I don't trust my d35 when I get a lift so I want to get a Chrysler 8.25. I have moderate mechanic skills I just didn't know if it was hard to do or can a mech. shop do it

 

Its not to bad to do. You will use the ebrake cables from your d35 and I would suggest that you get a drum brake kit for the 8.25 while your in there. What size lift are you going to have?

 

I did the swap youll need bigger u bolts but other than its straight forward undo u bolts brake lines and drop the axle put the new one bolt the new one in bleed the brakes and your good to go

 

4.5 on 32's I'm just scared to use the dana

 

Ok. Thats what I am running. With this set up you will also need a different driveshaft length. I have a slip yoke eliminator on my transfer case and the perfect lenght is a front driveshaft from an XJ. If you dont have one(SYE) I am not sure of the length you would need. You will also have to match the gear ratio of your front to your new rear 8.25. Do you know what gear ratio you have now?

 

No I'm not sure I'm guessing 3:73

 

If you have an auto trans its most likely 3.55 but do not quote me on that. You can see if there is a metal tag that is on the diff cover. The front and rear should have it if nobody has taken them off when changing the diff oil. You could also call the stealership with your VIN number and the should be able to tell you. The last resort is to take the diff cover off and there is a number stamped on the side of the ring gear. Like 4110 = 4.10 gears and for 3.55 it will have 3911. You divide 11 into 39 and get 3.54545454 which is 3.55. And as 99 purple xj said you can get the bigger ubolts at an auto parts store. I would strongly advise you to find your 8.25 with 4.10 gears and also get a front axle with 4.10 gears. Unless you live in the flatest part of world you will not like how it drives with 32" tires on a 4.5 lift. Your XJ will also suck the gas down like your tank has a hole in it. I used this link to find my 4.10 axles in junkyards.

http://www.car-part.com/

 

Don't guess, look for tag on differential cover bolt, if you don't have a tag, mark a rear tire and the drive shaft. Then have someone move the rig one revolution of the tire and count the drive shaft revolutions. A little more than 3 = 3.07 gears, 3.5 revolutions = 3.55 gears, about 3.75 revolutions = 3.73 gears, and a little over 4 = 4.10 gears.
You don't want to start looking for anything related to gears, axles, lockers, anything until you know what you already have in your Cherokee. ( Buying the wrong stuff can get expensive, fast! )

( Sorry, I didn't see the previous post until I posted this. )

 

If you end up switching to disc brakes for the 8.25 you may need 16" wheels to clear the calipers

 

Will I break my 35 on 31's?

 

You should be fine with 31s, even running the D/35, but anything can be broken.

 

I honestlydont want a lift if I'm gonna break stuff I don't have that kind of money to replace everything constantly

 

I did the 35/8.25 swap and had to cut 5/8 of an inch out of my drive shaft. the nose of the 35 is 1.5 inches shorter than the nose of the 8.25 but if you can find a 8.25 from a xj with the same tranny and transfer case, same gears, then you can use the rear end and the drive shaft with out having to cut the drive shaft or re gear.

 

You don't have to get 16" wheels. 15" wheels will work.

 

So what do you think about a 3 inch on 30's. Will I be breaking stuff then with like very light trailing and easy pedal