View Poll Results: weld or no weld.... locker not an option
yes
7
50.00%
no
7
50.00%
Voters: 14. You may not vote on this poll
D35 Welding
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,234
Likes: 1
From: Finger Lakes Region NY
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.o
D35 Welding
NP231 -> 3:73 gears -> D35rear end -> 31" AT.
DD and hunting truck. sees a lot of asphalt and dirt. only driven a few miles daily, but several hundred on weekends.... to weld or not to weld.
seen, heard and read lots of negative about welding the 35 with larger tires, but i run a relatively small tire. thoughts.
handling charateristics in the snow??? never had a locked rear end in the snow before whats it gonna do?
DD and hunting truck. sees a lot of asphalt and dirt. only driven a few miles daily, but several hundred on weekends.... to weld or not to weld.
seen, heard and read lots of negative about welding the 35 with larger tires, but i run a relatively small tire. thoughts.
handling charateristics in the snow??? never had a locked rear end in the snow before whats it gonna do?
CF Veteran
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,501
Likes: 4
From: Flint/Asheville
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO
Id say weld it! your only on 31 and sounds like your just going down two tracks in the woods so not beating it hard. One bad thing that might happen is IF you do break it, 3.73 axles are harder to find
Registered Users
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 791
Likes: 0
From: Ny
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0ho
I'm gonna add my response from the instant message here, just for future users. I wanna start with a disclaimer that says I'm pro welding the rear, Its awesome and if you look at the trail rig guys running tons, alot of them weld the rears too. I daily drive a welded rear.
Originally Posted by the blacksmith
wouldnt weld a d35 if it were me, just because they have notoriously weak shafts, and there is alot of stress on the shafts of something thats lockedc/ welded, expecially when you introduce wheel spin and bumps, plus how does wheel spin normally stop in winter? With instant traction when you find a salted spot haha.
as for handleing in the wet, youll notice the rear will step out more, go sideways much easier, and by sideways easier I mean. With an open dif when you are on the power and going sideways, youll notice how it kind of drags the vehicle to the side, as apposed to the rear stepping out.
You know what I mean, roads wet, youre pissed off, you hot rod around the corner, the tire spins, but you dont get that awesome movie scene drift, you kind of feel like the entire vehicles being dragged sideways.
Well with locked or welded dif, youll notice the rear just goes, so youll have to be ready to drive it back straight.
You'll also notice sharp turns and turns at speed make the inside tire chirp, and it actually hurts the turning radius slightly as the inside wheel cant spin slower, so you kind of make it skip.
once you are use to the predictability you'll either hate it, or love it entirely.
as for handleing in the wet, youll notice the rear will step out more, go sideways much easier, and by sideways easier I mean. With an open dif when you are on the power and going sideways, youll notice how it kind of drags the vehicle to the side, as apposed to the rear stepping out.
You know what I mean, roads wet, youre pissed off, you hot rod around the corner, the tire spins, but you dont get that awesome movie scene drift, you kind of feel like the entire vehicles being dragged sideways.
Well with locked or welded dif, youll notice the rear just goes, so youll have to be ready to drive it back straight.
You'll also notice sharp turns and turns at speed make the inside tire chirp, and it actually hurts the turning radius slightly as the inside wheel cant spin slower, so you kind of make it skip.
once you are use to the predictability you'll either hate it, or love it entirely.
CF Veteran
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,751
Likes: 3
From: Tampa Fl
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO
If you weld the rear, when you go to turn on the road, your tires are gona jump all over the place. If it is 100% a trail rig, then go for it. But you will have to get a trailer to get it where you want to go. Why is a locker not an option? A simple lunchbox locker will only run you around $300.
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: middle tn
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0ho
Welding it cost is nothing more then oil and a 7018 rod hard to beat 25 bucks and I lunchbox for my rear is atleast 400 before shipping dang 29 spline axles
Seasoned Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 375
Likes: 3
From: Louisville KY area
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I agree with the other posts that a welded rear end is gonna get squirrelly real quick going around corners. If your XJ is mostly a trail rig then do it and see how it works for you. But if it's mostly a DD then leave it alone or install a traction device like limited slip or maybe a locker. My '98XJ has an autolocker in the rear axle and it can get sideways real quick on rainy or snowy roads.
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CF Veteran
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,751
Likes: 3
From: Tampa Fl
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO
http://www.aussielocker.com/index.ph...d-58229-2.html
Heres one for the 35. $249.99
http://www.aussielocker.com/index.ph...-xd-13530.html
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