Axle advice

[CharlieMopps]

OK, I got a 1989 Cherokee with 5.5" lift
D30 and D35 axles on it.
Its a 5 speed stick with stock gearing.
33" BFG All-terain K/O tires

I built it up like I did as a project. I don't go on trails really, but I do use it to get myself and my wife to work in the blizzards that have been happening lately and to have fun playing in the snow. (I got a place with deep snow and drifts pushed up my a plow I can climb)

Well, I KNOW I have to improve the Axles at some point, and the gear ratio is a problem. But after tooling around in 3 feet of snow on Christmas day I realize I need lockers as well. At least in the back.

So I need advice on what to get. I want the cheapest junkyard mods you can think of. I have a wire feed welder, grinders, a good impact wrench. So I feel confident I can pull off most things (although I can't re-gear myself)

So, What should I get? A Crysler 8.25 with 4.10 gears in it already? Did they come with a limited slip diff in them already? How about the front? Just pay someone to re-gear what I have? I got to make it as cheap as I can to slip it by the wife.

Any suggestions?

 

[RCman]

There are about 300 or so threads on this in the last year, but I'll throw some info your way.

A 29-spline 8.35, a Ford 8.8, and a XJ D44 will all be upgrades from what you've got with that D35.
To go to 4.10s, the easy and cheap way would be to find a 8.8 with 4.10s and an LSD. Granted it is an LSD and not a locker, but you said you needed it cheap, so there is an option.

For the front, get a good set of 760x / 297x u-joint shafts if you havn;t already. Gear it with the matching ratio and be done. Worry about other stuff later. You don't need to go nuts it if is 99% street time.

Just a quick estimate, assuming the brakes on the 8.8 are fine:
$450-550 for the setup above if you gear the D30
$600-850 for the setup above if you pay someone else to gear the D30

 

[CharlieMopps]

There are about 300 or so threads on this in the last year, but I'll throw some info your way.

A 29-spline 8.35, a Ford 8.8, and a XJ D44 will all be upgrades from what you've got with that D35.
To go to 4.10s, the easy and cheap way would be to find a 8.8 with 4.10s and an LSD. Granted it is an LSD and not a locker, but you said you needed it cheap, so there is an option.

For the front, get a good set of 760x / 297x u-joint shafts if you havn;t already. Gear it with the matching ratio and be done. Worry about other stuff later. You don't need to go nuts it if is 99% street time.

Just a quick estimate, assuming the brakes on the 8.8 are fine:
$450-550 for the setup above if you gear the D30
$600-850 for the setup above if you pay someone else to gear the D30

It's not even street time. Basically, I only drive it in blizzards. They don't plow our street. A Limited slip would help me through snow right?

Wish I could find a D30 already geared with 4.10s, but they are REALLY expensive.

 

[CharlieMopps]

it's sooo much money that it makes me really consider trying to do my own gears.

 

[Stihl029]

I did a d44 and a 9 inch last spring-summer with a limited slip in the rear. I love it, however it is not what I was hoping for when it comes to icy conditions. It does seem fine in the snow though.

 

[emr1101]

OK, I got a 1989 Cherokee with 5.5" lift
D30 and D35 axles on it.
Its a 5 speed stick with stock gearing.
33" BFG All-terain K/O tires

I built it up like I did as a project. I don't go on trails really, but I do use it to get myself and my wife to work in the blizzards that have been happening lately and to have fun playing in the snow. (I got a place with deep snow and drifts pushed up my a plow I can climb)

Well, I KNOW I have to improve the Axles at some point, and the gear ratio is a problem. But after tooling around in 3 feet of snow on Christmas day I realize I need lockers as well. At least in the back.

So I need advice on what to get. I want the cheapest junkyard mods you can think of. I have a wire feed welder, grinders, a good impact wrench. So I feel confident I can pull off most things (although I can't re-gear myself)

So, What should I get? A Crysler 8.25 with 4.10 gears in it already? Did they come with a limited slip diff in them already? How about the front? Just pay someone to re-gear what I have? I got to make it as cheap as I can to slip it by the wife.

Any suggestions?

