TeamThrash

I have a 95 cherokee so I assume I have the 27 spline axle shaft. I want to put a locker on it and I need to regear it anyways. Since I'm tearing it apart I was thinking of beefing it up to the 29 spline in newer cherokees. I plan on running ARB lockers on it and 4.56 gears. I have 32" tires and a 5 speed manual transmission. Would it be worth it to upgrade the axle or would it be a waste of money and I should just put a bigger axle all together in it? It's a weekend warrior type toy that I drive fairly often.
Thanks

sreeb

The consensus seems to be that the 29 spline 8.25 is plenty strong up to 35s.

I have the ax15 with 33s and 4.56 gearing. I think it is a little deep if you are planning on doing any freeway driving.

md21722

If you are buying the ARB locker then all you'll need is new axle shafts and maybe 2 new wheel bearings. 8.25's are plenty strong. They have limited aftermarket support, but are also a dime a dozen. Unless you can source/build a replacement axle for less than the cost of beefing up your 8.25 then I'd stick with the 8.25. Those ARB lockers aren't cheap.

Fred/N0AZZ

You can buy a later model 8.25 29 spline drum to drum 97 and up for $200 or less at most JY's. I have one myself and run a Detroit Locker in it as well as in the D30 with 4.56 gears in them. This combo works fine for me and the type of wheeling I do year around, not a DD but driven some on the highways.

mentalbreakdown00

I swapped out my 27 splines for a complete 29 spline for $150.. I then got an aussie, and just recently did disc brakes on it... has held up fine to some hard beatings on 32's

caronaxtr

I recently swapped a 8.25/29 spline for my D35. 4.56 is perfect gearing for 32-33's. I went to 35's and when towing / climbing hills my speed drops.

You'll be pleased with that setup.

sreeb

He has a 5 speed. Do you?

dukie564

I would not run 4.56s and 32s. With the 5 speed, 4.10s should be good though 35s.

I run 33s on stock 3.07s (5 speed) without much issue. Will be switching to 4.10s soon

TeamThrash

I have 3.10s right now and have never used 5th gear. At 70 in 4th I'm only at 2500rpm

salad

Stock gear is 3.07:1 FYI. Is that measured by GPS or using the speedometer which is thrown off by large tires?

4.56:1 turning 32s behind an AX-15 will leave you wanting a second overdrive gear. 3.73:1 or 4.10:1 is what you want if this thing is road-driven.

27-spline C8.25 should take locked 32s fine if the gear isn't too high. 4.56:1 you risk more breakage. If you're insistent on that high get 29-spline parts.

torque062

4.56 is perfect for me with 35s and a 5 speed. I only wish that I had a doubler or a 4:1 Atlas for the size of rocks I find myself in sometimes. At 55 on the highway, I'm right around 2000 rpm. I don't usually go above 65 for the sake of u-joint longevity unless I absolutely need to since mpg goes down drastically.

TeamThrash

I've driven by speed trap signs and my speedo is only off by a couple miles per hour. Plus I'm going with the speed of traffic

Rockhead

I've got the five speed trans, 4.10 gearing and 33s. I think your making a good choice going with 4.56 gearing especially if your sticking with the stock transfer case. I'm running an Atlas II with 4 to 1 gear reduction and am switching to 35s. I think that combination will be just right, right now I could easily do most of my rock crawling in second or third gear.

HS00XJ

I thought 95 started the 29 spline or was that just bigger u joints?

TeamThrash

Everything I've read says 29 spline started in 97