chrysler 8.25 vs ford 8.8

[99XJWhitey]

where the heck are you guys wheeling that you havent seen an 8.25 break? Ever been to Harlan or Tellico? I couldnt imagine trying to get through some of that stuff with stocks. Im really not trying to dog your axle choice, to each his own, but if the 8.8 is an option, why bother?

we have a guy that wheels with us running stocks under an XJ that busts his rear what seems like every other trip with 33's, 4.10's, and locked, we also have a TJ with us with an 8.8, 4.56's, locked with 37's and hasnt had to replace the first part on it. I myself run a 9 inch, 5.13's, spooled on 35's with no problems, and another guy is running a 14 bolt, spooled, 5.13's, and 39.5's, no problems.

 

[MoparManiac]

Ok well is that XJ running an 8.25?

You said "stocks"...

Not to mention I'm mostly advocating a 29-spline 8.25.

 

[4LowandGo]

It seems like most people on this discussion are a little biased. (I'm definately biased because I have an 8.8) The guys that run 8.8s love them and the guys that run 8.25s love their axle too. Why don't you think about what you want out of you axle?

Want 4.88 gears - go 8.8
Want a larger spline count, tubes diameter, and ring gear - go 8.8
Want factory disks - go 8.8
Want an easier upgrade - go 8.25
Don't have access to a welder - go 8.25

Want an axle stronger than a 35 - go for either one

 

[MiNi Beast]

It seems like most people on this discussion are a little biased. (I'm definately biased because I have an 8.8) The guys that run 8.8s love them and the guys that run 8.25s love their axle too. Why don't you think about what you want out of you axle?

Want 4.88 gears - go 8.8
Want a larger spline count, tubes diameter, and ring gear - go 8.8
Want factory disks - go 8.8
Want an easier upgrade - go 8.25
Don't have access to a welder - go 8.25

Want an axle stronger than a 35 - go for either one

Well said.:laugh: Now was that to hard to understand? Just go 8.8 and never look back.:guitar:

 

[BruceB83]

Look, here's how I made the decision. I was going to go with a Ford 8.8 (anybody need one...) until I decided that at least for the next few years or so, my Jeep won't go larger than 33's. So, I know I'm not going to 35's and I want 4.56 gears, and I am not hell on wheels. Therefore, the 29-splined 8.25 will do just fine for me. I can get 4.56 gears, lock it with a Powertrax, and have a direct swap over. So since I know those 3 deciding factors, why go to an 8.8? When the time does come that I need to go to an 8.8, probably in 3 years or so, then I will deal with it then and have a built 29-splined 8.25 to sell to somebody in the same position I was in.

 

[4LowandGo]

Look, here's how I made the decision... I know I'm not going to 35's and I want 4.56 gears, and I am not hell on wheels. Therefore, the 29-splined 8.25 will do just fine for me...

Go for it! It seems like you put lots of thought behind your decision and I hope it treats you well. It's all about personal preference and everybody has different rigs and goals.

 

[MiNi Beast]

Very true build it for what you using it for. But If your like me, do it once and do it right. Going from a D35 I put out just as much maybe a little more, for the 8.8, then if I went and got an 8.25 in good shape. Plus I got disk brakes right away and 4.10 gears. So better in the long haul for me there. Great for 33's, which I run but can easily throw on 35's. Which I will be running in the end.

 

[BruceB83]

Look, here's how I made the decision... I know I'm not going to 35's and I want 4.56 gears, and I am not hell on wheels. Therefore, the 29-splined 8.25 will do just fine for me...

Go for it! It seems like you put lots of thought behind your decision and I hope it treats you well. It's all about personal preference and everybody has different rigs and goals.

Hopefully you didn't take that as any kind of negative tone towards you...it wasn't at all. You're checklist you posted was good. My last post was to the original poster to tell him how I decided and what factors I used. You're absolutely right, personal preference and goals are different for everybody and I think people who ask these questions need to answer those questions for themselves and put more weight into that instead of what everybody else thinks. We don't know how he drives, what he drives on, or how much experience he has. On paper, the 8.8 is definitely the better option. You just have to decide personally if you think you will require all the benefits and added strengths the 8.8 will give you. For me, I believe I'll be fine with the 8.25 even considering I like to do some heavy wheeling but I'm careful when I wheel so that is important.

I mean, I've done some crazy stuff on 31's and a locked 27-spline 8.25 and never broke it. If I couldn't drive over it, I'd drag over it. If I couldn't drive up it, I'd raise hell up it. By god I got to where I wanted to go...lol.

