When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go hereXJ (84-01)
All OEM related XJ specific tech. Examples, no start, general maintenance or anything that's stock.
So this is my first Jeep, its a 1994 Cherokee country with the "off-highway vehicle" package and what appears to be a tow package. I also have a Dana 35 rear axle... or what appears to be one judging by the diff cover. I am planning to lift it 4-4.5 inches and put it on 32x11.5's. (I am have heard that the Dana 35 is not the.. best axle out there, so to speak.) I was wondering about my gearing. I did the vin decoder, and it SAYS I have 3.08's. But using this site:http://jeephorizons.com/tech/xjstockspecs.html - I cannot have 3.08/3.07's with my auto transmission (AW4), only with a manual. And because of the Offroad package and the Towing package, I could have 3.55's, 3.73's, or 4.10's. Anyone know of a way to identify what gears i have?
Dana 35... Right?
The package sticker
Looks oem to me. I dunno
Last edited by Kamakaze; 12-06-2015 at 01:28 AM.
Reason: Added photos
On the side of the diff cover. Between two bolts. It will have a bunch of numbers but on the second row, it will say something like 3 55 for 3:55 gears, 3 73 for 3:73 and so on
A little bit of late night automotive archeology at 12:30 am leads me to discover that I have 3.55 gears. I believe that these should be ok for 32's? I believe that a 1989 2 door xj named Milo (goneboatin06?) with a 5 speed swapped in some 3.55's from another jeep with a renix and 32's on a 4.5 inch lift, and he said for a dd with trips off-road it preformed just fine?
Pretty dirty, that's why I couldn't see it
Last edited by Kamakaze; 12-06-2015 at 02:33 AM.
Reason: Photo
Yes sir. 3:55. I'm running the same gears on 32s with 3.5 inches of lift. I can't go past 70mph without my rpms screaming but other than that, I have no issues. I drive it daily and hit a lot of trails. Those gears are just fine.
Thanks I still might be tempted if I find a Dana 44 or a Chrysler 8.25 with 3:55's when I lift it (or even better gears if I can find a set of 2) but I think I'll lay it to rest as it lies. As for the Dana 35, will that hold up ok? I'm not doing the rubicon trail or anything, and i will be nice but not baby it, it's a jeep after all. Anything I should consider? Or will it hold up fine to mud and such on the coast?
You'll be fine on 32s. People say good and bad about a d35 but I used to run one and I wheeled hard with a locker. Never broke anything besides a u joint. Now I run a d44 in the rear but you'll be fine with your stock axles. As for the coast.... Never been to any coast so I can't shed any light on that one
A few points don't waste any money on a D35 period no matter what some will tell you. If you plan on off roading your XJ with any tires over stock size it's on borrowed time.
Another item is the 3.55 gears and 32 or 33" tires it "Could" work marginally well with a manual trans only not the AW4. Ideally you would want 4.56 gears with a 32-33" tire for best performance, dropping to a 31" a 4.10 gear is best. When you do a gear change it is a good time to do a locker as price is the same as just doing gears if the money is available.
Your best bet would be to find a 97-01 XJ Chy 8.25 differential as they have the 29 spline axles and almost as strong as a D44 usually can be bought for $1-200. A build sheet from Jeep will tell you what came on yours from the factory and you can get one in a few mins. online.
So why won't these gears work with my AW4? And some more questions... Sorry. how hard would it be to do an axle swap at the same time as I want to lift it? And how hard is it to find an axel with 4:10's or better that will drop in, or are cheap to regear, or even possible to regear myself with some help. And what axels will drop into the older xj'a with little to no modification, and good gears? Ive heard the ford 8.8 will work? I don't want full width either.
When you go bigger tires you gotta use a gear ratio to match or your jeep will be slower then hell and could hurt the trans if ran for years with the wrong gear ratio.The gear ratio chart we all use http://www.morris4x4center.com/jeep-...atio-chart.htm And you have to run the same gear ratio in both axles or you will have problems.The 4 cylinder jeep xj had 4.10 gears but you would have to swap both axles and who knows what shape used axles are in when you get them.Could you swap gears on your own yeah but it takes skill and some special tools not something i would try if i never done it before its easy to screw up.The 8.8 swap you hear about people use one from a 95-01 ford explorer its close to the stock width and right lug pattern,But its not a bolt in at all it takes some welding on new spring perches and shock mounts before it will fit.
Ok so couple of questions. What makes the D35 so bad? This is my DD, and I was wondering just with the stock 3:55's and 32's what some folks are getting. And this is not going to be a crawler, so I don't need supergears or anything. The worst it gets around here is mud (most of what I'll have easy access to) and some mild trails with smaller rocks etc (that I won't really have access to) how hard is it to do the 8.8 stuff?
Last edited by Kamakaze; 12-07-2015 at 02:38 AM.
Reason: I fail epically at all the things
When guys go big tires and wheel hard, they tend to break axle shafts. Don't go above 33s and don't wheel too hard and you'll be OK. Its like everything. Some guys will say its OK and some will bash it. I feel most people that bash it only do it because they have seen or heard someone with one that failed. I have wheeled with a lot of people and had a few jeeps with the Dana 35 and besides occasionally on a forum, have yet to see someone break one. As for gears, I dd mine and wheel it with my 3:55 but I do recommend upgrading if its going to be your daily driver. 8.8, there have been plenty of threads on the 8.8. I don't know exactly what it entails so I will leave that subject alone
Last edited by 93_xjcherokee; 12-07-2015 at 03:06 AM.
Reason: spelling
12-06-2015, 01:02 AM
Newb, Help finding my gears.
I still might be tempted if I find a Dana 44 or a Chrysler 8.25 with 3:55's when I lift it (or even better gears if I can find a set of 2) but I think I'll lay it to rest as it lies. As for the Dana 35, will that hold up ok? I'm not doing the rubicon trail or anything, and i will be nice but not baby it, it's a jeep after all. Anything I should consider? Or will it hold up fine to mud and such on the coast?
