Hello,

I have a 98 XJ with Dana 35 in the rear. I purchased a used Chrysler 8.25 from a guy who said it was a 29 spline of a 97 Cherokee. When I got back and started taking it apart I realized he screwed me over and I got a 27 spline one. I had already purchased a spartan locker for a 29 spline Chrysler 8.25. That being said, I am trying to figure out how to salvage this. Pulling the axle out, it looks like I can purchase a 29 spline axle and put it in there with the 29 spline spartan locker since it replaces the whole spider gear assembly. I have done a few searches on here and I have seen different answers and nothing with the specific configuration I am talking about. So is there something I am missing?

 

You need to swap to a 29 spline open carrier for that to work.

 

I guess I don't understand what part of the carrier does not work with the swap. From the looks of it, the axle shaft makes contact with the carrier at the spider gears. So if I am swapping out the spider gears with the 29 spline spartan locker, wont the new 29 spline axle shaft just mate up to that? Or is the entry point into the open carrier only big enough to get a 27 spline through?

 

The 29 spline locker won't fit in the 27 spline carrier, side gears are too big.

 

Ok. So I guess my option is to get a selectable locker that basically replaces the whole carrier like an ARB that is for a 29 spline and get 29 spline axle shafts. Or am I just wasting my money? I did want a locker in the rear, but was not looking at an expensive selectable one. But I am thinking now I don't have much choice if I want to get this to work.

 

You have several options, you can get a 27 spline Spartan locker and use the carrier and axles you have now. You can get a 29 spline open carrier and axle shafts and use your 29 spline Spartan locker, or you can get a full carrier locker but it doesn't have to be a selectable, Detroit lockers work great.