Cheapest and easiest is find a 4.10 geared cherokee that is 97+ (29 spline shafts) and 1999- (High pinion front end). These will be in 4cyl models, manual vs. automatic does NOT matter. It may be tough, but if you find it its a drop in mod.

 

[R_jeep]

Cheapest and easiest is find a 4.10 geared cherokee that is 97+ (29 spline shafts) and 1999- (High pinion front end). These will be in 4cyl models, manual vs. automatic does NOT matter. It may be tough, but if you find it its a drop in mod.

easier said than done. good luck finding that. i say that because i found them, but they're not 97+ and it took over two years.

again, easier said than done, swapping axles is no drop in process. granted its easier than rebuilding and setting up gears, actually some find it easier to setup gears.

good luck with that.

 

[CharlieMopps]

Cheapest and easiest is find a 4.10 geared cherokee that is 97+ (29 spline shafts) and 1999- (High pinion front end). These will be in 4cyl models, manual vs. automatic does NOT matter. It may be tough, but if you find it its a drop in mod.

are you talking about sticking with a D35? or the Chrysler 8.25?

 

[R_jeep]

he's talking about an 8.25.

 

[CharlieMopps]

ah yea... I was think that's the way I'd go. My problem is finding a front that is reasonably priced. I can find 8.25's with 4.10s and limited slip arround here for under $200. But the front axle is the real problem. They're going for $700 to $1000!

 

[RCman]

But the front axle is the real problem. They're going for $700 to $1000!

For a D30? That's NUTS!
To bad you're in WI, I've got one with 3.55s I've been trying to get rid of. You could gear that and swap it in.

 

[CharlieMopps]

For a D30? That's NUTS!
To bad you're in WI, I've got one with 3.55s I've been trying to get rid of. You could gear that and swap it in.

well, I could always get the 8.25 for the rear and then re-gear the D30 I already have in the front. But then again, I bet it's $400 to regear.

The problem with the front is, all the salvage yards want to sell the whole ting. Knuckles, hubs, breaks, the steering stuff... all of which I do not need.

 

[xcm]

around here you can buy entire cherokees for less than $700-1000$
axles dont rust thru, do they? buy a rustbucket and scrap everything but the turdy

 

[markw]

If you haven't geared it yet, go with 4.56's if your running 33's.

 

[CharlieMopps]

If you haven't geared it yet, go with 4.56's if your running 33's.

for a stick?

 

[xcm]

33s + 4.56 = win

 

[CharlieMopps]

ok, but I cant get an axle with 4.56 gears already in it. So you're talking about buying a new rear and re-gearing both axles. Oh yea, and then a locker. I ant getting $1500 by the wife.

 

[MoparManiac]

Well you can find up to 4.56s in a D30 from the factory. I've personally seen 2 sets of these, both of them 2.5L/AW4 and pre-'91.

If you're lucky enough to find one of these, take at least the D30. All the rears will be D35s, so that's up to you. On the street, a D35 could definitely blow up but a lot less likely. That's the absolutely cheapest way to go.

 

[89xj]

ok, but I cant get an axle with 4.56 gears already in it. So you're talking about buying a new rear and re-gearing both axles. Oh yea, and then a locker. I ant getting $1500 by the wife.

ive got 4.10 in my 89 5sp with 31" tires and if I were to go with 33" tires, i would WANT 4.56 gear ratio.

4.10 and 33's will be a huge improvement from what you have now. if it comes down to money and availablity(4.10 in a 8.8 or 8.25 junk yard axle), i would think 4.10 would be ok, but not ideal.

 

[Gary E]

4.56s would be best, but cheap would be an 8.8 with 4.10s and an LSD allready in it, and a late 80s junkyard dana 30 with 4.10s allready in it. Put some 297 shafts in and you are good. This will require a little welding, Perches on the 8.8. But, you may be able to get it all done for around $500. I would not do anything to that dana 35. I for the most part think LSDs are crap and nearlly a complete waste of time unless its a street car, but I would not want my wife or anyone else to drive my jeep with a locker in the snow or ice. A LSD or locker will get you more places but that rearend will kick around in a hurry in the snow and ice.