Hey i'm going to lock up my rear soon but want to do an axle up grade from my 27 spline 8.25 before i drop the dough on a locker. At first i was going to just go from a 27 to a 29 spline 8.25 because i already have a set of 4.56 gears to go in an 8.25. But then i started thinking about an 8.8 because of the added strengh and the disk brakes... But now i'm totally lost on what to do! Will someone just make up my mind for me please! lol biut really, any imput or opinions at all i want to hear it. And also i'm running 35s and 4.56s and plan on locking up front and rear incase you want to know.
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8.8 vs. 29 spline 8.25
- Thread starter nochance9
- Start date
asp
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Westport, MA
do you have fab skills/access to it? that's what would make the difference for me, if i were in your shoes. you could turn around and sell the 4.56 for the 8.25 for a fair amount and put that towards 4.56 in the 8.8. hope that helped.
rogersjeep
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Pearland Texas
I believe its more than just marginally stronger I'm sure its a lot stronger.
Between the larger shafts and the larger pinion its stronger.
a dana 44 is marginally stronger.
An 8.8 is lots stronger
Between the larger shafts and the larger pinion its stronger.
a dana 44 is marginally stronger.
An 8.8 is lots stronger
Durango-Bob
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Greensburg, PA
I'd stick with the 8.25 if it were mine. Swapping it out for an 8.8 is a bunch of work for very little gain. Upgrade your shafts when you regear and you'll be fine.
Nubster
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Romney, WV
I am in the same boat except I have the turdy5 in my Jeep and I am trying to decide whether I want the DIY bolt up ease of the 8.25 or the hassle of finding/paying someone to weld and help install the 8.8.
I know that warn does not rate the d44 much stronger then even the d35 but I really dont trust the numbers. Yes the 8.8 is very stout but I just dont see how the d44 is not rated much higher then the d35.
robsjeepxj
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- North Jersey
I've got the 8.8 and it is much stronger than the 8.25 will ever be no matter what you do to it, it's stronger than the 44 for that matter if you compare the housings and the axle shaft diameters and ring gear size (44=8.5"). People are always asking me "what rear do you have in there" because it looks so huge under there with massive pumpkin and 3.25" tubes. The only thing the 44 and 8.25 have going for them is that if they came out of an XJ they would bolt right in. The bracket kit for my 8.8 was only $180 so even that is not that much of a concern, probably worth it in the end.
Last edited:
Cherokeekid88
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- North Carolina
Im going with the 29 spline 8.25. I mean , its alot easier of a swap and I don't think the 8.8 is that much stronger, at least not strong enough to make me wanna find one, and then do all the prep work for it and then bolt it in, when i can get a 8.25 for a song and easy to find and just regear and bolt it right up.
foxwar71
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Foxboro, MA
you've already gat the 8.25 and gears, jsut add soem 29 spline sahfts and a 29 spline locker and be done with it. An 8.25 will hold up to 35's just fine, at least i trust mine will with no problems
friscokidd
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Arvada, Co.
another vote for the 8.25
i was running a 8.25 29-spline with a no-slip locker and yukon shafts on 33's and then on some 35's. As long as you dont drive like an asshat...meaning your right foot is a lead weight, you should be fine. I had the 30 up front locked with alloys too and didnt worry about much. Just couldnt to pick the "full width or d60 f/b guys" line.
i was running a 8.25 29-spline with a no-slip locker and yukon shafts on 33's and then on some 35's. As long as you dont drive like an asshat...meaning your right foot is a lead weight, you should be fine. I had the 30 up front locked with alloys too and didnt worry about much. Just couldnt to pick the "full width or d60 f/b guys" line.
squidd
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Everett, WA
As long as you have a welder, the 8.8 swap was pretty easy. Once the old perches were cut off the fab work and install went together in a bout 5 hours and you can't overlook the "free" disk brake conversion you get out of the deal.
Just Differentials
Differentials and Axles!
- Location
- Washington State
If you already have the 8.25" and 4.56's you may as well just upgrade to 29 spline. An 8.25" really isnt too bad, and there is pretty decent aftermarket support now such as gears up to 4.88, lockers, etc. The 8.8 is a pretty good swap too, but gains wont be huge.
rogersjeep
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Pearland Texas
well with my 8.8 and 36'' iroks (factory shafts)I can drive like an asshat and not even blink an eye...
with a little home fabrication I installed mine for about $60.
the rear only cost $150.
Better than any 8.25 or 44.
with a little home fabrication I installed mine for about $60.
the rear only cost $150.
Better than any 8.25 or 44.
emr1101
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Raleigh, NC
Warn said that?????
jd4x426
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Northampton,PA
the 8.8 is the way to go its a hell of a good axle and disk brakes just cut brakets off weld on new ones and call it a day
mindless
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- West Seneca NY
What put me over the edge for doing the 8.8 swap was when i was looking at locker prices from 8.8 to 8.25. Big difference and a lot more out there for the 8.8.
asp
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Westport, MA
29 spline carrier is bigger too (just FYI to the OP).
