Hey guys,

Been toying with different options and wanted to get your opinion. So currently i am running a D30 Up Front and a 8.25 in the rear with stock 3.55s. I am 6.5" of lift with 33" MTs. I want to regear to get some of that power back. Local gear shop wanted $1000 installed for a set of 4.56 gears. Really want lockers since im already paying for the labor of opening up the axle but i honestly dont want to drop the coin right now. So i was thinking about trying to find some prebuilt axles locally to install into my cherokee and then sell the stock ones to recoop a little cash.

For example: I found a 29 spline 8.25, with 4.56, and a Auburn Limited Slip for $450. Pretty damn good considering a set up like this would run me easily twice as much as their asking price. Only problem is 1 - i still need to find a Dana 30 with 4.56s in it. 2 - Supposidly due to some rock rash the pinion seal is leaking a little. Trying to obtain a little more information on it. But what do you guys think? Axle will be off the truck so would it be pretty easy to swap out that seal? Think its a good idea to buy pre built axles instead of building them myself?

I also have a guy that has a built Dana 30 HP. Cant remember the exact specs but it has chromaly shafts, diff cover, 4.56s, i believe a locker, and a couple other things. he wants $900 i believe but i might be able to get it a bit cheaper.

Anyway let me know what you all think!

Thanks

Will

 

I think if you do not have the equipment/time/experience to do the re-gear yourself, the 8.25 with auburn is a good idea. You'll want to check and see if the ABS situation is the same as yours...although I thought I heard people say that D35s went into all the ABS equipped XJ's...? If it is the same as yours, then the swap will be super easy. You may want to open the cover and check for chipped teeth before purchasing if possible.

The front is pretty steep. Take a look at what it would cost to do the same to yours. If it saves money even at $900, then why not. Like you said, you could even recoup a little cash by selling the stockers (but don't expect too much from them), plus you'd get upgraded to the HP up front.

If I was looking for what you are, I would probably buy the other axles

 

The C/8.25 maybe a great buy because it would cost about 250-300 for the gears and install kit, while I'm not a fan of LSDs it is worth something. Check out the gear install and make sure the pinion seal leak has nothing to do with a bad gear setup. ( Maybe you could get the owner to install the new pinion seal and warranty it for like 3-6 months. )

The D/30 could be a great buy depending on if it has a selectable locker, with 30 spline inner alloy shafts. The locker would be 700-800 and the shafts would be 600-700 plus the gears. If the front isn't locked 900 is really high, or if the locker is a lunch box type locker with 27 spline shafts 900 maybe a little high.

 

I have an 8.25 so the swap will be a direct replacement. I have already done an axle swap and am more then capable of doing so, which is why i figured buying a prebuilt axle is a good idea. Chipped teeth is a good call. Not sure how the guy will feel, but its not worth it if the teeth are chipped becaues now im out $450 and still need to have new gears put into it. So if he doesnt let me open it, then im going to pass. Good advise.

Yeah i figured the front was pretty steep. nice parts, but its still a used axle. Supposidly the axle parts only have about 2000 miles on them. I guess it has sierra gear 4130 chomraly inner shafts, Dana 44 outer shafts and u joints, detroit tru trac, sierra gear 4.56s, timken bearing seals, and new tube seals.

Yeah i think trying to buy pre builts might be a better way to go. But i think just doing the rear might be a better idea. It would cost about $500 i think to install new gears in the front of my cherokee. But then again i could send another $900 and get a fully built axle so i guess its not that bad of a deal.

Yeah the 8.25 seems nice but again i am worry about the seal. he says the reason he is selling it is to upgrade to a D44. Yeah gear kit is about $300 and labor is $700 to have gears put into my jeep by a shop.

Not sure about the splines on the front but the locker is a detroit tru trac which isnt a lunch box but its also not a selectable. This slightly turns me off because i go to the snow and having an autolocker in the front slightly makes me nervous.

 

Just got a replay from the seller of the 8.25 this is what he said about it:

rock rash is not bad. I have extra straps for the pinion yoke too. Axle has about 20,000 miles on it and has been and shows a nice pattern, the cover is off if you want to look first hand. Auburn is firm, clutch plates in great shape.

- What does he mean when i says he has extra straps for the pinion yoke?
- Also What does he mean by "has been and shows a nice pattern?"
- What should i look for since he said the cover is off?

 

So the Auburn Limited Slip and Gears have about 52k miles on them. The pinion bearing was replaced about 5k ago. What do you guys think abuot thess parts having 52k on them? Is that a lot?

 

Extra straps are the U-joint straps that are holding the driveshaft to the yoke at the axle.

The pattern is probably referring to the pattern that the contact between the pinion and ring gear leave.

I don't know what else you'll want to check with the cover off. I am not familiar with the Auburn, so don't know if there is anything visible to look at.

 

Appreciate it. WHat do you think about the mileage being 52K on the gears and Auburn LS? I know the gears are probably fine because i have 180k on my OEM 3.55 gears but i worry about the Auburn LS.

 

Anybody on the mileage of the LSD? Still a little weary spending $450 and getting an axle with 52k on the gears and LSD. Dont really mind the mileage on the gears but the mileage onthe LSD i just want to make sure is okay.

 

52k on the gears is nothing if they were setup correctly. I'm not a fan of LSD, the clutches do wear out, and you need to make sure they have additive or they wear fast.
Look at the diff and see it you can see any wear on the ring gear or pinion. ( look for chips, groves, and excessively worn areas ) Turn the pinion to check if there is to much backlash.

The Detroit TruTrac is not a locker, it is a gear driven torque biasing differential. It has no clutches to wear out. It uses gears to supply torque to the axle that has the most amount of traction. I think it is a 40% bias, but I could be wrong. It is all but invisible in normal operation.

 

Rock Toy, thanks for the reply. Honeslty i think i am considering going this way only because im on a tight budget and really want to get geared because my jeep is so under powered. I am going to try and find a local jeeper or mechanic that is willing to help me out and give me a deal on installing my gears. I dont mind doing all the labor i just need someone to tell me how to do it. Not sure how to set the gears and all that stuff. I know its probably cheaper to buy an axle that already has gears, lockers, and shafts but without completely disassembling the axle you dont truely know how much wear is on them or if there is any fatiguing. Plus if i bought the 8.25 i still need to find another D30 for upfront. The 8.25 will be completely useless until i do so.