chrisquested

I am wondering is it at all possible to just throw some axle shafts into the d35 and it be able to handle some 33s and some mild off road?

99 Purple XJ

Just swap it dana 35 is garbage put an 8.25 it they can handle 35s stock

CheapCherokee

short answer: yes you can build a dana 35 to hold 33s. a friend of mine ran a super 35 kit on a trussed dana 35 and ran 33s for years without issues. it wasnt until stepping up to 35s where he started breaking.

long term answer: you will most likely want to go to a bigger axle, and even on 33s the dana 35 is going to be running at its limits, would be safer and more cost effective in the long run to do an axle swap

Power73

id suggest swaping in a stock 29 spline chrysler 8.25. its a bolt in swap and prolly be cheaper than buying shafts for the 35

Big David

Check the price of chromoly shafts & a used 8.25.I'll bet a 8.25 is cheaper & stronger.The housing constuction in the 8.25 is a big difference.Thicker tubes & all.

KotaKid287

Can you? Yes
Should you? No

cdn_xj

I used to have a YJ with a D35. I put 4.10 gears and an ARB in it and ran 32's for years. Never had an issue.

Of course, I didn't follow the "nothing but right foot" school of offroading. lol

Jarrett

gilbertxj466

My Dana 35 held up fine with 33s, until I got bored and started doing donuts till it blew up. I think it would have lasted awhile with a light petal. I still wouldn't have upgraded the d35 at all tho.

Solomon7

Superior Axle's super 35 kit with a detroit locker is about 1,100.
Locker's about 5 or 600 online, and an 8.25 is 150 at the JY.
Then you still have 350 bones for wheels or sliders, or rear discs etc.
Something to think about....

yarom

You are fine with the D35 - drive it until it breaks down. I most cases, certainly for light trail use, it will hold up fine. No need to drop any money on it other than re-gearing - it's just not worth it.

Most XJs out there have a D35 and are doing fine.

It's very fashionable to bash them on here, especially by people who need to justify the over two grands they spent to install a Super 44 in their DD...

A.T.R.Offroad

with 33's Yes. but anything over that NO!
The downfall is....
it will still has C clips holding the beefier axle shafts to the housing.
So basically it would be like putting lipstick on a very ugly woman and saying "SHE'S GOT LIPSTICK ON".
That is all

Gorillaxj

I thought D35's came stock with a bent housing? junk axle If you ask me. I wouldn't be surprised if a D35 would break with 33's before you put the weight of the jeep on it.

D35's are lame, would be better off building a honda CRV axle. Swap a D44 or 29 spline in there. cheap, bolt in, and gearing will match (if you buy the right one)

you don't want to be caught looking like this!

A.T.R.Offroad

I once had a Cherokee with D35 a ARB and "upgraded shafts" and sold it to put a 04 exploder 8.8 with disk brakes in the butt end still a c clip axle but on 35's I beat the crap outta it!!!, the guy I sold the D35 2 was putting it under a TJ with 37's
DONT BE THAT GUY ON A TRAIL!

jbdpayne

97+ c8.25