00t444e

Why is it that the Dana 35 rear axle is such a weak axle that it has been known to fail with only 31s on it, yet people run locked Dana 30 front axles with 33s all the time with no issues? Also how common is a Dana 35 on a 4.0 Cherokee? I have yet to see a one under a 4.0 Cherokee just under the 4 cylinder ones.

Martlor13

i would say it was probably the most common rear axle. All the xjs around me have them or have already swapped them... you've never seen one on a 4.0? Thats very strange unless all the ones you are seeing have already been swapped.

edit: you're also the guy that has never seen an auto xj without a trans cooler right? Man you must live somewhere where all the guys do their rigs up right. Haha

shooptube

To be fair I have yet to see a dana 35 ever in person and I go to the local yard all of the time. I either see 8.25 or the axle is gone. Kinda weird if you ask me

andrewmp6

On a dana 35 the housing its self is very weak and flexable,So when it breaks your super screwed and can't do any trail/road side repairs on it.A dana 30 is a front axle which will always take less abuse then a rear axle.And the dana 30 is made pretty beefy factory for its size.And any year xj with abs came factory with a dana 35 thats the only axle jeep had abs on it.So it did come in 4.0s and 4 cylinders no matter the trans or trim level just if it had abs or not.

BlueRidgeMark

Martlor13

good one blue ridge!!

Jeepin'_Aint_EZ

Kinda comparing apples and oranges here. As mentioned, D30 is a front axle and D35 is a rear axle. The c-clip design of a D35 which holds the axles in place is the weakest part of the D35. Sure, they're are C-clip eliminator kits out there but it's not worth it when you can easily swap in a stronger C8.25.

00t444e

My jeep and 4 other Cherokees my friends own plus two or three other ones I have looked at all have the 8.25, and yes all the autos I have seen have coolers what else would the transmission lines be running to.

LACK

I usually see 50/50 between 8.25's and D35's. Usually the older models have the D35.

Martlor13

not a big sample size but i see why you would think they are uncommon. And yeah they all have a tranny cooler, but you cant see them. They sre hidden and they are fine for a daily, but not for extended stress. Thats why people put aftermarket ones on because the stock one isn't adequate for towing.

kc1ble

My 98 4.0 has a factory 35 with ABS and I am getting ready to swap in the 8.25 when I get my lift in.

00t444e

I agree and even the optional factory auxiliary cooler is only a single loop so I don't think it makes a huge difference. As for the Dana 35 I just figured I would see them more often than I have. The ones I have looked at have all been 96 and newer so maybe they were more common on the older ones.

jedijeb

Most of the XJs I know have D35s under them. Of course most all I know are still stock, so that could be why.

Mine is an 85 so luckily I have the non-C clip version, just a little better and probably enough for me since I have the 2.5L. I could probably even get away with locking it since I will stay with 30s on it and only be taking it back logging roads and across fields to hunt.

BlueRidgeMark

I'm on my third. All have had 8.25s.

cruiser54

There is a cooler built into every radiator on an auto Cherokee. Not an auxiliary/optional one though. They both have lines. that's not how you determine whether it has an aux cooler or not.

I part out Cherokees as a hobby. Been around them since their inception. Dana 35s are as common as belly buttons. Just because you guys haven't seen many does not make them rare in the real world.