hey, i will provide as much information as i can.

jeep cherokee 1988 base model 4.0 i6 4x4
rear axle dana 35c non c-clip with open differential carrier

i've been struggling with a grinding metal on metal noise for a while now in the rear, the rear wheel bearings have been replaced and new brake pads including new hardware and differential oil has been flushed and refilled with 85-140. the noise is still there and seems to get worse over time still and i dont know how long with will last before it breaks down which i dont want happening of course and try to be one step ahead.

Now this is what i want to do next but i would like a bit more information on this, i want to replace the differential / spider gears only with this gear package.

https://www.ringpinion.com/b2c/Produ...x?ProdID=12260

what i also want to mention is this jeep is not lifted and is pretty much stock, i have read that rebuilding a dana 35 is not recommended but since the finance is limited and i am at a campground at the moment i have to do this myself. Soon i have to tow my other grand cherokee with a blown motor to the winter place to be fixed so i need this differential on my cherokee working right and being able to tow.

Ok, my question is since this is the first time i am going to work on a differntial is there any messurement of chims and precision tools needed to only replace these gears and not touch carrier and pinion gear so only the spider gears, is this just unbolt and bolt job and will this be enough ?
what i cant tell until i open it up if the carrier and pinion gears are worn i do know for a fact there is quite a bit of play in the spider gears cause when i jack one rear wheel up and the jeep is still in gear/park i can move the wheel quite a bit by trying to spin it forward or backwards at least one whole inch by looking of the rotation of the top of the tire.

thank you, marc

[edit] also want to mention when the axles were out when replacing the bearings the spline at the end of the axle which slides into the spider gears looked just fine no wear at all. Since this jeep is over 250.000miles and still running strong i figured if these spider gears last 28 years by just replacing these gears that should last for the end of the lifetime of this jeep.

 

Spider gears only function when one wheel is rotating at a different speed than the other. If the issue is the carrier or pinion bearings (more likely) replacement of either requires setting up the ring & pinion from scratch.
Synosis: Replace with a boneyard 8.25 (just make sure it's the same ratio).

 

thanks Turbo X_J for your reply, i see that i have to really narrow down where this grinding noise is coming from by opening the differential cover and on jacks and spin the drive shaft hmm *sighs* i just want to hit it on the right spot its starting to be a bit frustrating i dont mind doing it but seems like im just twisting around the real issue and fixing other stuff :\

 

He had a zj his options are another dana 35 or a dana44a that probably would have to be re geared.