here are the diffrent axles

[Bentonedge]

here are some axle pics.

Dana35
http://www.drivetrainsuperstores.com/pics/axles/D35REAR.jpg

dana30
http://www.drivetrainsuperstores.com/pics/axles/D30RFRONT.jpg

chrysler 8.25
http://www.drivetrainsuperstores.com/pics/axles/C825REAR27.jpg

dana44
http://www.drivetrainsuperstores.com/pics/axles/D44SFRONT30.jpg

check out www.drivetrainsuperstorescom

i knwo i post this earlier but it was not very weel seen. had the wrong title.
thanks
ben

[Judd W. VA]

Just reviewing a few entries and that pic is just a duplicate of the D35....just diff exposure. The bottom of the 'pumpkin' is not round like that but has quite destinctive ears that make that flange almost flat at the base.

[89xj]

shouldnt the 8.25 have a more distinct flat bottom?

[Bentonedge]

my bad i believe i have the 35 and the 30 mixed. my fault

[Eagle]

Originally posted by Bentonedge
my bad i believe i have the 35 and the 30 mixed. my fault

No, I believe you have them correct.

http://www.highriders.ca/documents/axle_spotter_guide.htm

[Bentonedge]

that is a nice site. i got my axle pics from www.drivetrainsuperstores.com

[Erik the Red]

A dumb question, but is one axle better than another?

Erik
88 Comanche

[Eagle]

Well, the Dana 30 is front and the other 3 are rear, so we'll leave out the 30.

The 35 is the weakest. Mopar 8.25 comes two ways -- 27-spline from '92 thru '95 ('96?), and 29-spline after that. The 27-spline is about the same strngth as the Dana 35, but the axle tubes are bigger and a bit stronger. On the other hand, the 8.25 has a much lower pinion, so more problems with both ground clearance and u-joint angles when lifting.

The Dana 44 is the best of this group. Strength comparable to or better than 29-spline 8.25, higher pinion (although not a "high pinion" configuration). 29-spline 8.25 is probably second best.

Tie between the Dana 35 and 27-spline 8.25 -- not worth the effort to replace on with the other because it's not much of a change.

[Erik the Red]

Originally posted by Eagle
Well, the Dana 30 is front and the other 3 are rear, so we'll leave out the 30. The 35 is the weakest.

Drat. My rear axle corresponds to the second picture, so I have either a 30 or 35, depending on whether the pictures are labeled correctly, but if the 30s are front only then I guess I have a 35 rear.

Erik
88 Comanche

[Bentonedge]

most 87-01 xj will have the 30 and the 35. now there are the few and the prowed and teh unknowing that have the d44. so far i have seen soem 87 and some 89 but i have seen the most out of the 88 wagoneer. that is what i have.

[Eagle]

Your rear axle cannot correspond to the second picture. The second picture is correctly labeled and is a Dana 30, which is a front axle on the XJ/MJ.

The 35 has a fully oval cover. The 44 has a somewhat trapezoidal shape, with several more-or-less straight segments connected by radiused corners.

[Erik the Red]

Eagle, you are so right. I crawled under my Comanche for a better look and--holy jumping mudboggers--I have a Dana 44 rearend. At least, this is what it looks like from the picture:

Comanche axles (http://groups.msn.com/88Comanche/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=1)

Erik
88 Comanche

[Eagle]

Originally posted by Bentonedge
now there are the few and the proud and the unknowing that have the d44.

Erik --

Seems you must belong to the "unknowing" group ;)

The same thing happened to me. I bought a used '87 MJ shortbed. I had always been told that the Dana 44 was used with the metric tonne package, and that the metric tonne package was available only on long beds. So it never occurred to me to check. After I got it home, an XJer friend who is a professional auto tech came by to look at it, and of course he crawled under to see what might be leaking. He came out from under the back with a huge SEG (s**t eatin' grin) on his face asking "Do you know what you have here?"

Obviously, I didn't.

Check your rear brakes. With a Dana 44 you should have 10" x 2.5" brakes. Depending on year, the Dana 35s got 10" x 1.75" or 9" x 2.5"

[Erik the Red]

I belong to so many "unknowing groups" I don't even keep track of the membership cards! I changed my rear brakes recently and the invoice shows the shoes to be 10" x 2.5". It's interesting that my Comanche has the long bed but there is no mention of a Metric Ton option on the Monroni sticker. This is consistent with the breathtaking amount of sag whenever I toss a bag of groceries in the back.

Erik
88 Comanche

[Eagle]

Springs can be beefed up. Sounds like you have a "keeper."

[mdwatkins]

Alright, from the pictures it appears that I have a 35 in the rear of my 99. If this is the case I think I really want to swap it out. If I find a D44 can I just swap it right in? If not how about the 8.25?

Matt

[Eagle]

Originally posted by mdwatkins
Alright, from the pictures it appears that I have a 35 in the rear of my 99. If this is the case I think I really want to swap it out. If I find a D44 can I just swap it right in? If not how about the 8.25?

Matt

If you have a Dana 35 in a '99, you must have ABS. Neither the Dana 44 nor the 8.25 is set up to support your ABS, so to use either one you'll have to decide that you're willing to forego ABS.

[mdwatkins]

Alright...took matters a little more seriously and climbed underneath for a closer look...Thankfully I've got the 8.25. What's the difficulty level of putting in a locker and regearing for 33's?