Is this a D-44? I have looked at the pic on here of all of the rear ends but I found this on an 89 Cherokee at the junk yard. I just want to make sure before I go through pulling it. It does need a new shock mount but that can be dealt with.

 

Its a 35.

 

This thread has a good picture

http://www.wranglerforum.com/f282/wh...35-147764.html

 

This is a 44

 

It's a junk d35

 

Well damn it! Thought I had finally found one since it was the metal plub and on an 89. Oh well, keep looking.

 

There's a handy-dandy sticky, right up top of the page called "axle info"

 

Yea, I seen that but my eyes got stuck on the metal fill plug...

 

Go pull a Ford 8.8 axle from an explorer, there are a million to pick from at any junkyard. Between regearing it and welding on the new mounts it took me about 6 hours to put it in. The only thing I haven't installed on it is new parking brakes but who needs those anyways. Also, you get disk brakes rather than drums and the same 4.5x5 bolt pattern. Totally worth the extra time.

 

^this.

Dana 44s do pop up on cl rather cheap from time to time but I'd rather do the explorer swap just for the discs and you can find them real easy.

 

Not to mention they came stock with posi, and gears from 3.55 to 4.56 if you find a 4 banger ranger I believe

 

My D35 has a metal plug with a torx drive on it, so don't go by the plug, I think only the newer ones had the rubber plug in them.(mine is an 85 model)

 

That axle is a axle that is justified by tire size. If he's sticking to a 33"-35" tires then a 97'+ 8.25 is is plenty enough and cheap. Bolt on and no need to fab. Now if he's going bigger, than ya a 8.8 is justifiable as they are a strong axle.

 

^What he said^ The Chy 8.25 29 spline is almost as strong as a D44 plus its a direct bolt in on yours, it will work ok for most apps up to a 35" tire.

I run one locked with 33's and 4.56's now works great. You can usually find one at a JY for $200 or less complete drum to drum. The later models 96 (I think) and up has the 29 spline axles which you want for the extra strength.

 

not to thread hijack, but a 96+ 8.25 would be a bolt in replacement for a 90 d35 and be strong enough to take a beating with 33's? and by beating i just mean light crawling and bombing fire roads. basically just prerunning. thank you in advance