fmf

Ok, I have stock dana 30 and 35 with limited slip and I want to get some beefier ones. What would you suggest for the easiest conversion that will give me a strong axle I can throw a locker in and not worry about. Basically if I can buy a kit to fab it in or if it only takes alittle fab would be the best. I'm not a fabber, my dad can weld and we have all the tools but my Jeep is my DD and I need it after the weekend so a quick swap would be good. Tell me what you think. Thanks

xjmarc

Depends a lot on what you plan on doing with and to the Jeep. An 8.25 out of a 96+ will hold up to 33s easily and 35s if you don't hammer on it all the time. All it requires is new u-bolts and a different length driveshaft, so try and get it with the axle.

flexin91xj

X2... Or if youre lucky a dana 44 out of an 87-90 cherokee will bolt in, but can be expensive. Ford 8.8 out of Explorers(96-01) are very popular and very strong, but takes a little more fab work. If you know how to weld or know someone who does and have money and time, the possibilities are endless. The cherokees have an axle width of just over 60 inches. Youll probably wanna stick with something around that range.

xjmarc

Another option is the Ford 9 inch from full size cars and rancheros. The ranchero has 31 spline but the t-bird and cougar have 28 but you can get alloys with 31-40 spline and have Dana 60 axle strength. You also wouldn't have to worry about c-clips like with the 8.25 and 8.8 and the 9 inch is the sbc of the axle world so parts are numerous and cheap. These models also have the same bolt pattern as your XJ but the 9 inch and 8.8 are a bit narrower. About 2" I think.

fmf

I can get a dana 44 out of an 89 cherokee for $150 if I want it.

xjmarc

Jump on it. Most people want 300 bucks for those. IMO best axle ever put in an XJ, factory wise anyway.

flexin91xj

Then pick that puppy up!!!!! Dang thats a hell of a deal! Do not let that pass you up!

fmf

Ok well I'll probably go buy it tomorrow. Will it have the same gearing as mine? Mine's a 1990 auto 4.0l 4x4

flexin91xj

Youre gonna have to look on your dif case and see if the gear tag is still on the dif cover. If not, take off the diff cover and look on the side of the carrier itself and it should tell you the ratio. If not, count the number of teeth on the pinion gear and divide it by the number of teeth on the pinion gear. Then do the same thing on the d44. Im guessing theyll probably be the same.

fmf

Ok, what locker would you suggest for the D44?

flexin91xj

It all depends on what youre gonna do with your rig and what kind of money you have. Your d44 mught just come with the factory LSD. I just picked up a d44 from a 71 Scout II and it has the factory LSD in it. Alot of people who have never had LSD talk all kinds of smack but my d35 in my cherokee came with factory LSD and it amazes me what I can do with it.
If it doesnt come with the LSD then I would recomend a Power Trax locker cause of the price and ease of install.

flexin91xj

If you have the money then an OX locker all the way. Cable actuated and the strongest locker on the market! 800-900 bucks just for the locker and another 300-500 for it to be installed. You can install the Power Trax in your garage without messing with the gear set up.

fmf

I have an lsd in my 35 and it doesn't help much. I'll probably go with a lockrite or powertrax

Dan4governor

I just paid $300 for mine
but mine has a limited slip

flexin91xj

When I first got my cherokee, I took it wheeling with almost bald stock tires and no lift. I hung with my frinds who had 33s and 5-6 inches of lift. I didnt do anything crazy but I didnt get stuck once. They were all amazed and jealous with how capable my stock XJ was.