Hmmmm, what to do?

[PacificEd]

You guys know they types of trails we have in the South, so i figured I'd see what the experts thought. So far my XJ has surpassed all my expectations for both DD use and wheeling. It has done a great job.

I decided to do a poll because bigalpha has been slacking.....I mean I thought it might help me figure which way to go. I'll explain my logic for each of the 4 options.

Option 1) I've had a lot of fun wheeling a stock rig with no lockers. You learn to rely on driving technique and using what the XJ can offer. Once I mod it, there is really no going back.

Option 2) The majority of my plan deals with lockers and gears. Question is, is it worth it if I'm only going to run 32" tires? I know the rig will be much more capable on the trails. It will also lessen the chance of carnage due to less wheel speed and allowing me to hit obsticles with less momentum. I have the 242 and want to keep it, thus my choice of ARB's.

Option 3) I've been told that an 8.8 would be much better for me, especially if I even decide to upgrade later. It has factory disc brakes and has oodles of upgrades over the 8.25.

Option 4) Build on all of the above but go to some 33/1050R15, 33/1250R15 or 34/1050-15 tires. These tires would go great with the 4.56 gears.

Remember that DD use is paramount, it's what I drive to work 84 miles roundtrip per day. I want to be able to handle the trails with a little more ease.

Specs are 1988 Cherokee Limited 4.0/AW4/242. D30 front, 8.25 29 spline rear with 3.55 gears. Rough Country 4.5" lift. Superwinch 9K winch.

Vote and give me you opinion.

 

[MELKORsXJ]

so far... with 100% votes... you need to GO ALL OUT!!!
and do Everything!

 

[muddyrocks]

WARNING: This is an opinion. It is only an opinion and should be treated as such.

You've made two comments that led me to my decision: One, you want to DD this rig.

As a daily driver you should have no problems with correct gearing and larger tires with the better brakes that accompany the upgrades. MPG could remain reasonably close to stock and road maners shouldn't suffer unless stupid tall comes into play.

Number two, you want to do the trails with a little more ease. This says you realize the strain you put on the drive train of your rig and the potential to skip a few more by-passes. All the while leading back to reason number one, your ability to get on the road Monday after a weekend of ripping up the trails (my words).

Good luck with what ever you decide.

 

[shortxjdoug]

ill throw my 2 cents in. As far as a daily driven xj and what you use it for i think 33's are a great size tire, itll get you where you want to go and it keeps even smaller trails fun.
i chose the last option for these reasons
1) still daily driveable with a good radial tire and the gearing will surprise you with both driveability and mpg's
2) ANY upgrade to the 8.25 is ok but money well spent is in the 8.8, youll never worry about it again (i would put 35-37's on an 8.8 and not worry) bigger carrier, bigger shafts, bigger R&P. the disk brakes will amaze you in the dd department too. theres enough 8.8s out there not to warrant this swap if you want to do axle work.
3) the ARB's are a great product and when installed correctly have proven themselves over and over in many rigs... Just ask tim he beats his like redheaded stepchildren and though he's had some replaced it wasnt because of the locker (ring gear pieces 4wp's guys not using loctite etc). youll really be able to expand your driving ability in the xj and "crawlerize" it with the gear/locker combo.
4) it will provide you with a "hop in and go" rig. drive to work, light scenic trailrides, and you can follow the big boys when you want to and lay down some wow in a little xj... these are my thoughts.

carry on....

 

[bigalpha]

Big question: what kind of budget are you working with?

 

[PacificEd]

Budget? I don't know but it will be expensive unless I rely on my killer wheeling skillz. I figure once my plan is determined, I can start saving up for what I need.

Tires will be last on the list since I will wear out what I have on there now.

 

[bigalpha]

IMO, go with selectables. I'm not sure about upgrading the axle shafts. If you leave them stock, they are cheap and plentiful. If you upgrade, they are expensive, but will you break them that much less to justify them?

 

[PacificEd]

IMO, go with selectables. I'm not sure about upgrading the axle shafts. If you leave them stock, they are cheap and plentiful. If you upgrade, they are expensive, but will you break them that much less to justify them?

The ARB's are selectable. I can retain driveabilty and have the benefits of a locker. I'm pretty much set on them if I decide to upgrade.

Axle shafts are a toss up. With the lockers there will be more stress on the stock shafts. Alloys would be preventative maintenance for the most part. As long as I don't drive like High2by, they should survive a long time.

 

[bigalpha]

Then I would stay with upgraded shafts, but retain the stock axles until they break.

 

[PacificEd]

Then I would stay with upgraded shafts, but retain the stock axles until they break.

Dat be the plan. That is also why I'd use the 27 spline ARB in the front. If I ever need a spare front axle, I can get cheap ones from PAP, etc.

