I'd like to chime in on this. IMO stick with the 8.25. Pick up an extra shaft, practice changing them out, keep the right tools in the jeep to do the job, and they'll never break. Murphy's law here. Its like spending a Grand on a snowblower, and it not snowing, well worth it!
I've been running a 8.25 geared 4.10 with 33" tires and a true track LS for about 3 years and no problems either off road or on.

 

Yea looks like that is going to be my project next days off going to completely remove both front and rear axles and start rebuilding 4.56 gears detroit locker in rear not sure about doing One in the front yet but just getting started will be the fun part

 

One more piece of info on these axles that I dont see mentioned here. Not all 8.25 and not all d30s are the same. Pre 96 8.25 had 27 splines so you want the 97 and up 8.25 with the 29 spline. Also the d30 from 98 and 99 models is high pinion reverse cut so its stronger. (I hear arguments that its 30% stronger than the low pinion but cannot vouch for that). I know its better because high pinion makes more ground clearence also after lifting the driveshaft sits at a less extreme angle. So if you are looking to stay with 8.25 d30 combo those are the ones you want. 27 spline 8.25 is not as strong as a d44 but 29 spline comes close.

 

The 8.25 actually has thicker tubes than the D44. I have a front D44 with 4.88s from a Rubicon TJ ready to put on with my 8.25; just missing the 4.88s for the rear.

 

So if I plan on changing gears does it matter what spline count I have?

 

All XJ D/30s except 2000 and 2001 are high pinion reverse cut axles.

Yes, unless you are planning on replacing the stock 27 spline shafts with 29 spline shafts. You stated that you are planning on installing a Detroit Locker when you do your gear change so all you would have to do at that time would be to buy a 29 spline Detroit and either stock or alloy 29 spline shafts, with a matching master install kit for the correct bearings. Going to the 29 spline alloy shafts for around $225.00 - $250.00 a set is a great way to increase axle strength by about 50% on a 27 spline C/8.25

 

Thanks for correcting me. I was missinformed. Are all XJ d30s then basically the same (exept for the 2000, 2001) or are there other differences. I am hunting for a high pinion d30 for my xj. There are pre 96 at my local jy. Would that d30 be a direct bolt in into my 2000 to replace the LP?

 

Awesome! So if I'm planing on changing the gears and running lockers I should go up to 29 spline or 29 is what I already have if I have a 97 Cherokee?

 

If your rear is the factory 8.25, then being a 97 is should be a 29 spline (I think they started those sometime in 96, but definitely in 97).

 

Sweet that's the first good thing I've heard about my 97 model

 

Something that will help you in the future when asking for help would be to put all the info you can in the question. Like what year your XJ is, what transmission, what transfercase, and what type of wheeling do you plan on doing, mud, rocks, trails, or just a daily driver.

 

Im also a newbie with the XJ's. I built a heck of a TJ, but the XJ is a whole new world to me.
I have a 99, with a d30 front with an spartan locker and an open 8.25 rear, 29 spline. Ive been looking at locker options and cant afford a full carrier locker like detroit or an ARB or something like that. So I will probably go with an Aussie when they become available again. So I guess this is where my questions come in.

When I install the locker do I need to remove the carrier (I did on my d44), and how do you remove the "c" clips to get the axles out? If I can swing the money I might just try to upgrade my axles while im in there with chromalloy. Is there a c clip eliminator you can install like on my Mustang, or will this always be a c clip rear axle? This is really the first time ive even thought about it since reading these posts.

I rock crawl mainly, and its my winter snow driver, with the occasional trips to work and the store.

Thanks
Greg

 

I've been told that if I wanted to go to 35's that id have to switch over to a dana 44 in the front due to binding issues, even if I do 4:10s.

My current set up is a dana 30 in front, chrysler 8.25 in rear with 33's and stock highway gears.

 

Im running 35" Pro Comp X Terrians with my d30 without any problems at all. I also ran 35" BFG Mud Terrians, on my TJ with the D30, without any problems.
Both Jeeps were geared to 4.56's though.

 

I plan on running 4:10s until I make my XJ my strict crawler, but I was even told that running 4:10s with 35's on my d30 that itll cause binding