future setup is IRO 5.5 long arm 33in tires 4.10 gears lockers front and rear
hoping to do most of the rubicon trail one day without using too many bypass
those are the basics. heavily armored

EDIT:: my xj will be 5 speed ax15 no matter what. I'm pretty heart set on the 4.10 gearing

I was thinking HP 30 reverse cut up front and D44 in the rear and put a front shaft in it
(so I only have to carry one spare, right?)

I was planning on axle swap being my first upgrade to my stock xj
is that the best place to start? this will be my first build
does anyone have a better axle combo option?

 

Do the 8.8 swap instead of a 44 also 4.56 gears

 

Well... that's not the reason we use fronts in the rear. We do that because as you lift the vehicle, the distance between the axle and transfercase increases, making the stock slip yolk slide further out of the transfer case and you start losing fluid. So we install a Slip Yolk Eliminator (SYE) which means the yolk can not slide in and out of the transfer case, so we have to use a CV type driveshaft (which is what our fronts are, like telescopic). If you put in a CV type driveshaft without an SYE, your yolk is just going to fall out of your transfer case.

 

Skip the 8.8 with 33s, chunk hangs too low and if you're going to use a c-clip axle just use a 8.25 out of a 97+. It's a direct bolt in and will hold 33s locked all day long. I agree with the 4.56s though.

 

If you want to do it and not have to worry in the future i would do the ford 8.8. Love it. best upgrade ive done so far

 

the IRO 5.5 comes with a SYE. and I think I'm gonna do double cardan driveshaft anyway
so I should be fine with the CV yeah?

 

but wait my cherokee is a 5 speed. so I'm doing 4.10's
does the 8.25 come stock in a 97+?
I didnt want to have to mess with a C-clip though
whats wrong with the D44?

 

ok so why is the 8.8 or 8.25 better than the dana 44? do they hold lockers better?
I really didnt want to have to mess with a C-clip or do much cutting.

also, what can I do up front if I want more strenght than the HP D30? D44 up front?

 

Just get a 8.25 from a 97 and up or if you can weld do an 8.8

 

Front dana 30 is a pretty tough little axle and the 8.8 has a larger ring gear then the 8.25 and larger axle tubes disc brakes and some have 4.10 factory and have factory 31 spline shafts

 

is the reverse cut HP 30 better?
to be honest I'm still probably gonna go with the 44.
I was just hoping someone would back me up on that one

oh, and is an axle swap/restoration the best upgrade to make first?
I'm just trying to find out what I should save up for first

 

No Dana 44 will be direct bolt on for the front unless find one a person is selling set up for xj already. Also hp is better than lp because drive shaft angle is better

 

I'd choose a D44 over both but they are hard to find in the 5x4.5 bolt pattern, 3 years in the XJ and hit and miss in later TJs. I don't like c-clips either and there is much more support for the 44 vs the other two mentioned. If you can find one go for it.

 

thats what I wanted to hear. hope youre speaking from experience and not just speculating about it like me

 

i would go the d44 rear also its 30 spline and tons of aftermarket support and there bolt in if you find an xj 44 and a disc break swap is pretty easy and if you're gonna keep the 30 in the front get chromo shafts or atleas the shafts out of a 97-99 or some other models with abs they have bigger 760 u joints