rear axle shaft

Can somebody tell me, is there any reason why the rear axle shafts out of 92 dana 35 wont work in my 88 Dana 35?

'88 is going to have a non C-clip axle shaft and the '92 should be C-clip.

Shorty said:

'88 is going to have a non C-clip axle shaft and the '92 should be C-clip.

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well i was told that i have newer axles because I dont have the vacuum actuated 4 wheel drive... so how do i tell if they are c clipped?

tear it apart and look. my 91 has the vac actuated 4 wheel drive but my other 91 doesnt

'88 with the 242 transfer case wouldn't have vacuum disconnect from factory, so it's no guarantee that anything's been changed. Since the axle's age is now in question, you should be able to pull the wheel and drum to look for an access hole in the wheel mounting surface. IIRC, the C-clip axle doesn't have the hole in it since you can remove it/install it without removing the bearing plate.

D30 CAD (vacuum disconnect) front axle, used with NP/NV 231 transfercase through 91; eliminated 92+.

No D30 CAD axle used with the NP/NV242 OEM.

Dana 35 non c-clip - 27 spline, 1.18" diameter shafts, 7.58" ring gear, 2.62" axle tube, 60.5” WMS - used 84-89


Dana 35 c-clip - 27 spline, 1.18" diameter shafts, 7.58" ring gear, 2.62" axle tube, 60.5” WMS - used 90-01


Chrysler 8.25 - 27 spline, 1.17" diameter shafts, 8.25" ring gear, 3" axle tube, 60.5” WMS - used 91-96


Chrysler 8.25 - 29 spline, 1.21" diameter shafts, 8.25" ring gear, 3" axle tube, 60.5” WMS - used 97-01


Dana 44 non c-clip - 30 spline, 1.31" diameter shafts, 8.5" ring gear, 2.75" axle tube - used 87-89 on some (not all) XJs equipped with towing package.


Note: Dana 35 axles sometimes referred to as Dana 35C - The "C" does not stand for c-clip. It stands for "custom" meaning it came from Dana unfinished.


Note: 8.25 axles - none of these axles were used on XJs with ABS brakes. If you have ABS, you have the Dana 35. Without ABS you could have either axle. 8.25 axles are c-clip.

if you take off the wheel, a non c-clip axle (semi floating, or 3/4 float), there will be a hole for you to put the 9/16ths socket thru the shaft to get to the axle retainer bolts, as seen here http://www.g2axle.com/images/Products/rear_axle.png

a c-clip axle wont have this hole, as the c-clip retains the axle.
if your inside the dif, you could look for the c-clips.