 

[casonso]

thanks for all the info. the way i see it right now an 8.25 will do me just fine, since i don't really have the luxury of beating the hell out of my jeep because I've still got to drive it daily and i'm still making payments. i just want to be able to go out and have some fun with a little more muscle out back. i'm on 30x9.5s right now with a 2" budget boost 33's are as big as i'll go and that won't be for awhile so the way i look at the 8.25 seems just right.

 

[icewolf73]

I don't know what you're talking about...

D35 vs 8.25 (29-spline)
Ring gear = 7.5" vs 8.25"
Axle Shaft diameter = 1.17" vs 1.21"
Tube diameter = 2.62" vs 3"

Need I go on...?

That's not "very close in size to a D35" in my opinion AT ALL.

Just to clarify a little bit more; the D35 is a 27 spline. An 8.25 is only a little weaker than a D44 or an 8.8. It can handle 33s stock and 35s with 1541h axles. The downsides to a 29 spline 8.25 is weak aftermarket support, max 4.56 gears, and its a c-clip axle.

 

[icewolf73]

Dude, the word alloy doesn't mean a specific steel. It just means a different "mix" of basic steel.

Basic steel is iron and carbon (and a few other things in very small quantities). Any time you add anything else in you are making an alloy of steel. By definition.

So someone adds Manganese to the mix (more than 1%) and you get 1541 (1.35%-1.65%) in this case. Guess what 1541 is an "alloy" steel.

My point is, just because it isn't 4340, doesn't mean it isn't an "alloy".

But you are correct that no one makes 4340 8.25 shaft.

I stand corrected. That was a poor choice of wording. 4340 Chrome-molys are not made for an 8.25 because 8.25s are semi float axles. Chrome-molys have no bend. Axles in an 8.25 need to have a little bend to them.

 

[MG2000XJ]

Also If you get an 8.8 with 4.10's you will have to regear your front unless you have 4.10's in there already. If your front is 3.55's you can easily get an 8.25 with 3.55's. Makes the swap that much easier and cheaper. I run a 29sp 8.25 with 33's and dont have any problems.

 

[mgt]

one thing to remember about the 8.25 is a detroit is the only option for a locker on the 29spline version. No cheapy lunchbox lockers. Alos gears stop @ 4.56.

Not true, no-slip,arb are avilb.

 

[trail rate this]

I went to the 8.8 for factory 4.10s and discs. Why spend $1,000 upgrading to an 8.25 and adding disc brakes, gears and lockers to want to go bigger in a few years and start allover agian. Go to the 8.8 now. I spent $175 on my 8.8 upgade including the axle.

 

[DubaiXJ]

2003+ KJ discs are a straight bolt on. Expensive but there should be a few coming therough the wreckers...

 

[bigjeepman]

I have been thrashing an 8.25 for several years now. We have run a variety of tires from 31s all the way up to 37s. We have run them in the rocks, the mud, snow, water, and even sand! The 8.25 is great and well worth the swap. I think you will enjoy it. 4.56s and 33s are crazy torquey. I almost wish I either had bigger tires or higher gears it is that torquey in my manual

 

[icewolf73]

I went to the 8.8 for factory 4.10s and discs. Why spend $1,000 upgrading to an 8.25 and adding disc brakes, gears and lockers to want to go bigger in a few years and start allover agian. Go to the 8.8 now. I spent $175 on my 8.8 upgade including the axle.

Why would you need to change if you go bigger? You can run bigger tires with an 8.25.




(You just can't gear any deeper than 4.56) :eyes:

 

[DeftwillP]

A lot of the 8.25 advocates on here(myself included) aren't talking upgrades, we bought jeeps with semi decent rear axles in them to begin with. So calling it a $1000 upgrade is silly for us.

As far as the gearing: if you're gonna run tires that require 4.88 gearing, odds are no stock axle(excepting the d44) is good enough for you. I mean, all this debate on 8.25 vs 8.8, and you're still going to keep a d30 up front?


Pardon the rambling: my point is don't diss the 8.25 if you never had it.

 

[asp]

I have been thrashing an 8.25 for several years now. We have run a variety of tires from 31s all the way up to 37s. We have run them in the rocks, the mud, snow, water, and even sand! The 8.25 is great and well worth the swap. I think you will enjoy it. 4.56s and 33s are crazy torquey. I almost wish I either had bigger tires or higher gears it is that torquey in my manual

do you think you could get away with 34s on 4.56 with the 8.25? i too have the ax15 and am trying to decide how big i can go without doing a ton of fab work. currently i'm pretty much stock except for 31s and a no slip in the 29 spl 8.25... sorry for the hijack

 

[lancey3]

do you think you could get away with 34s on 4.56 with the 8.25? i too have the ax15 and am trying to decide how big i can go without doing a ton of fab work. currently i'm pretty much stock except for 31s and a no slip in the 29 spl 8.25... sorry for the hijack

Sure!