Rear Axle options

[bcrosson92]

alright i have the dana 35. i know the options of d44 ford 8.8 d60 c8.25 and a super35. what would my best option be though. i dont wheel that much right now but i will be getting a second car soonish depends on how fast i can find a job once i graduate collage. i wat to run 35's right now maybe bigger later on but later i might just buy bolt in axles from g2 or someone. i wanna lock it and run chromoly shafts. recomendations for not speanding a ton of money and not much fabing if any at all? i also wanna change it to disc brakes.

[bluedragon436]

If you have the money to spend on the G2 bolt in setup... then go for it.. otherwise what I would do would be find yourself a 29spline 8.25, pick up a bolt on disc brake kit from one of a few different companies that offer them.. or you could pick up parts from a ZJ or KJ and convert the 8.25 over to disc brakes... Then once out get ready to hit up 35's you could have both the front and rear axles regeared for less then what you would spend on having the rear end bolt in from G2 setup... but that is what I would do.. You could probably pick up a 8.25 out of a PNP for a pretty decent deal..

[bluedragon436]

I mean another option if you got the knowledge or friends that can do the welding.. is to look for a 8.8 that is already 4.10's and disc brakes (and maybe even LSD to hold you for a bit), get brackets welded on for being able to bolt her in.. then have your front axle regeared to match..

[bcrosson92]

im looking at a 8.25 for 175 on CL

[bluedragon436]

im looking at a 8.25 for 175 on CL

That doesn't seem like too bad of a deal.. You know if it's a 27spline or a 29 spline?? Do they say what shape it is in??

[bcrosson92]

i beleive its 27 spline its from a 92 or so i think. he said its pretty good shape. 355 gears. im planning to build it on my work bench.

[bluedragon436]

i beleive its 27 spline its from a 92 or so i think. he said its pretty good shape. 355 gears. im planning to build it on my work bench.

that sounds like a good deal.. and doing it on the bench would def be easier then under the XJ that is for sure.. How much are you looking to spend to get a bolt in rear axle w/ disc brakes?? And are you looking to have new gears now, or stick with 3.55's for now??

[4.3LXJ]

Just a word of caution, a 27 spline locked will not hold lup to 35s. You need a 29 spline

[bcrosson92]

the g2 is like 2.5k for any axle. im planning on regearing now to 488. i wish the 8.25 would run 5.13. i know the 27 wont handle 35's thats where the chromoly shafts come in. if i did a bolt in it would be everything all at once. the 8.25 will be built up slowly then bolted in place ready for 35's.

[bluedragon436]

I only ask cause if you were looking to be able to spend a bit of money on what you wanted.. You could look into DND's bolt in 8.8 in the 4.88 w/ or w/o LSD.. disc to disc ready to go for under $1k.. and they are "local" to you up there in PA

[bcrosson92]

interesting.

[bcrosson92]

got a link for me?

[bcrosson92]

i found it. thanks you for the recommendation. i think i might get a bolt in 8.8 from them. how much better would an 8.8 be?

[bluedragon436]

got a link for me?

Ahh crap... sorry about that.. Thought I had put the link in that message.. I even copied it and had it ready to paste in the message.. I don't low know that there is really any huge pro over the 8.25 really... other then you can get them with disc brakes already or an LSD already... or even 4.10 gears from the factory.. But if you are picking it up from them, then it is already bolt in and read to go with the gear ratio you want, so the only real con I know of for the 8.8 over the 8.25 would then be taken care of, being that it wouldn't' be bolt ready for the XJ once you pull it from the PNP... The DND folks are good guys, and they are pretty reasonably priced for their products and their work.. Looking forward to picking up their rear tire carrier bumper for my XJ hopefully in the near future..

[bcrosson92]

yea their bumper looks good.

