Should I bother with upgrade

[96sport]

I have 29 spline c8.25 in xj and dana 30 i was wanting to go to 44 front and rear, at the moment im not going to go over 33" tires. i plan to sleeve and truss both axles if not going to 44's. is the 8.25 comparable to 44 in strength and durability? I've never had one till now.

[bigjim350]

What kind of wheeling do you do? Do you plan on lockers? Either way the D30 and 8.25 should be just fine on 33's. Lockers and rocks would put some stress on em, but dont think you'd break one unless you just go nuts.

[96sport]

mostly mud and dirt, but lockers im putting in and have 4.56 gears also. adn there will be climbing but rocky terrain is far from where i live so it wouldnt be an everyday thing just on trips

[bigjim350]

Well i think you'd be fine even without the sleeve and truss. Ive launched mine a few times and havent bent anything yet. Havent broke a axle either, course im open front and rear. But im also running 33's on the d30 with smaller ujoints and the 27 spl 8.25

[96sport]

thank you bigjim350.

[96sport]

Thats a big help and now the money can go for other parts.

[bigjim350]

Just post pics as ya mod please :D

[bluedragon436]

Yeah I would stick with what you got for now.. I'm running 33's, and have been DD that for a while now, and have done some trails and mud with no issues as of yet...

[96sport]

I will post pics as build goes. step by step.. thank you to bluedragon436. it makes me feel more at ease. knowing you guys have been running similar style with minimal problems.

[bluedragon436]

I mean it also depends on how much skill you plan on putting into it... If you are just going to hit everything you can without being careful, then you are probably going to bend or break something, if you are going to just nail the gas through the floor and see how far you make it... then you might break something... then again you still might on any axle setup driving like that!! But as far as DD and hitting the trails/mud on the weekend and having a good time, you should be good with the setup you have... I have seen many people over the years I've been researching that same upgrade or not to upgrade dilema!!

[bigjim350]

I mean it also depends on how much skill you plan on putting into it... If you are just going to hit everything you can without being careful, then you are probably going to bend or break something, if you are going to just nail the gas through the floor and see how far you make it... then you might break something... then again you still might on any axle setup driving like that!! But as far as DD and hitting the trails/mud on the weekend and having a good time, you should be good with the setup you have... I have seen many people over the years I've been researching that same upgrade or not to upgrade dilema!!

wait. i hit everything i can without being careful, and just nail the gas to the floor to see how far i make it, and still nothing broke.......yet :D

[bluedragon436]

wait. i hit everything i can without being careful, and just nail the gas to the floor to see how far i make it, and still nothing broke.......yet :D

That's due to the Green Jeep powa!! LOL..

[96sport]

i ordered front sleeves and rear truss today from iron rock off road. i will b getting front truss also soon. i also got 2" budget lift for my 02 grand. more parts to come...

[bluedragon436]

Sounds like a good plan!! I was looking at the sleeves for the D30 the other day.. Might pick them up once I get more trail time on the XJ.. Until then, I'll stick with my stock axle setup for now!!

[HockeyDawg]

I used to wheel heavy on the rocks with my TJ that had 30/35 axles running 33s with stock gearing and never broke anything. I was never heavy on the skinny pedal, but with the 2.5 heavy didn't accomplish much anyway. I plan on keeping my 30/8.25 and maybe just do gears.

[07Negative]

Depends on the wheeling. I too have a 8.25 with 33's and locked. Stock everything. No issues of breaking anything. But I would suggest making them stronger if your gonna beat on it. The Dana 30 hybrid I think is a great choice. A touch cheaper in price. Sure the pinion isn't as stout as a Dana44, but I'm fine with that.
The 8.25 gets shat on quite a bit. It's rather strong for what it is. You can Alloy USA inners to make them stronger. 4.56 gears, a detroit or lunch box locker, throw a disc brake on it. Even with a truss, you'd still spend less that 2000 (not including a detroit) and you get a killer axle. If your in heavy mud or insane rocks then sure go one ton but if that was the case I doubt you'd be asking the question in the first place.
Just built up what you got. Or even better. Wheel what you got. If it brakes. Then make it better.

[Mudderoy]

Other than the "C" clip the only thing I have heard bad about the C 8.25 is the pumpkin can spin. So if you truss it, or maybe even just put a weld on the tubes, you can take care of that.

Also I believe that if you do the disc brake conversion that will hold your wheel in if you break an axle.