OOdynamite

Ok so I'll be pulling a rear axle out of a JY in 2 weekends. The JY I'm going to is an our away so I want to make sure i know exactly what to do when I get there. I am pulling a 29 spline 8.25 from a 97+ XJ. Heres what I know:

1. It needs to have 3.55's
2. I need the DS
3. I need to remove the diff cover and check the diff fluid for water, it will be milky if water is in it
4. I need to inspect the gears to make sure that they aren't chipped or damaged.

What I don't know or am not sure about:

1. All I need are basic hand tools correct?
2. How will I know if it still has 3.55's in it? I will try to pull it from a stock XJ, but I want to make sure that they are not aftermarket gears. Will the ring itself say the ratio on it?
3. Anything else I should check for?



Now this axle is replacing my current D35 cuz it's a crappy axle and cuz the pinion bearing is failing, and pulling this axle is cheaper then repairing my D35.

I know for the install, it is a direct bolt in other then u bolts, right?

My only other question is, I know the 8.25 is not set up for ABS, whereas my D35 is. This is ok, I don't need the ABS, but I have heard of people pulling an ABS fuse or something? Can this be explained to me a little further?


Feel free to correct anything I may have gotten wrong here, or anything that I may have missed, or any tips you may have. It was hard enough convincing my dad to let me do this, so I definitely don't wanna screw it up. Thanks for the help in advance!

adamk

On the outside of the diff cover, usually between the left side cover bolts, there should be a tag and it will specify the gearing of the axle. If that has been removed, you can remove the diff cover and on the ring gear will be a ratio but it will not say 3.55:1. It will have whole numbers and you will need to do that quick math in your head.

If you do pull the diff cover, do look for metal shavings in the bottom of the case, chips/cracks in gears, etc. As far as the ABS goes, I have no useful info. I don't have ABS.

Tools you will need(and someone feel free to correct me if I miss one):
18mm wrench(for removing the shocks)
19mm wrench(for removing the ubolts)
5/16" wrench (this is what I needed to remove the DS but mine is a '92)
Adjustable wrench(I dont have a brake line wrench so I just use an adjustable)

Now, for bolting it in, you'll just need ubolts. I am unsure about the DS. I have heard that the 8.25 uses a different size u-joint but I can't deny or confirm this.

Hoooper

ring gear will generally say the ratio on it. often it will straight up say 3.55:1, or other times 35.5-10, or other numbers that equate to 3.55:1

the U-joints are the same size, but the pinion will be about 1" closer to the TC than with your d35

wiggles

Hooper, the u bolts are actually different. The 8.25 uses bigger ones than the 35 that's why sites ask for your rear axle type or send you two different sets

Hoooper

wiggles

Lol just making sure he knew the info
And to the op you have to get brand new u bolts for the 8.25 because you NEVER reuse u bolts

Hoooper

i am now confused. I was talking about U-joints not U-bolts, though it does kind of look like AdamK might have meant u-bolts based on the context of that sentence

OOdynamite

Thanks guys, that's a lot of helpful info!! I know I need bigger u bolts (the things that hold the springs on), but I don't know about the pinion u joints, are they bigger or the same? Like I said, I'm pulling the drive shaft too, so as long as it has a 231 tcase, it shouldn't matter. And I know that the pinion on the 8.25 is different, that's another reason I'm pulling the DS.

Thanks for clearing up the gear reading situation for me. Also, does anyone know anything about the ABS situation? Thanks!!

Hoooper

u joints are the same size between a d35 and 8.25, so you can use the same driveshaft so long as you dont run into a driveshaft length problem. if you are doing an SYE, you will be fine either way

OOdynamite

Ok cool, I'm snagin the shaft from the doner jeep anyway. And no SYE... yet...

troy fritz

If he has ABS and the donor axle does not then the u-joints will be different. ABS axles use a bigger joint than non ABS. You can get an ABS axle from an XJ although not real common. Sorry, I'm thinking of the front axle joints. Stupid, stupid,stupid! Almost every XJ with an auto and 4.0 has 3.55 gears. If it has a towing package is the only way it wouldn't. Those are 3.73

OOdynamite

Ok so wait, the 8.25 will have the same u joint size?

And thanks for the gear help!

troy fritz

Yes for the caps which is what matters. The body may be bigger.

OOdynamite

Ok yea that makes sense. But again, it shouldn't matter cuz I'm gonna grab the rear axle and drive shaft to match

OOdynamite

Does anyone know anything about the ABS problem?