How do I identify a Dana 44 rear diff?

I just bought a 96 Sport, which I think is equipped with a Dana 44 rear. The axle tubes have a larger diameter than on my 89, and the bottom of the diff is 'squared' off, rather than being round like the 89. I searched for a tag on the diff, with no luck.

The firewall tag would probably tell me, but I don't know how to decode it...?
Thanks for any help on this,
ROE

I would be majorly surprised to find a D44 in a 96 unless someone did a swap.

http://www.coloradok5.com/axleguide.shtml

Sounds like an 8.25 which was standard equip on late model XJ's

edmaude said:

Sounds like an 8.25 which was standard equip on late model XJ's

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X2 should be a 27 spline 8.25

Thanks for the replies, guys. OldMan, I didn't see anything in the axle guide that looked like it, but my Chilton's shows two possible rear axles for the 96, a D35 and D44. It dosen't mention the corporate 8.25.......?

My 89 diff is a D35, and the 96 has a larger housing and the axle tubes are considerably larger. It also has the larger drums on the rear. All this is what lead me to believe it's a D44. It also has a larger front sway bar, maybe part of a towing package? And the suspension is much stiffer than on my 89.

I don't think the diff has been changed. It's a low mileage one owner, owned by an older gentleman that apparently took good care of it, by the way it looks.

Dude its a 8.25

Visual axle identification chart: http://www.yuccaman.com/jeep/gear1.html#axle

Chilton is very vague on lots of stuff such as axles etc. It is most certainly an 8.25. Seach the forum and you'll see a bunch of other writeups and links to axle guide picks

You guys are right.

OK, according to Casm's pictures, it's indeed an 8.25. You all were right.

I still suspect it may have the towing package, because of the stiff suspension and larger diameter sway bar.

So, the 8.25 is a heavier duty diff than the D35? It must be, because it certainly looks bigger, with thicker tubes.

yeah, its a good axle. limited gearing and locker choices, but its a good stout axle.

Runnin'OnEmpty said:

Thanks for the replies, guys. OldMan, I didn't see anything in the axle guide that looked like it, but my Chilton's shows two possible rear axles for the 96, a D35 and D44. It dosen't mention the corporate 8.25.......?

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Chilton's is CRAP. Go to www.techauthority.com and order a new FSM. You can get it in either paper format or on CD so you can just print out the pertinent sections.

I'd hope casm's link looked familiar; after all that is a '96 C8.25 in the picture.