spline axles and lockers. The upgrade many times is known as a SUPER 30 kit. The u-joints are the main weak point and can be easily upgraded.
  • D44a "aluminum center section" rear axle
    • Differential Location: Centered
    • Stock axle splines: 27 (upgradeable to 30 splines)
    • Lug Pattern: 5 on 4.5"
    • Width: 60" from wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface
    • Notes for D44a: Not a bad axle with 33" or smaller tires. The aftermarket is very limited for this axle due to the aluminum center section in the axle. The center section is very similar to the unit in the corvette. Many people replace the axle due to the limited gear ratio's available and the extremely limited availability of any traction device such as a locker.
• 99-04 Grand Cherokee WJ
  • Front axle: High pinion D30
    • Differential Location: Drivers side
    • Stock axle splines: 27 (upgradeable to 30 splines)
    • Lug Pattern: 5 on 5"
    • Width: 65" from wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface
    • Notes: Stronger the earlier D30's. Not a bad axle with 33" or smaller tires. Many people upgrade this axle with 30 spline axles and lockers. The upgrade many times is known as a SUPER 30 kit. The u-joints are the main weak point and can be easily upgraded.
  • D35 c-clip rear axle
    • Differential Location: Centered
    • Stock D35 axle splines: 27 (upgradeable to 30 splines)
    • Lug Pattern: 5 on 5"
    • Width: 65" from wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface
    • Notes: Not a bad axle with 33" or smaller tires. Many people upgrade this axle with 30 spline axles and lockers. The upgrade many times is known as a SUPER 35 kit. The weak part of this axle is the axle tubes. Under extreme pressure they flex which results in broken axles or pinion failures.

Popular Axle Upgrades:

• Front Axle upgrades to replace the Dana 30 low pinion (in early XJ's and ZJ's)
  • High pinion D30 out of a 95+ XJ
    • Notes: This would be a bolt-in! 4 cylinder XJ versions have 4.10 gears! This also has larger 760 u-joints!
  • 80-91 Wagoneer Narrow-Track Dana 44
    • Differential Location: Drivers side
    • Lug pattern: 6 on 5.5"
    • Stock axle splines: 30 spline is common (upgradeable to 35 spline)
    • Width: 60" from wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface
    • Notes: Right width for XJ or ZJ's, can be converted for 5 on 5.5 or 8 on 6.5" lug pattern, they are relatively cheap and easily found. Avoid the vacuum disconnect version.
    • Identified by: stop sign like diff cover, spring-under housing, 60" width
• Rear axle upgrades to replace the D35 and D44a (in XJ or ZJ's)
  • 93-Up Isuzu Rodeo/Honda passport D44
    • Differential location: Centered
    • Lug pattern: 6 on 5.5"
    • Stock axle splines: 30 spline is common (upgradeable to 35 spline)
    • Width: 58" wide (2" narrower then XJ or ZJ)
    • Notes: Many came with 4.30 or 4.56 gears stock and disk brakes
    • Identified by: sometimes will have cast aluminum diff cover, looks like normal D44, goofy sensor/wire on top of housing
  • 96+ Ford Explorer 8.8 c-clip axle
    • Differential location: Centered
    • Lug pattern: 5 on 4.5"
    • Stock axle splines: 31 spline is common (upgradeable to 35 spline)
    • Width: 58 1/4" wide (2" narrower then XJ or ZJ)
    • Notes: 8.8's out of rangers and mustangs will not work, so be careful. A common upgrade is the Super88 which comes with larger axles. Very strong with stock axles and many came with limited slip, 4.10 gears, and disk brakes stock.
• Front axle upgrades for WJ D30's (65" width axles)
  • 74-79 Cherokee Chief/J-truck Wide-track D44
    • Differential location: Passenger side
    • Lug pattern: 6 on 5.5" and 8 on 6.5"
    • Stock axle splines: 30 spline is common (upgradeable to 35 spline)
    • Width: 66" wide (1" wider then WJ)
    • Notes: Has HD axle tubes, easy to convert to other lug patterns
  • New Wrangler Rubicon JK axles D44
    • Differential location: Passenger
    • Lug pattern: 5 on 5.5"
    • Stock axle splines: 30 splines (with factory e-locker)
    • Width: 66.75" wide (1.75" wider then factory)
    • Notes: Comes with factory e-locker, but will need the mounting brackets welded on. A factory wiring switch can be used for a factory look and function.
• Rear axle upgrades for WJ D35's (65" width axles"
  • 74-86 F150 and Bronco Ford 9"
    • Differential Location: Centered
    • Lug pattern: 5 on 5.5"
    • Stock axle splines: 31 spline axles (upgradeable to 35/40 spline)
    • Width: 65" wide
    • Notes: Axles from 2wd vehicles had 28 spline axles, but still can be converted to 35/40 splines.
    • Identified by: A removable third member and stamped sheet metal housing without removable diff cover.
  • New Wrangler JK Dana 44
    • Differential Location: Centered
    • Lug pattern: 5 on 5.5"
    • Stock axle splines: 31 spline axles
    • Width: 66.75" wide (1.75" wider then factory)
    • Notes: Comes with factory e-locker, but will need all the bracketry welded on to mount in WJ. Comes with stock 4.10 gears!

If you have any questions about axle upgrades, feel free to email or give us a call.

Toll Free: 888.639.5180