Feel my rear...

[Punisher]

Hey guys.. I'm trying to learn about front and rear axles and want to know what I have and maybe learn how to upgrade them if its worth it... now mind you this rears and front are stock but I like to kow the size and where to look to know....

this is on my 1996

Front
http://i860.photobucket.com/albums/ab165/punisher1_972/IMG_0890.jpg
Rear
http://i860.photobucket.com/albums/ab165/punisher1_972/IMG_0892.jpg

This is on my 1991
front
http://i860.photobucket.com/albums/ab165/punisher1_972/IMG_0888.jpg
rear
http://i860.photobucket.com/albums/ab165/punisher1_972/IMG_0889.jpg

[XJ Rat]

The 96 has a Dana 30 high pinion (reverse rotation) in the front and a Chrysler 8.25, 27 spline in the rear. Check the tag under the cover bolts to see what ratio you have.
The Dana 30 is a good axle. Keep tire size below 35" and it will do good for you. Cheap upgrade is get larger U joint axle shafts. The XJ currently has 260 u joints in the front end. Get 294 U joints. They are stronger (larger). Axles out of a 97+ XJ, or any TJ wil work.
The 8.25 will work OK. If you want to upgrade that get a 30 spline out of a 97+ XJ, or a Dana 44 out of an 80s XJ. Do you have limited slip? Check the tag. Otherwise jack the rear tires off the ground. Rotate one. If the opposite tire goes in the same direction you have some type of limited slip differential. If it goes in the opposite direction you are open.

The 91 has a Dana 30 high pinion (reverse rotation) in the front and a Dana 35 in the rear. Check the tag under the cover bolts to see what ratio you have.
The Dana 30 is a good axle. Keep tire size below 35" and it will do good for you. Cheap upgrade is get larger U joint axle shafts. The XJ currently has 260 u joints in the front end. Get 294 U joints. They are stronger (larger). Axles out of a 97+ XJ, or any TJ wil work.
The Dana 35 is a boat anchor at best. If you keep it get a few axles and learn how to change them in your driveway. Do yourself a favor and don't spend any money trying to upgrade the turd (axle). You ever heard the old saying about polishing a turd? Well the Dana 35 is pictured next to this saying. I know of two that snapped in the left turn lane, and have seen several snap off road in not challenging areas. Upgrades are same as the 96.

Wheel what you have. Upgrade what breaks. Do not waste your time or money on the Dana 35.

[Punisher]

The 96 has a Dana 30 high pinion (reverse rotation) in the front and a Chrysler 8.25, 27 spline in the rear. Check the tag under the cover bolts to see what ratio you have.
The Dana 30 is a good axle. Keep tire size below 35" and it will do good for you. Cheap upgrade is get larger U joint axle shafts. The XJ currently has 260 u joints in the front end. Get 294 U joints. They are stronger (larger). Axles out of a 97+ XJ, or any TJ wil work.
The 8.25 will work OK. If you want to upgrade that get a 30 spline out of a 97+ XJ, or a Dana 44 out of an 80s XJ. Do you have limited slip? Check the tag. Otherwise jack the rear tires off the ground. Rotate one. If the opposite tire goes in the same direction you have some type of limited slip differential. If it goes in the opposite direction you are open.

The 91 has a Dana 30 high pinion (reverse rotation) in the front and a Dana 35 in the rear. Check the tag under the cover bolts to see what ratio you have.
The Dana 30 is a good axle. Keep tire size below 35" and it will do good for you. Cheap upgrade is get larger U joint axle shafts. The XJ currently has 260 u joints in the front end. Get 294 U joints. They are stronger (larger). Axles out of a 97+ XJ, or any TJ wil work.
The Dana 35 is a boat anchor at best. If you keep it get a few axles and learn how to change them in your driveway. Do yourself a favor and don't spend any money trying to upgrade the turd (axle). You ever heard the old saying about polishing a turd? Well the Dana 35 is pictured next to this saying. I know of two that snapped in the left turn lane, and have seen several snap off road in not challenging areas. Upgrades are same as the 96.

Wheel what you have. Upgrade what breaks. Do not waste your time or money on the Dana 35.

