Got an axle question for you 97 and newer XJ owners
 

Okay so I've heard the word about the 97 and newr XJ front D30 axles having the bigger size knuckle U-joints. My question is this, are the axle shafts themselves physically bigger or made out of better or stronger steel?

im not quite sure but i dont think so, somebody please correct me if im wrong

I know the u-joints are larger for 89-94 with ABS and all 95 and up XJs, but I have never heard anything about a different option for 97 and up.

Thank you for correcting me about the U-joints but, what about the rest of my question? Are the "95" and newer axle shafts themselves larger or stronger due to being made of better material?

According to this info from Jeephorizons.com they are the same diameter thorughout the entire 84-01 production run. No idea if they were made of a stronger material.

Axles

Front Axles


Dana 30 high pinion - reverse cut - 27 spline, 1.16" diameter shafts, 7.13" ring gear - used 84-99 (some axles through 91 are vacuum disconnect, 92+ are non-disconnect, 89-95 with ABS have 5-297x u-joints, all 95+ have 5-297x u-joints, all others have 5-260x u-joints)



Dana 30 low pinion - standard cut - 27 spline, 1.16" diameter shafts, 7.13" ring gear, 5-297x u-joints - used 00-01


Rear Axles


Dana 35 non c-clip - 27 spline, 1.18" diameter shafts, 7.58" ring gear, 2.62" axle tube - used 84-89

Dana 35 c-clip - 27 spline, 1.18" diameter shafts, 7.58" ring gear, 2.62" axle tube - used 90-01

Chrysler 8.25 - 27 spline, 1.17" diameter shafts, 8.25" ring gear, 3" axle tube - used 91-96

Chrysler 8.25 - 29 spline, 1.21" diameter shafts, 8.25" ring gear, 3" axle tube - used 97-01

Dana 44 non c-clip - 30 spline, 1.31" diameter shafts, 8.5" ring gear, 2.75" axle tube - used 87-89 on some (not all) XJs equipped with towing package.


Note: Dana 35 axles sometimes referred to as Dana 35C - The "C" does not stand for c-clip. It stands for "custom" meaning it came from Dana unfinished.


Note: 8.25 axles - none of these axles were used on XJ's with ABS brakes. If you have ABS, you have the Dana 35. Without ABS you could have either axle. 8.25 axles are c-clip.

Winston, thanks for the info. bro. I have Jeep Horizons in my favorites, too. What a brain fart. Thanks again.