Ok NOW I know exactly what I want to do to my jeep. A bds 4 1/2 inch long arm with ALL of the upgrades . (not the 2400 dollar base kit) the 3k plus kit... I like bds because they have a 4link "style" front and ive never heard a complaint about them .the build is well within reach and easily doable BUT would it be worth it while keeping the Chrysler 8 25 and Dana 30? Even if they were upgraded with chromoly axels and trusses? And gears plus lockers . I know the 8.25 is a stout unjt but how stout? and same goes with the Dana 30. With these upgrades in mind . How much more beneficial would it be to upgrade to a ford 8.8 and Dana 44? What would I gain or would that particular set up be ok running the bds long arm and 33 inch tires (possibly 35s if I decide to cut the fenders more and bumpstop accordingly) seriously curious. I bought a zone 4.5 and was disappointed so I'm not sparing the coin or quality this time .

 

To add this jeep is wheel and wheel well. it will be seeing the Rubicon and Moab

 

If your staying on or around 33's the 30/8.25 will be fine!
I ran 36" iroks on a dana 30 (4.56's chromoly shafts w/spicer joints & Aussie locker) and a chrysler 8.25 (4.56's alloy USA shafts and Aussie locker) for years. Moderate wheeling.

Everyone has their own opinion but for the most part the 30 can handle up to a 35-36 with good shafts/u joints/ gears and a decent truss is a big help, same goes for the 8.25.

Fwiw I have ran, and my friend still does run 37" iroks on a built dana 30 front and 44 rear, and that crazy sob wheels the snot out of it. Been to rubicon, fordyce, havasu, Johnson valley, Moab etc and nothing other than routine maint. Now he does have that 30 pretty built with warn hub conversion and good shafts but I'll be the first to tell you we have ruined more tires than anything else! (Radial iroks have weak sidewalls)

That bds lift is the ****, looks very nice. I just couldn't justify the $$$$ but if the price doesn't bother ya go for it. I haven't heard any negatives either.

 

Also fwiw, I'm actually having my axles geared very soon, I'm at ~6" lift w/33's right now, but after the gears I'll put my 36" iroks on. Running alloy USA shafts rear (8.25 with disc brakes and Aussie) and stock shafts/spicer joints open dana 30 front. When I recoupe a little $ I'll throw in some chromoly fronts and either another Aussie or a arb if I can swing it. Point is I'm not afraid to run 36's on the 30/8.25 again.

In all honesty I'll probably buy my buddies 37's and run those before to long, and I will continue to run 37's on these axles until I start breaking. At that point I'll get a set of JK rubi 44's and run arb front (35 spline w/rcv's) and chromoly rears. Until then I'm gonna sensibly wheel the 30/8.25.... Lol might last a year, might last many years.... Who knows. Driving/wheeling 'style' has A LOT to do with it, as does terrain....

 

Most of the time your right foot will dictate if you can run 35s on the axles you have. Some guys can break a D44 with stock tires, and some have no problem running 37s on a D35.
The high dollar BDS lift will most likely out live the rest of your XJ. Stout, very stout.