dschneider

I just want to know some pro and cons for doing this swap. I found a 8.8 that has disk on it and can get it pretty cheap. Just want to know if it's worth doing.

CheapCherokee

8.8 is stronger, easier to get parts for, and most importantly has disc brakes. the 8.25 is good because it is bolt in and a lot stronger than a D35 (unless its a 27 spline). the 8.8 will need some fabrication and extra parts to get on though. so do some research on some 8.8 swaps and you should find all the info you need

dschneider

I have the 8.25 now and was thinking of swapping to the 8.8.

Rock Toy

The 8.8 is closer to D/60 strength than to D/44 strength. The C/8.25 with 27 spline shafts is much stronger than the D/35, and close to, if not as strong as a D/44 with 29 spline shafts. If you plan on running 37 inch or larger tires go 8.8 for sure.
I'm planning on running a C8.25 with 4.88 gears, a Detroit locker, and 29 spline 1541H alloy shafts. I will be running 35s when it is finished,
I wheel mountain trails, rocks, and my favorite snow. I wheel hard, but I use my head.

A.T.R.Offroad

Worth every penny!!!!!! And yes they are strong as hell!!! And whatever you do find the install parts (perches,Leaf plates Ubolt's, shock mount's) on your own and you will save$$$!!!
The only thing I would spend some extra money on is a diff cover I got the Riddler for just over $100..One of my buddy's got the "solid" cover from poly performance for $70
------------------------
Spring perches-$25, 4WP
Leaf plates- $4,Pick and pull(from a 97 ford f-150 truck with a 8.8)
U-bolt's $40(I could have found them cheaper but I got them from Six States!)
Shock Mount's are not done yet but I will probably cut a spring perch in half and weld a bolt to it!
All the stock brake lines hooked up without a hitch,but will redo the driver's side in a bit for my shock mount.
MAKE SURE YOU GET THE DRIVE SHAFT FLANGE OFF YOUR DONOR VEHICLE!!!!! IT WILL SAVE YA $25-$40 But you will need to get a 1330-1310 crossover u-joint to make that flange work...Or get one from a older Explorer (pre 95) to use your 1310 ujoint you already have.
E-BRAKE cables I really don't need them lol
Hope that help's, I kinda threw it together for a Moab trip in march we had but I will never look back at a D35 or a 8.25 EVER!!!!

A.T.R.Offroad

Dont get me wrong I'm not knocking RockToy's future setup, I just happen to be very happy with my 8.8 swap for the cost.

Rock Toy

No Problems, didn't think you were knocking it. I had the C8.25 so I stayed with it, and for what I'll be running it will work just fine.

dschneider

Thanks A T R offroad, I was wondering about the drive shaft issue. I just have to think of what I want to do now with my gears in my d30.

Wearingthin

If you have a 29 spline 8.25, and you aren't planning on running 35's or bigger, I'd save the money and stick with the 8.25. Hell, even if you have the 27 sp, I'd find a cheap 29sp in a junkyard and swap it over. The 8.25 doesn't have quite the aftermarket support of other axles, but it's truly under appreciated.

Sent from my iPhone using CherokeeFM

SeriousOffroad

I ran a locked 8.25 and 33's with stock shafts. Never had a problem.

My son's XJ was a locked 8.25", alloy shafts and 35's. No problems either.

I've built a number of 8.8's for folks and I srtongly recommend welding the tubes to the diff and replacing the carrier with a full case locker. They certainly aren't the stongest carriers out there.

That's my $.02.

1tonxj

A d60 has more potential than an 8.8 the 60 ring gear is about 1 inch bigger than the 8.8 so after a 35 spline locker it leaves the 8.8 in the dust ...And if planning 37 or bigger the 8.8 is a crappy choice for those plans .

N20jeep

said only by the people running 1 ton axles. any legit reason for this opinion?


ive never seen or heard of an 8.8 breaking on a 4.0 powered jeep, regardless of tire size. and i know off hand numorous TJ's and YJ's who are running the 8.8 behind V8 swaps with 36"+ tires... no problems.

and hell, its pretty damn hard to find a story of a broken 8.8 even using Google

Rock Toy

^x2
I've wheeled with a guy running 39s in Moab on a 8.8, no problems.

Ironwagon

X2. I've seen one 8.8 spin a tube, and two factory 8.8 carriers grenade. The carrier issue was an 8.8 in my friends Bronco, which is heavier than an XJ, but he's only on 33's.
I've run 35's on my 8.25 for years, but run an ARB, alloy shafts and ZJ disks.

If it's hard to locate disk parts for cheap to convert an 8.25, just go to the junk yard and pull an 8.8 with them already. God knows the junkyards are full of Fords. lol

A.T.R.Offroad

So true!!!