I've been searching and I cannot find what I'm looking for. How strong is the 8.25? D44 strong? Will it go the distance locked with 35s or 36s with 4.56 gears? Any thoughts? Anyone direct me to a thread? Or we can gt his one.going.

 

A C8.25 can hold up to 35s but you would be better off with a D44 with that big of a tire plus the gears for a D44 would be cheaper and easier to find than a C8.25

 

A 27 spline no. A 29 spline is compairable to a D44, the gears are just as easy to find. A D44 is not really worth the money over a 29 spline C8.25. 35's are a good rule of thumb as a max for the C8.25. 36's may last a while with alloy shafts and easy driving but is pushing it. TONS of threads with this debate....

 

a dana 44 is 8.5 inchs
a C8.25 is 8.25inchs


1/4 inch different.



just get a ford 8.8 imo

 

The ford 8.8 is great mod you'll get LSD, disc brakes, 4.10 gears (if you get if from a 97 exploder) but there is minor welding mod that needs to be done to make it fit

 

8.8 is a great way to go.

 

That's what I was thinkin about going with..... then I started thinkin lazy so I wanted to see just what you can get away with on the 8.25....

 

Its better than a D35, not saying a lot there.

 

I'll prob just do 8.8. I'm.a Ford guy by roots anyhow. Don't shoot but you should see how.much Ford stiff is on my jeep already... actually some stock parts have Ford markings.... when I do get that I want to throw it in the back... head out to the trail... and snap a 35 axle and do he swap right there. Just to say I did it.

 

Those who know what they're talking about will tell you, if you already have a 29 spline 8.25 you're simply wasting your money going to a D44, even an 8.8. Only when you get to the 9" are you really starting to make sense. Why upgrade to an axle thats barely better when you can run the 8.25 and save up and skip the marginally better options to go straight for the clearly better.

Just makes sense to me.

 

Thing is the 8.8 is VERY strong. With c-clip eliminators they art about as strong as a 9"... look at all the mustang people running 500hp on up with the 8.8.... my buddy had a 750hp 5.0 with an 8.8 with upgraded axles and eliminators.

 

^^this^^ No stock axle is really strong enough for +35" tires and Lockers, for severe use. The difference between C8.25, D44 or even 8.8 is minimal ALL are at there limit with 35+ tires, without axle upgrades and housing reinforcement.

 

Axle upgrades and a truss would be things I would plan on doing. How comparable are the 8.25 and 8.8 when you upgrade shafts?

 

The 8.8 is always going to be MARGINALLY stronger. Fact is the biggest weakness of any axle is the drivers right foot. You are comparing axle of the same class. There are areas where the 8.25 is better than the D44 and the 8.8, and there are areas where the D44 and 8.8 excell over the 8.25. Things is you are comparing a Red apple to a yellow and green one, they are all still apples.

 

For the money, if you already have an 8.25 in your jeep I'd just upgrade the shafts in that vs buying and upgrading an 8.8.

The difference is marginal and the cost is variable.

You'll have to price things out and see but personally since I already have a 8.25 I'm just upgrading the shafts and putting in an ARB. Almost as strong as the 8.8 and costs a hell of a lot less plus im lazy.