I have a '96 XJ with a Chrysler 8.25 rear. Is there any way to see if it has 27 or 29 splines without removing the diff cover? I know 96 was a changeover year so that is why I would like to know. I am looking to get a lunchbox locker before to long and would like to order the right one.

 

Have the dealer run the VIN & see if they can tell you.If not,open that badboy up & make sure.

 

Only way to know for sure is to pull a shaft.

I had a 96 xj that was made in august of 96 and it had the 29 spline.

 

Is there anything in the vin that will tell me the build date?

 

The door jam tells what year & month.But I wouldn't trust that.

If you want to be 100% sure pull a shaft.Or order 2 lockers,1-27 spline & 1-29 spline,then send one back.

 

Check the build date in the door jam. Supposedly, anything built after 6-96 has the 29. But yeah, to be for sure-for sure, gotta count the splines...

My 96 was built in Sept, BTW

 

I do not have a build date tag in the door jam. My XJ was repainted before I sometime in its life and the tag must have been removed

 

You may be SOL.

 

The 97'+ had 29 spline axle shafts. Prior to that the 91-96' had 27 spline axle shafts. Both of them being identical on the outside just different in the inside with the spline difference



But like it was said before "Only way to know for sure is to pull a shaft"

 

No, they started putting 29 spline shafts in mid-year during the 1996 production run. But, yes, since he has a 96 and doesn't know the build date he will have to pull them to confirm.

...or get a build sheet from Jeep.

 

This i did not know... Learn something new everyday.