goneboating06

Well, here goes day 3 of the 8.25 axle swap. NOTHING is going right. Which is really not surprising considering it's me... And when I work on my jeep no matter what it is I always run in to problems :/. Anyway the axle is in its new permanent home. I installed 3 degree axle shims, which was a pain considering my leaf springs were rusted together. I am hoping installing those doesn't come back to haunt me. The angle looks really good now, but we'll see what happens when the jeep is sitting on its own weight. With the combination of the axle shims, and the 8.25 being 1 inch longer, my driveline is pushed all the way in to the transfercase. I'm not really surprised, but still.... It royally sucks! so that leaves me with a couple options.

1. I go find a driveshaft from a Cherokee with a 8.25
2. I get a Sye, and new driveshaft
3. I see if I can get my driveline shortened.

As much as I would like to get a SYE, I am poor. So that is a last resort option. I have looked around for a driveline at the salvage yards but I can't find anything, so it looks like I am going to have to see if I can take my driveline in and have it shortened by an inch.

goneboating06

In other news: I ditched my rear swaybar! That's worth reporting right? Haha

99jeeprokee

Haha I removed mine the day I bought it. And it's worth the money to get a sye.

Moparguy45

to bad your not closer to michigan. i have a rear driveshaft out of my 96 2 door 5 speed with 8 1/4 rear. I think i would try to find a drive shaft out of a salvage jeep. i had a driveshaft made a few years ago and to have it cut and balanced it was $165. Great build by the way!!

goneboating06

Got my driveline shortened 1 1/4 inch, and then balanced! The best part is, it only cost me $35! Page Brake down here in Southern Utah is awesome! So as soon as I get off of work I'll install the driveline, install my new brake shoes and hardware, as well as e-brake cable, change the diff fluid, and I should be good to go! Hopefully.... haha I'll post how it goes later tonight.

freegdr

did you have the xj on the ground when you measured for new shaft?

99 Purple XJ

Best mod ever rear sway bar delete and my drive shaft never have me a problem i am a4.5 and i swapped a 35 for the 8.25 and the drive shaft fit fine

90XJkid

What are the UCAs you have to go with your JK lowers? Glad you're making progress on the axle swap.

goneboating06

Yeah I just drove around and completely forgot I didn't have a rear sway bar. So obviously it didn't change anything with its on road behavior haha... I can't wait to test it off road.

I had the back of the jeep jacked up off the ground with it supported on jack stands and the tires off. So the axle was just hanging there and even with it at rest the driveshaft upper yolk was right up against the tail shaft housing. So if I were to put the tires back on, and put the jeep on the ground it would have caused some problems. So I figured the 8.25 is a extra inch longer, and then I added 3 degree shims which moved the pinion up, thus pushing the driveshaft in farther, so I added a extra 1/4 inch on the cut length. So I figured a total of 1 1/4 inch would be just about right. And it was spot on. I dunno, maybe my xj is odd, but there was no way I could have used my stock shaft with this axle.

Thanks! I bought the lift from a local jeep shop, and they just fabricated the UCA's. So I don't know much about the length or anything.

goneboating06

I FINALLY GOT THE AXLE IN!!

I was working by myself, so it took me a lot longer then i was planning on. Plus nothing went right for me which is typical. I went ahead and put new brakes on, changed the fluid, adjusted the emergency brake, and bled the brakes. Then I went on a long test drive....

I can't describe how stoked I am right now!

This axle supposedly has 3.55's... I had 3.07's... So i wasn't expecting much of a difference. Umm.... Wow. The power difference is pretty big. I now have 5th gear back, and its actually usable on the freeway! I can burn the tires through 1st and 2nd gear which I have never been able to do before. It accelerates a lot faster then it ever has. Going 75 my rpms in 5th gear are about 2,400ish, and in 4th they are around 3,000. Whereas before in 5th they were around 2100ish and in 4th they were around 2,700ish? Also my speedometer is almost dead on with the gps (a little less then 1 mph off). I have 32's, and I only jumped up to 3.55's... So what I don't understand how I'm getting such a difference? I would maybe understand if the ratio was 3.73's... But 3.55's? Im kinda confused... Whatever.... I'm not gonna complain haha.

I do have some minimal driveline vibes under heavy acceleration. I'm kinda just hoping they will go away... But let's be honest here that's not realistic. So it looks like I'll eventually be getting a Sye and new driveshaft. Other then the minimal vibes when I stomp on the gas, it's very smooth! I guess at least my current setup gives me my jeep back.

I do have a Dana 30 with matching gears ready to be Installed, so until i find the time to throw it in my jeep is strictly 2wd.

Anyway ill report more on the axle swap tomorrow, and post a pic or two. I'm pretty tired. It's been a long day.

ZINGGG

Congrats on all you've accomplished so far!

Man, you've got some serious skill with that camera. And a bad *** rig. Keep up the good work

LaredoLover8

just go to www.ironrockoffroad.com and check out there stuff if you ever do a 8.8 swap there the way to go. they arnt just axle stuff though. and youve gone to balistic fab right

ZINGGG

Also, had a question for you. When you did the paint in the lower area, what'd you use? I'm gunna be taking off the crappy looking stripping and then sanding and prepping tomorrow but I'm still unsure of what paint to use. I could only hope to make it look as clean as yours

megatronxj

Nice build... Wish mine was that clean

goneboating06

I just can't win....

Yes. The clutch petal arm snapped in half.

Fml