kentsboots

I got alot of help in my other thread about my lift issues, figured ill take a shot with more noob stuff.

So I have a 95 xj, so far I did the 6.5 lift, chopped the fenders and installed my fender flares so Im clearing 35s no problem. And not its time to get my front and rear up to speed also. My jeep was all stock before so Im sure I have the Dana 30 up front, and im not sure about the back, I think its the Chrysler 8.25 but its hard for me to tell.
looks like im running 3.07 gears from what the tag says so its pretty gutless right now, Id like to be able to pull my bike trailer one day again...it also has a tag that reads 0485 not sure what that means...

If I have the 8.25 then I might be good to just re gear it, but if its the 35 then I should swap it right ? what about the front, what are the usual options on that after a lift and tires ?

thanks for any input!

kentsboots

Picture in the dark, maybe this helps, I'll get a better one tomorrow

andrewmp6

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/axle-info-148057/

XJRed96

Thats 8.25, note the flat bottom.

Whatever gearing you do to the rear you MUST do to the front. otherwise you wont be able to use 4x4. You are probably going to be looking in the area of 3.75:1 maybe higher or lower but that is going to be based on what your end goal is. if you intend on driving this on the HWY regularly then for MPG purposes I would not suggest going much higher than that.

You may also want to add a locker to the rear while you are in there. I would avoid adding a locker to the front (unless it's a selectable locker) because a lot of people have complained about the drive-ability on a daily basis with a locker in the front.

XJlimitedx99

Yes, that's an 8.25. It's only a 27 spline though. The newer model XJ's have 29 splines. If you regear I would upgrade the rear to 29 spline. The only extra part you would need to buy is a carrier or case locker.

Not much to do in the front. Early model d30s had vacuum disconnect 4wd and smaller u joints. I can't remember what year the break is, somebody else can chime in on that.

89eliminator

absolutely not. running 35s, he will need at the minimum 4.10 gears, and 4.56 would be ideal. i dont like to recommend 4.88 because the teeth get pretty small.

i drove for years with a front auto locker. it is not noticeable. get front shafts from a dana 30 with abs because it will have the larger ujoints.

kentsboots

So if I were to just swap the rear with a Dana 44 would that be a good option, anything I should look for in one besides having the same bolt pattern for the wheels ? I see those all over craigslist in my area and not much to be found in the 8.25.
I was thinking 456, maybe I'll get lucky and find one with the same gear I want too.

Jeepin'_Aint_EZ

It all goes back to one thing... What do you plan on doing with the jeep? If you plan on mostly wheeling it, than swap to a d44 and build the 30 up a bit and you'll have a solid rig. If you don't plan on wheeling it to hard than you can get away with the stock axles. You can easily run a front autolocker too. Mine doesn't bother me a bit. Wouldn't even know it was in their if you drove it. Definitely want to run at least 4.56 gears with 35" tires as well.

Fred/N0AZZ

Being you have to change gears and install lockers (I also run Detroit Lockers front and read in mine) just swap in a pair of 29 spline axles from a 97 up XJ 8.25 they are about as strong as a D44.

I run the same combo in my 99, stock rear 8.25 29 spline and the D30 with 4.56 gears run both 33's with a set of 35's on bead locks I run sometimes for off road only.

HYRYSC

If you had it to do over again, would you still do the 4.56 or would you go 4.88?

kentsboots

If I swap the axles to 29 spline and replace the carrier or locker...I don't know a whole lot about the inner parts just yet, but would it still be a c clip? Or can I eliminate that while swapping parts ?

XJlimitedx99

There would still be a c-clip

freegdr

No need to eliminate them.

Fred/N0AZZ

I guess that I would go with the 4.88 for the 35's but with the 33's at the time it was the correct gear. That said the 4.56 gear does fine with my 35's as they are only used off road and trailered back and fourth.





The c-clips are fine and you can swap axles on the trail if needed I carry spares but to date have never had had to use one.

kentsboots

okay so I think Ill just do the gear swap in the front, and from what i gather Ill need a different carrier since ill be going to 4.56, so ill order the ring and pinion, carrier and im guessing a seal kit ?

on the rear, im not sure yet, I can swap the axles to a 29 spline, upgrade the carrier to 29 spline, add a locker which replaces the spider gears ? or the carrier too? not sure about that part yet. I have a friend who did my old dodge re gear who is going to do the install after i get everything, just need to narrow it down and order it all.
I found a rear end off a 97 for $200 that i can get tomorrow so that should have the 29 spline axles and carrier right ?
If i decided to just do the gear swap and add the locker later can i do that without pulling the gear again ?
I guess i need help figuring which locker to get.