I have 30 spine axles (super 35 kit) and recently snapped one on a short steep climb. i was with club members who helped me get out and home, but i felt real bad about shorting the ride for everyone so i started thinking about other options. a club member offered me a stock 8.8 out of a 96 explorer for free (super nice of him), so i started looking into the install. even with the free axle the parts are going to cost me about 1500-1800 (gearing, locker, hardware, adapter plate, etc). if i go this route this will be my first axle swap and i am looking forward to the experience, but at the same time before i dive in i am concerned about all the "gotchas". I dont want to go through all the work and discover this was not a good move. i drive my rig on the road but its not a daily driver, and sometimes my wife will drive it to an event while i tow a camping trailer.

For those that have done this swap one comment i heard is on the unbodies is the harmonics of the axle create a lot of noise and vibration. is this true and if so how much?

i plan to install 4:56 gears and read something about shaving the ring or pin. how involved is that?

i would like to use a Detroit locker but that is a bit pricey, thinking about going with an Aussie. any comments or suggestions?

last question, for my usage would i be better off doing a JK D44 swap or some other axle? or, beef up the D35 with a truss and keep the 30 splines i have now?

thanks guys.

 

I haven't done this particular swap, but I have done a number of them. As far as "harmonics" goes, that is merely a matter of setting the pinion angle correctly. When you get down to that and decide if you are going to use a single or double cardan driveline, we can help you with that. Shaving the ring pin comes into play if you plan to use a lunch box locker due to the thickness of the ring gear. Nothing wrong with an Aussie locker. Been using one for years at both ends. The JK D44 HD is a stronger rear end, but is wider around 65" I think. Yours is 60" currently. You would want to match it with the front.

 

The 8.8 is a good axle, and if set up properly it shouldn't have anymore noise and vibrations than your current axle. A lunchbox locker like an Aussie, Spartan, or Lockright would work just fine.

 

Thanks guys for the information. I have a SYE and a tom woods drive with the double cardigan that i installed shortly after picking up the jeep. Previous owner put the 6" lift but left the drive stock so it was vibrating pretty bad untill I fixed it.

5" between the jk axle and stock D35 seems too much so back to looking at the 8.8 i guess. Do you think the frame stiffeners might help in eliminating the harmonics or make no difference?

 

Frame stiffeners would make no difference. Are you getting vibrations now?

 

No vibs now.

 

Then if you set up your 8.8 the same way, you will not have vibs