how to id a xj axle?

Today I saw a Cherokee Chief, no motor, trans, or transfer. It had a disconnect front HP30 and the lift gate said it had a 2.8L. I looked under it and a rear skid on the fuel tank, tow package, and maybe a D44. The axle looked very similar to the D35 mine has. I can say it had what looked (very greasy so hard to tell) like a screw in filler plug (female type). It was to muddy to really get a good look. Any comments about this would be helpful.

Thanks

here's a D-44:



hope for the best

Is this D44 in this pic a stock XJ axle? Because the one I saw had a different style fill plug.

Here's a site that'll show you all the different ones.

http://www.off-road.com/jeep/tech/axle/

Look to the outline of the diff cover, not the fill plug. D44 has the 2-3 inch wide bulge that is towards the left side, a srew in fill plug, and has sort of a stop sign shape. D35C have a plastic fill plug and are oval shaped.

Rear Axles
(Note on 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 on 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)

Dana 35 non c-clip - 27 spline, 1.18" diameter shafts, 7.58" ring gear, 2.62" axle tube - used 1984-89
Dana 35 c-clip - 27 spline, 1.18" diameter shafts, 7.58" ring gear, 2.62" axle tube - used 1990-01
Chrysler 8.25 - 27 spline, 1.17" diameter shafts, 8.25" ring gear, 3" axle tube - used 1991-96
Chrysler 8.25 - 29 spline, 1.21" diameter shafts, 8.25" ring gear, 3" axle tube - used 1997-01
Dana 44 non c-clip - 30 spline, 1.31" diameter shafts, 8.5" ring gear, 2.75" axle tube - used 1987-89 on some(not all) XJs equipped with towing package.

Gearing

3.07 - used with 4.0L engine / manual transmission
3.31 - only available on older (pre 87 ?) 2 door XJs with "Fuel Economy" package
3.55 - used with 4.0L engine / automatic transmission
3.73 - found in some XJs with the towing package
4.10 - used with 2.5L engine usually, and older XJs with the "Off-Highway Vehicle" package.
4.56 - rare but can be found on some older (~ 89 ~) models with 2.5L engine and auto transmission

This should help out too: http://www.offroaders.com/info/tech-corner/facts/axles/axlefacts.htm