Kool... My brother inlaw says the 96 has limited slip so I'm going to have to jack it up and check... cuase when he bought the jeep sumin was wrong with the first one and he brought it back and they upgrade it to the limited slip but you know how these dealers are they'll tell you anything... but I'm going to see if it's true... And another thing which tags am I looking for? I have a photo of the 96 one but its all numbers...

http://i860.photobucket.com/albums/ab165/punisher1_972/IMG_0891.jpg

[4.3LXJ]

On that limited slip, the clutches wear out over time and can behave like an open diff. If you are in doubt, you will have to pull the cover to be sure. That 8.25 will be fine for most stuff. You can run 33s with a locker without problems.

[alwaysxj]

looks like you have the best of both worlds in the 96. high pinion Dana 30 front and 8.25 rear.

[bigjim350]

Also the D30 in the front of your 91 should be a Vacuum Disconnect, while the one in the 96 is not. And I agree I would not spend money on the D35. However I have never seen a D35 break. I know Rene has a welded D35 on 33" tires thats gets driven daily and wheeled hard, and hasn't broke. So I wouldn't spend money on the D35, but I wouldn't replace it till it breaks.

[oderdene]

It is 3.55 open diff. non-disco

spicer have great informative library here (http://www2.dana.com/expertforms/deabill.aspx),

and bill of materials for your axle is here (http://www2.dana.com/expert/wc.dll?hvtss%7Edebill%7Ebill%7EJEEP_30FA%20%20%20% 20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%200%7E610502-7)

[LizardRunner]

that's a Dana 30 front and the C8.25 rear.

[Punisher]

can someone tell me that in english? i know nothing about gear ratios LOL....
I can do motors all day long but gears for axles forget it...

[teamwestoutdoors]

I have been running the same axles your 91 has on 33's with a 6 inch lift. Im not a big advocate of the turd but so far I have only broke one axle and that was on the short side of my D30. Well I had a u-joint explode anyway. Since then I have upgraded my u-joints to the spicer 760X. But I do carry spare shafts for my turd, just in case.

[XJ4IV]

the 3.55 gears are pretty much standard issue for the XJ low on frills... it offers the best bang for power and gas mileage...they offered a 3.07 gear ratio in lots of wranglers to offer better MPG but overall NOT a highly sought after upgrade... the gear ratio IF im not mistaken I know the big gearheads will tell me if Im wrong... basically the ratio means that the pinion or driveshaft will turn "that" many rotations to the 1 rotation of the ring gear
meaning the 3.55 gear ratio will JUST over three and a half rotations to make the ring gear... which is ALSO how many times your wheels will turn one single rotation.
its know widely that the HIGHER the number the better the torque response is. when I do my axle swap I wanted to go to a 5.13 ratio which is pretty high but not the highest thats offered but I have been educated that 4.88 is a good ratio for the size tires im going with (38/39's)

[LizardRunner]

Having looked again at your pictures I don't think you have a LSD D30 in the front. the D30 with LSD has the letters LS on the plate or a reference tab to use additives with the gear oil. You do have the D30 front and the C 8.25 rear, just like my 95. the D30 is the high pinion model and a good unit. X2 on the 3.55 gears, those are std in the 8.25 rear tow package and should work with up to 35 tires. If you are really wanting a stump puller then I'd go with 4.11's just remember if you change the rear end you have to match the front end to it or you will be busting axles or drive shaft parts like crazy.

[Punisher]

Can anyone find a XJ chart or some kind of thing like that so I can learn this? I've looked but cant find what I'm looking for.. thanks

[Outlaw]

Can anyone find a XJ chart or some kind of thing like that so I can learn this? I've looked but cant find what I'm looking for.. thanks

http://www.naxja.net/forum/showthread.php?t=101249
the best info I could find... and this http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.custom4x4fabrication.com/diffguardtype.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.custom4x4fabrication.com/armor.html&usg=__-wEnCfjwoMM6pu3Bbr5OWJIwA_c=&h=498&w=600&sz=50&hl=en&start=0&sig2=vonKFU7pNOJTFZD9DFaPRQ&zoom=1&tbnid=WmY3AvadkfwLBM:&tbnh=141&tbnw=178&ei=6bM3Tf-DDsaAlAf0mrj7Bg&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dchrysler%2B8.25%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D102 0%26bih%3D595%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=341&vpy=77&dur=3526&hovh=204&hovw=246&tx=144&ty=119&oei=6bM3Tf-DDsaAlAf0mrj7Bg&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0

[XJ Rat]

Can anyone find a XJ chart or some kind of thing like that so I can learn this? I've looked but cant find what I'm looking for.. thanks

Here is a tire size and gear chart found in XJtalk. Hope it helps some.


http://www.xjtalk.com/showthread.php?t=402