 

[Spawn 93]

I chose option 4.
Reason??
This is my planned route, minus the DD and Selectable lockers.
Don't get me wrong, we did a little "For your Entertainment" wheelin at the Crawl, but I want more......

Besides, if yur skillz iz counting diggin a ditch with your hitch bar and shavin down the trail centers with only 32's, you should invest all that money on a nice digital camera/camcorder!

I would keep the stock axles, mine is a 8.25 and works GREAT IMHO!

:yap:

 

[Ghost]

My .02 is to do option 2 without alloys but make sure you have factory shafts with the 297 joints. Tack the caps! Either run the 8.25 or an xj D44. Disk brakes for the 8.25 or D44 is easy with GC D35 disks that can be gotten at a pull a part cheap. I have been around enough Fords mudding in Florida and in other high stress areas to know to stay away from the 8.8. Don't believe me ask Lennie! Run a 33x10.50 tire. It is a great tire and offers height over rocks and obstacles but doe snot have the weight and contact patch that will snap an axle in a skinny minute.

 

[ChuckstrPT]

You are describing my previous XJ pretty well, prior to the tree taking it out. It was daily driven til last November/December and was built that way. I highly recommend the JKS control arms...cushy and silent. I was on 3 inches and 32's with stock gearing. The goal was 4.56's with rear Detroit and "forget about it." You should have good reliability with 33's. Also, the RS9000's have proven good for daily use in my experience. I'm amazed at how QUIET and SMOOTH my previous XJ was compared to the current beast on 35's with RE LCA's. As for daily driving, don't forget how "loose" we set up our trucks. I never really noticed until I started to drive a normal car daily...the jeep leaned all over the place, and the brakes were pitiful with 32's...compared to a normal car! my $.02:cheers:

 

[Cnickgo]

One thing I would consider with the tire size choice is your RPMs with the 4.56 for DDing. I would choose the best RPM, you are going to have the same fun wheeling a 32 as a 33 IMO.

 

[xjtrailrider]

My .02 is to do option 2 without alloys but make sure you have factory shafts with the 297 joints. Tack the caps! Either run the 8.25 or an xj D44. Disk brakes for the 8.25 or D44 is easy with GC D35 disks that can be gotten at a pull a part cheap. I have been around enough Fords mudding in Florida and in other high stress areas to know to stay away from the 8.8. Don't believe me ask Lennie! Run a 33x10.50 tire. It is a great tire and offers height over rocks and obstacles but doe snot have the weight and contact patch that will snap an axle in a skinny minute.

We think alike!

I'm running 35's on the 8.25/alloys and no issues. I don't have disc brakes and have never said to myself, "man I wish i had disc brakes" LOL. I have snapped 8.8's in my Mustangs so many times that I just do not trust them but with the right upgrades and plenty of money they can be fixed to work ok.

 

[trail rate this]

I love my 8.8. I do wish I had 35's though. I would do the 8.8 swap. I will help if need be. I have drug it on rocks with no problems. I would be afraid to drag an 8.25 because of the lip.

I have become a beliver in "Junk Yard Upgrades", you can build a very capable rig without breaking the wallet

 

[High2by]

As long as I don't drive like High2by, they should survive a long time.

Now that's just wrong. It's not my fault Superior shafts didn't hold up, nor Alloy USA for that matter.

You know my thoughts already but for the record, #4 all the way!!!! I'll even help put it all in. :wave:

 

[Ghost]

Now that's just wrong. It's not my fault Superior shafts didn't hold up, nor Alloy USA for that matter.

You know my thoughts already but for the record, #4 all the way!!!! I'll even help put it all in. :wave:

Hyjack!
Mark in your case I have heard that the alloy's are being broken and the superiors are better but that Mosier is the best. I don't know if that is all 100% correct but I thought I would throw that out there.

 

[PacificEd]

Wow, sure are a lot of differences of opinion on the 8.8 vs. 8.25. Everything I've read rates the 8.8 as being stronger, stock to stock, against the 8.25. Then you can get a Super 8.8 for the 8.8 if you needed more. Heck, The Hard Struggler whips the fire out of his and it keeps on going. Then xjtrailrider has great luck with the 8.25's in all his XJ's.

A D44 is out, unless I decide to build a Scout version for the XJ. XJ 44's are too hard to find around here and when you find them, they are expensive. I can buy 2 8.8's or 3 8.25 axles for what most want for a D44.

 

[ChuckstrPT]

One thing I would consider with the tire size choice is your RPMs with the 4.56 for DDing. I would choose the best RPM, you are going to have the same fun wheeling a 32 as a 33 IMO.

If you are running an 8.25, then your choices are only 4.10 or 4.56....not a huge difference. If you've added steel...bumpers, skids, rails...go 4.56...all that steel adds weight...and that needs more gearing. I was headed that way with 32's...eventual plan was to move up to 33's when the 32's wore out.:wave1: