which diff do i have?

i am new to the xj world and would like to know which front and rear diff's i have on my 2000 xj, can i tell just by lookin (bolt pattern), I would also like to purchase another xj in the future and this info would be helpful. Is the dana 44 better than the chrysler 8.25?
thanks for the response
p.s. I already did a search on this toppic.

look in the FAQs forum, its under "what differential do I have"

then look at the guide to searching

you have a d30 low pinion front, to tell if you have a d35 or 8.25/ 29spline axles you can just look at the differential, to see pics of the two just type in dana 35 or chrysler 8.25 on google images to see the difference.

the dana 44 is stronger than the 8.25

Hm -
If you have ABS, you have the Dana 30 rear end. If you do not, it could be either the D35 or the Chrysler 8.25" - even odds. Check the bottom of the housing then, if it's flat and horizontal, it's the ChryCo - if it's oval, it's the Dana 35.

The Dana 44 was not found under XJ's from the factory after 1988 or 1989, and only then it was found in the trailer tow package (XJ/MJ) or Metric Tonne/Heavy Duty Suspension package (MJ.)

The Dana 30 front was used through the production life of the XJ and MJ.

There are two versions of the ChryCo 8.25 - I believe they were the 27-spline axle shafts (early) and 29-spline shafts (late.) The 29-spline is superior, and is (I think) on a par with the Dana 44 - but more upgrades and gearing are available for the Dana 44. That, and my opinions is a bit coloured - I have more experience with the D44 than I do with the ChryCo - since I built a batch of them under early Corvettes, and built quite a few for bracket and street/strip cars...

5-90

Copied this from a FAQ on another webpage, but it's easier then typing.

AXLES
• Front Axles
Dana 30 high pinion - reverse cut - 27 spline, 1.16" diameter shafts, 7.13" ring gear - used 84-99 (some axles through 91 are vacuum disconnect, 92+ are non-disconnect, 89-95 with ABS have 5-297x u-joints, all 95+ have 5-297x u-joints, all others have 5-260x u-joints)

Dana 30 low pinion - standard cut - 27 spline, 1.16" diameter shafts, 7.13" ring gear, 5-297x u-joints - used 00-01

• 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 84-89

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

Chrysler 8.25 - 27 spline, 1.17" diameter shafts, 8.25" ring gear, 3" axle tube - used 91-96
Chrysler 8.25 - 29 spline, 1.21" diameter shafts, 8.25" ring gear, 3" axle tube - 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 XJs equipped with towing package.

5-90 said:

Hm -
If you have ABS, you have the Dana 30 rear end.

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What?

CSaddict said:

What?

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You know what he meant, you have the Dana 35, he mis-typed.

FiFo said:

Copied this from a FAQ on another webpage, but it's easier then typing.

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

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

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soo did ALL 84-89 have non c-clip 35's?

FiFo said:

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

Dana 44 non c-clip - 30 spline, 1.31" diameter shafts, 8.5" ring gear, 2.75" axle tube - used 87-89 on XJs equipped with towing package.

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My read would be they either came with a Dana 35 or a Dana 44. A D44 being far and away the better option though kind of rare.

FiFo said:

My read would be they either came with a Dana 35 or a Dana 44. A D44 being far and away the better option though kind of rare.

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How rare are rear d44 from the factory?

very rare.

cjsxj87 said:

How rare are rear d44 from the factory?

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If you look thru a high volume junkyard you might see 100 or so XJ's before seeing a D44 rear end.

5-90 said:

If you have ABS, you have the Dana 35 rear end. If you do not, its the Chrysler 8.25 since 1988. Check the bottom of the housing then, if it's flat and horizontal, it's the ChryCo - if it's oval, it's the Dana 35.

5-90

Click to expand...

Fixed it for you.

Here is a Chrysler 8.25. Like 5-90 said, if it has this little lip on the bottom, its a 8.25

steelmen said:

soo did ALL 84-89 have non c-clip 35's?

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That's unpossible - I've got a 1987, 1988, and two 1989's that don't have C-clips. I checked....

Not sure about the 1990 - haven't gotten into that axle yet...

5-90

CSaddict said:

What?

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Gimme a break - I'm usually doing six things at once, and that seems to be a "fairly common" error for me (damn - I hate that...)

It's probably falling into the same blind spot as the "i before e" crap I never quite mastered...:wierd:

5-90

Zoro said:

If you look thru a high volume junkyard you might see 100 or so XJ's before seeing a D44 rear end.

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I guess it depends on your area. They aren't common, but I've found several for both the mj and xj. The salvage yard in the area that I bought my d44 from charged me $150.00, and pulled it for me. A 8.25 rear from a 97 and up would've ran me $300.00-$400.00. A d35 w/abs would be about the same. My d44 was cheap because it came off of an 87, and they aren't rebuilding those.

I have a d44 in my 87 pioneer xj but i might be able to get my uncles 87 limited about how much would i be able to sell it for in the new england area? i think theres about 154xxx miles on it?

cjsxj87 said:

I have a d44 in my 87 pioneer xj but i might be able to get my uncles 87 limited about how much would i be able to sell it for in the new england area? i think theres about 154xxx miles on it?

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All of about $6, j/k check out Ebay...why not just swap into the new XJ?