i am thinking about either staying with the C 8.25 or doing a swap with a Dana 44. Anyone have any thoughts on if its worth it or if the C 8.25 is good enough for hard core off roading?

 

depends on what sort of offroading and how hard you will be...

 

C8.25 and Dana 44 are just about equal. I wouldn't waste my time "upgrading" to just a dana 44. Run the 8.25 until you're breaking shafts then upgrade to a Dana 60. Done and Done. Next.

 

i will most likely be running in through the Pennsylvania Mountains and mud, and then maybe taking a few road trips cross country to other trails.

 

ditch the C8.25. Ive never liked building with c-clip axles. Go with the D44

 

if u got the 8.25 with the 29 spline axle shafts id say stay with the 8.25 its a slim chance that ur 96 has it (if still factory) cause 96 was the crossover year from the 8.25 with 27 spline over to the 29 spline any 97-01 xj has the 29 spline thats wat i did to mine and havent had a prob yet i belieave the 44 has a 30 sline shaft i dont see it worth the money

 

if i was gonna stay with the C 8.25 i was going to upgrade up to the 29 spline axle shaft and ARB Air Lockers. then also if i went with the Dana 44 i would go with the the 30 or bigger spline axle shafts.

 

the 44 has a more for it as far as aftermarket parts then the 8.25 wat size tires u plan on running?

 

probably 35x12.5 but no bigger

 

i think if u cromo shafts for the 29 sline 8.25 with a good gear set n locker u will be fine

 

My 60 has c clips. It's strong as hell.

Keep the 8.25, run 488s.

 

Keep the 8.25, run 488s.[/QUOTE]

That my thought other then i was thinking about 4.56. would there be much of a difference if i ran 4.56 then 4.88?

 

That my thought other then i was thinking about 4.56. would there be much of a difference if i ran 4.56 then 4.88?[/QUOTE]

Yes. Auto, 488s stick 456.

 

hmm never would of thought of that thanks for the info

 

If you already have a C/8.25 stay with the 8.25, a 29 spline C/8.25 is so close to the same strength as a D/44 that it isn't worth the time, money, and hassle of finding and swapping in the D/44.
I'm running a C/8.25 with 29 spline alloy shafts 4.88 gears and a Detroit locker turning 35s and it handles the 35s fine. [37s up I would be looking for a D/60 because a 44 just isn't much of an upgrade over a C/8.25 ]