Ay yall,
so like a lot of people I'm getting a roar from my differential it's 1999 xj rwd 4.0 I belive a dana 35 I'll add a pic.

so here's my question or advice I'm seeking. Do I buy the rebuild kit and go ahead and do it myself I'd have to pick up a dial indicator and some other tools. Or do I go to the junkyard and find a like an 04 grand cherokee less miles with the same axle and just pull the whole carrier out and keep it like is and put it in my xj? Is that possible?

anyway that's where I'm at here's a pic of my axle

Measures a little over 10in wide

 

you have three options
1 rebuild it with full kit including a new ring and pinion
2 get a shop that knows how to rebuild it do it for you
3 get a used axle and install it (with new u bolts)

you should pop off the cover to see if you can see any damage or failure first.

 

In my area, there's a couple of heavy truck repair shops that are willing to work on a "baby" truck! At least you can ask. Rebuilding a differential is not a job for a novice. Getting it right is critical. People that say it is easy have either never done one or have done enough to get complacent with doing them. It IS easy if you have the knowledge and the proper tools. Three things are important, getting the pinion bearing preload correct, getting the pinion depth in the case correct, and getting the ring gear backlash and tooth contact correct.

The rear axle in my 2000 WJ blew up with no warning and my mechanic buddy found one on the internet with 65K miles on it for $575 and put it in for $275 in about 4 hours. The best part was I got parking brake cables with it that actually work!

The WJ uses a 3 link coil spring rear suspension and has a wider track than the XJ, as well as a different wheel bolt pattern. In other words, it wouldn't fit in your XJ.

 

Get an axle from the junkyard. If you have the 4.0 automatic, the ratio
is most likely 3.55 and there are many in the yards. Look for one with no
play or leaks at the pinion yoke.

If you have abs, then that uses the Dana35. If you don't have abs, then
you can use a Dana35 or the Chrysler 8.25. The 8.25 uses a driveshaft
that is 1 inch shorter so in that case grab the driveshaft, too.

 

I'm totally in to the idea of a junkyard axle, I guess the idea is to pick something that doesnt have the same problem counterintuitive, lower milage and maybe newer year, can't always see the odometer and the yards don't always have the info
what make/models/years should I keep my eyes out for?

 

Get an 8.25, don't waste a dime or time on a D35.

 

I've heard that some jeep liberty models have the 8.25? Would that swap work dimensions wise?

 

I think the liberty is going to have disc brakes so keep that in mind. Also, I think the XJ 8.25 has 10" brakes where the D35 has 9". I could be wrong on that.

 

The Liberty uses coil springs on the rear instead of leafs, so it's
not a practical swap.

There are lots of 8.25 XJs in the yards. If your Jeep is stock and you
don't plan to modify it for off-road, a Dana 35 would be fine. Here is
a junkyard search you can look at for ideas.
www.car-part.com

 

My XJ 8.25 has 9" brakes.

 

Okay, I'm totally new to the XJ world and I'm only going by parts lists on Rockauto and assuming the larger axle would have larger brakes. My 2000 XJ lists 8.25 on the build sheet and it needs brakes, but I haven't had time to check it out yet. I only drove it home last Thursday! I've been driving a WJ for the last 6 years.

 

I have worked on 4 different XJs with 8.25s and they all had 9" brakes.

 

Okay.....

 

Since you are new to XJs, start out right by looking at www.cruiser54.com and
looking at the information there. Make sure you look at the technical manuals page.

XJs with the police package had the 10" brakes with the finned drums. They are
rare. Most XJs have the 9" drums. The 8.25 and the D35 used the same brakes,
except abs was only available on the D35.

 

The FIRST thing I did was buy the FSM, get the build sheet, and it already had a Haynes manual in it. I've been around jeeps for awhile, owning a ZJ and a WJ. I just never got into the intricacies of the XJ. Please excuse my ignorance. I'm not the dumbass some people think.