I have a 1998 Cherokee Sport 4.0 L engine. My rear end needs a rebuild. What axle do I have? How do I know what kit to order?
Mike

 

This is a sticky that is right above your post...

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/axle-info-148057/

 

This isn't a good beginner project.

 

^This, If you haven't set up gears before I wouldn't recommend rebuilding your own differential.


In any case if you have stock gears your best bet is probably just to get another rear-axle from the junkyard, especially if you have a Dana 35 (replace it with the much stronger and easy to find Chrysler 8.25" also used in the XJ, Dana 44s were also used in XJs but are much less common and tend to be more expensive).


You should be able to get a good used axle for $100-200 and swapping axles is a much easier job than rebuilding one, and only requires basic tools.


By the time you buy the rebuild kit and the specialty tools you'll need for a rebuild, you will have likely spent as much or more than a used axle would cost you.


A Ford 8.8" out of an Explorer is also an option but you will need to weld on or have someone weld on the shock brackets (available several places online), which is even stronger than the Chrysler 8.25"/ Dana 44 and comes with disc brakes.

 

As all the others have stated this isn't a beginner project or for that matter not so much of a beginner as shills needed takes time. A used differential might be your best choice.

One thing I urge you to do is get a "Build Sheet" on your XJ from Jeep that will list everything on it you have. In fact when I got my 99 sheet I found out I had keyless entry that I didn't know about, so I bought a fob and it works fine. Oh yes they are free.

 

I wasn`t going to do it myself. My mechanic will install whatever parts that I buy on ebay.
If I bought a complete axle from the junkyard how would I know the differential is better than the one in my jeep?

 

Just have your mechanic get the parts, then. He'll know what to get to do it right...(hopefully, LOL)

 

I would not buy these critical parts from E-bay. There are a number of vendors here that have the items you need and stand behind what they sell.