Does anyone know off the top of their head what years the XJ came with the D44 rear Axle? I think it was something like 87-92 or something along those lines. I'm looking to try to find one at a salvage yard and just wanna know what I should be looking for. THX

 

87-90

 

Thank you good sir

 

Why not use a chrysler 8.25?Its about even with the 44 and a lot easier and cheaper to find.

 

well at my local salvage yards an axle is an axle so they will be the same price so im looking for a 44 but if i find an 8.25 ill probably snag that anything but that whimpy D35

 

Just look underneath all of them. You never know, maybe someone already did the swap under a newer on and you'll only be looking underneath the older ones if you stay within a certain model year.

If you want the 8.25, make sure you get the newer 29-spline version.

 

What years had that newer 29 spline version?

 

1997 and newer. However just like with the Dana 44 scenario, anyone could have swapped out the axle because the 29 and 27 spline C8.25 look identical from the outside. You would want to pull an axle shaft and count the splines to be sure.

 

Avoid the D35 as far as strength its at the bottom of the pile. Your best bet is one from a 97-01 XJ Chy 8.25 also easier to find.

 

on a somewhat related note how mechanically inclined would I need to be to actually do the swap? I'm not completely incompetent when it comes to spinning wrenches but at the same time I'm no master mechanic either. if it doesnt involve a welder or any kind of specialty tool I can usually work myself through it with YouTube and my Hines manual.

 

If you can install a lift you should be able to, considering the axle is essentially hanging when you are putting new leafs

 

I did the axle swap recently, both front and rear. Replaced my rear D35 with the Chy 8.25, I have no idea if it is the 27 or 29 spline but I got it for free and was just happy to get rid of that D35 for sure... Good luck!

 

Just curious what did you put up front?

 

Installing new gears is best left to someone with experience and the proper tools to do the setup.

 

Yes but you almost certainly will only find them in 87s. I wrote a program to search inventory of junk yards within 50 miles for 87-90 then a buddy and me would go try to pull D44s (we were pulling them for people we knew and not trying to make any money). Out of about 50ish vehicles we only found them in 87s. This was California so it could be different elsewhere.

And yet my D44 has been sitting in the backyard for 2 years. It's hard to replace the C8.25 that works great.