[07Negative]

Going off what you first post. I'd have to say you're asking or wanting too much for too little. Such as the running 35's locked and possibly going bigger later. That statement in its self can lead you to spending more money than you want or need. And if you're looking to spend the least amount of money. I'd tell ya to go and get a Honda civic. But since you have a jeep. I would then say, get a 29 Spline 8.25. Get the Alloy shafts. You're probably going to want to go with 4.88's. And do a selectable locker in the rear. You'll be glad you did when you're driving in the snow. Do a disk break conversion from a Liberty.
I did all this to my 8.25 But I also welded on a truss but have a detroit in the rear. The Detroit in the rear sucks big time driving through the mountains trying to get to the slopes.
After you do all that. Now you have to worry about the front and that's where going to drop a stupid amount of coin. And I mean a stupid amount of coin.
After my situation. I'd honestly say look for 87-89 XJ Dana 44. People are exploiting the crap out of them. I've seen them as high as $600 stock. No upgrades. But at that point you can get a Dana 60 out of a Ford E250 or 350. It's a full floater. You'll sit on it for a while. Save up coin. And have it cut to length and have the flanges welded on. Then save some more until the next thing can be done. Hell, it'll take you some time to go at it like that. But at least you wont be buying twice.

[bluedragon436]

yea their bumper looks good.

Yeah I was going to get their sliders and both front and rear bumpers from them... But I'm going to pull the sliders and reuse them from my 90 for now.. and got a good deal on the front bumper I got now, that helped another Jeeper with some money for further build, and remedy the space taken up by the bumper that he didn't even need anymore..

[bcrosson92]

the point of buying cheep now is im about to graduate collage and have to start paying loans. i want to have something able to run 35's now and do some mild wheeling. if or when i wanna go bigger it will be much bigger like 40's on d60's. if i buy twice it will be in like 5 or more years. and then ill be ok with spending alot.

[bcrosson92]

i like their sliders too but i like the idea of doing the 2x6 tubeing rocker upgrade plus u can always bolt on regular sliders under

[07Negative]

If you're projecting for the long long run. Then a decent built 8.25 will do you fine on 35's and "mild/Careful" wheeling. I personally really like the 8.25, minus the C clips on the axle shafts.

[bcrosson92]

honestly im not the most careful. i think im going to do the bolt in 8.8 from DND. you think a well built 8.8 would be strong enough for me to not worry and should i do a LSD in it or what. keep in mind im ok with speanding more later for a better set up

[4.3LXJ]

You shouldn't have any problems with the LSD and the Ford axle. Plenty strong enough

[bcrosson92]

should i do the lsd in the rear with something like a spartan up front or just use a spartan in the rear as well. its the same cost with lsd or open.

[4.3LXJ]

I am a fan of rear lockers first. The rear axle pushes and is the most important in my experience. However, there are times in level mud where a front locker are a little better

[bcrosson92]

ok so lsd or locker? and which locker im not doing an arb right now

[bcrosson92]

i dont really wanna do an lsd and a locker unless its a good idea?

[4.3LXJ]

The lsd is more street friendly for sure. But all in all, the locker is the ticket off road. They make a rig so much capable. The addition of a rear locker also affects the front somewhat and makes an open front work better too as long as the vehicle is in motion

[bcrosson92]

ok so recommendations on a rear locker that can handle 513 gears

[4.3LXJ]

Any rear locker will work for you. They will accept all ratios. But I would plan on getting some 29 spline axles to go with it

[bcrosson92]

i will get the 29 spline but what brand / style should i look at? i dont know what to look for

[4.3LXJ]

It depends on whether you want auto or selectable

[bcrosson92]

ok with possibly going to an arb later should i just get an auto? or could i get a different select able thats cheeper now that works close to as well

[4.3LXJ]

You can get an auto now. But seriously, just get what you want to end up with. More bucks I know, but when you consider set up if you don't do it yourself, then it comes out better

[bcrosson92]

ok i can do the set up myself

[4.3LXJ]

Well, if you are wanting a selectable, unless you have on board air already, an electric locker is going to be cheaper and just as good unless you want to go with an OX

[bcrosson92]

honestly i have no idea what i want as far as a locker. i just picked arb as being the ultimate thats all. i DD it but might not be soon but it will still be driven on road a lot. but i can deal with poor road manners if its better off road. i know im not being very helpful.

[4.3LXJ]

Well, then the cheapest thing for you to do is come up with the 29 spline axle shafts and carrier. Rather than new, pick up a used axle, then put in a Lokka. No additional set up that way. Shouldn't run over $500 tops. Shop around and you can shave that down $100