TheCheif

Hey all!! I am looking to upgrade the front and rear axles and would like to know what I should get while on a budget. I was told if I were to get front and rear lockers they would break the stock axles on my 97 xj sport is this true?
Thanks for any info guys!

jcwclm

That really depends on what size tires/wheeling you do. Locked, I wouldn't run over 33's unless you upgrade shafts/truss. Your rear is more than likely a 8.25 which is comparable to a d44 and your front is a hp I believe. So you probably have about the best set-up you can have without going full-width or doing some fab (8.8).

TheCheif

As for the tire size I am going to have 33's on a 3" lift (trimmed fenders) I will be moving to eastern Oregon so I will be mainly in the desert. For now I am rallying through the muddy trails near Camp Dakota in Oregon just out of Scotts Mills Oregon. I want the lockers because I kept getting... involuntarily delayed due to slippage.. You said somthing about the 8.8, are you talking about the ford 8.8? I was also curious because I live near a junk yard and I could probably find one.. I just don't want to be doing a lot of modification... I'd prefer a mostly bolt on job.. Also what is an hp?
all in all I am looking for a set up that will allow me to "rally" and also let me drive most trails with minimal issues.
Thanks for any help!

Hoooper

If you don't want to fab you're pretty much SOL. If you have an 8.25, that's about as good as it gets for bolt on Cherokee axles. 8.8 is pretty easy but will still require fab work. Basically, if you've got the 8.25, lock away. If D35, bolt on swap to a 97 or newer 8.25, lock, and be done

TSnedSi

hp=high pinion d30 front axle i believe. ive run 32's and lock rite lockers, front and rear, on my 95 with an 8.25 for a while. ive wheeled it pretty hard and its held together real well. goin with 33's now. the lockers make such a huge difference in mud its unreal. rocks and rough trail rides you pretty much need em since as soon as 1 wheel loses traction the axle is pretty much useless.

dev_daddy

My buddy has run 35's on his hp30 for years now. and we beat the hell out of it in moab and in a few huge mud holes, and it's still alive. hasn't broken anything. i guess we're just lucky. but it just goes to show that 30's can be a decent axle!

billulsund

I've run 35x12.5x15 Super Swamper TSL radials on my Dana 30 with a lockright for the past year and have not broken anything. I have stock shafts (ABS with the stronger ears and u-joints) and I wheel my rig often and beat on it pretty hard.

dev_daddy

yeah, his is all stock too. and it isn't the abs. and we beat the snot out of it. and it's still rollin strong!

dpace7XJ

Dang straight

Rock Toy

I'm in Eastern Oregon and I live in the mountains, I guess it would depend on where in Eastern Oregon you are moving, as to how far it would be to go wheeling in the Blues. Don't really know what you mean by rally, but Aussie lockers are good and they are inexpensive.

TheCheif

I'll be moving to or near Burns Oregon. What I mean by rally is haul a$$ on moderately rough trails bumping and jarring the suspension at higher speeds. (not all the time)
Thanks everyone for the info!!
I prefer no fab but would be willing to.

Rock Toy

Burns should be good for wheeling, desert wheeling, and mountains not that far away.

TheCheif

yeah I just want to make sure I don't do a little playing around and break down several miles from a road or something. (again) sucks having to hike out 5-7miles.. Im sure some people have had to do way worse though.