Sharky

I am planning on turning my stock 1998 xj into a nice wheelin xj. My plan is to put Clayton 8" 3-link suspension and also convert my leaf into coils also apart of the Clayton kit but my main questions is about the axles. At first I thought I was just going to change my rear to ford 8.8 axle but then I worried about my front too, and if I was going to need to swap it too. My goal is to run 35's, I want it to be able to drive nice on the highway and also be able to handle difficult off-road too. What axle do you guys suggest for both front and rear axle and also could you provide sort of like tutorials for the swaps too. Thank you

xjmarc

All depends on what you have now and what kind of terrain you plan on wheeling. A stock D30 with the larger joints that came in the later models and a 8.25 will hold 35s all day long. I personally don't care for the 8.8 mostly because I can't see swapping a c-clip axle for another c-clip axle and it hangs pretty low and for the same price if not cheaper you can get a D44 or ford 9" which doesn't have the c-clips and can be built stronger.
Also that's a ton of lift for 35s, I'm running about 7" and 38s just for reference.

Sharky

Well 35's for now but I would want to move on to 37's later on.

Jeepineasy

Do a Dana 44 and ford 9. You'll be over built which is a good thing

jeepsurfer1

Imo do a old waggy front and a 8.8 with a c clip elm and aloy shafts in both with a truss, its what I'm saveing for/working for... ~ 1200 rear a little more front...

Jeepineasy

Dang I spend 300 on my d44 and 9. Plan on spending 1500 for lockers, gears, rebuild kits etc....

jeepsurfer1

Take this with a grain of salt....

Well the 44/ 9" are the best stock combo for the xj, there is no fighting with that fact. That said they are full width axles, and as such they take away the good looks of the jeep (IMHO) its great on the trail, you won't break them but there not for me.
Side note, the 8.8 is close to the Dana 60 in stock form...
So my plan is to run an 8.8 ($150)with c- clip elem and 31 aloy shafts ($650) putting it close to stock, (less then an inch) and strong as s*** then add hd brackets and truss($200) and it adds up... But I get to keep my wheels (just bought new) and stock width....

Dana 44....
Now the 44 as not a lot larger ring gear than the 30... SO... I may do the 8.8 and gear the 8.8 and the 30 and save for a cut down custom 60 or 14 bolt, maybe even a rock jock, but for now I just want the 8.8 33"s all day or 35's with a easy foot

Jeepineasy

I like my jeep wide and low. It's a trail rig but I can't see dd a rig on 35s or bigger. It just isn't cost effective spending all that money on fuel.

If the op went full width and doesn't like the wide look he can get rims that will suck the tires in.... I had h1 bead locks that had 7" back spacing a and tires barely stuck out

CheapCherokee

incorrect.


the small one is actually a dana 35 ring gear, but this is the only pic if have. so the d30 ring gear is actually smaller than that.


also, why do you think that an 8.8 can only handle 35s with light throttle? it can surely handle more than that, you even said its comparable to a dana 60. its the dana 30 you should be worried about

trans_am7935

yea....idk where you get your info but the D44 is one strong beast. i have been beating my d44/D30hp combo on 35's locked for 4 years now and have never had a diff failure. now i have broken some shafts on my 30, but that was my fault. the 8.8 is a decent axle, but i picked up my D44 for $200, and then geared and locked it, still under 1500 all together. the dana 60 can handle 40 inch tires in stock form, and the dana 44 can handle up to 37" tires. know your axles before putting out false information.

oh and btw, the 8.8 is no where near Dana 60 strength. it is barely d44 in stock form, and with upgraded shafts and c-clip eliminator, it is comparable. it is not all about the ring gear size...mostly, but not always.

andrewmp6

The 8.8 is a good cheap option but if your gonna spend some cash dana 44 is better if you want bomb proof a shaved 14 bolt full floater.

jeepsurfer1

Not the 8.8 the 30

jeepsurfer1

oh and btw, the 8.8 is no where near Dana 60 strength. it is barely d44 in stock form, and with upgraded shafts and c-clip eliminator, it is comparable. it is not all about the ring gear size...mostly, but not always.[/QUOTE]

With a grain of salt... Nice
It's my thoughts backed by studys and what I plan to do I'm not puting it on yours or anyone eleses rigs but for my misinformation...

COT: Continuous output torque rating
MOT: Maximum output torque rating
-------------------------------
Dana 35 rear axle COT: 870 MOT: 3480
Dana 44 rear axle COT: 1100 MOT: 4460
Ford 8.8 28spline COT: 1250 MOT: 4600
Ford 8.8 31spline COT: 1360 MOT: 5100
Dana60 semifloat COT: 1500 MOT: 5500

I go by hard facts, in a perfect world this is what counts, but experience is always a curve ball...


Good 8.8 info site BTW... http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/archi...p/t-71652.html

XJ Stryker

Reading your first post is all well and good. But the big question first is how much money you got to put in it. From stock to what you want can run about 5 grand and that is with some used and some new. Not trying to poop on your parade but reality is why you see most of us at 3-4.5in lift with 31's to 33's.

Good luck i have seen plenty of built rigs with the setup you want for sale from 4500- 7500 also. That would almost be easier to get and swap everything over.

trans_am7935

it is nice that you know how to use google, but i go by actual, not statistical. in the end, you can put a dana 44 in the rear for half the price after you have to get spacers, new proportion valve, all the brackets welded on, new axle shafts, c-clip eliminator and so on. i have also wheeled with both an 8.8 and Dana 44, they are both good axles, but the d44 is much cheaper. if you are gonna run 35's either axle is good but the d44 is much better in stock form. you can also pick up spare shafts from the junkyard for but cheap (which i have never broke one and i have a detroit)

so in the end, it is choice, but dont flood these guys heads with number, the 8.8 is still no where near Dana 60 strength even in modified form.

and in a "perfect world" you would drive in a strait line, never articulate, and never wheel your axle. please dont throw statistics at people with no experience of your own.