Hello folks this is my first post, I resently bought a 2001 jeep Cherokee sport I had a 1995 stock cherokee and have been saving for awhile to upgrade and I found the 01 with 4.5 roughy country lift





I then looked at the diff covers and come to find out both the front and back axles are DANA's or at least the diff covers are I want to know what axles I have and wat size gears I have but I have no clue what I'm looking at so I was hoping you cherokee aficionados could help me out! The reason I need to know this information is because I put 33 inch tires on the jeep and I need to get back to stock performance sine it's my DD! Any information you can give me about what parts I have or gearing imformation would be great! Here's the front diff cover:


The numbers on the cover are as follows: "DANA logo"
40869-1
318-0
REV-
110895
Here is the rear diff cover:


The #'s on the rear are as follows: "DANA logo"
43225
343-0
REV-k
02 27 97

That's all I know about the axles I hope that's enough to help hall help me identify what I have!

 

Front is a Dana 30 rear is a Dana 35

You need to look at the tags on the bolts for gear size. Looks like it says 3.55 but I can't tell for sure

 

Front is a Dana 30, rear is a Dana 35. Many will tell you that it's not worth putting any money into a D35. Look at swapping for a later model c8.25 off craigslist or a local junkyard. You have 3.55 gearing, if you are staying at that size tire then go 4.56 for the closest to stock power/mileage.

 

Thanks man I appreciate it

 

Yes u have 3.55 gearing

 

I'd also like to add that the front is a low pinion dana 30 which is weaker than the high pinion versions found on 99 and below XJs.

If I was in your situation I would find a high pinion dana 30 and 29 spline 8.25 to swap instead of putting the money into your current axles

 

Thank you for the reply Why is the D35 not good and does the D35 come stock or did it replace a c8.25 most likely? My jeep is my daily driver and I don't take it hardcore wheeling that often I mostly mud and hit light trails but I really need the drivability to be better so in your mind is the D35 that horrible and what's so bad about it?

 

Oh lord am I in that bad of a set up? I mean like I said I'm not crawling in it just light trails and daily driving and mud holes

 

Well if you really want to spend the money to do gears on your axles so you can run 33s for "looks" then all the power to you. It's not that you have a weak setup, just not the best. Sounds like those two axles will work fine for what you want to do to them. Just a lot of money to dump into not so desirable axles.

 

Exactly. They'll work but if you ever get into it and want to take it on harder trails you'll most likely wish you re-geared with better axles.

 

Considering it will run you at least a grand to regear the axles find ones actually worth gearing. The front is OK but a high pinion out of a 99 and older would be better and you can keep your stock shafts and unit bearings for spares. The D35 is just a weak axle, both housing and shafts. Can you run 33s on one sure but if you run any decent trails good chance you'll break shafts. It's not an if but a when so gearing one is a bit of a waste of money. The 97 and up 8.25 that came in XJs is a much better choice. 4.56s are going to be the best ratio for your size tires and will work with 35s as well plus your speedo and odo will be really close with them as well, about as close as you're going to get anyway.

 

You have a fair chance of breaking a shaft on that D35 in parking lot turn

 

You're looking at 300-500 (maybe even cheaper) for a set of used axles and that literally bolt right up. Or honestly, run it how it is for a bit and periodically check the forum, and Craigslist very often people are selling built axles set up for XJs and then you'd kill two birds with one stone by buying better axles that are already geared!

 

I have a 30 high pinion housing you could have if you were closer. Dana 35 just isn't worth sticking money into. You can get a used 97+ 8.25 with 29 spline shafts pretty cheap on craigslist.

 

Dang I wish I lived closer lol thanks for the input!