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Post by Johnniemac on Dec 6, 2004 7:59:51 GMT -4
I have noticed a lot of people added a Ford 9" rear to their Cherokees. This rear is extremely strong but it has a low pinion angle. I have a chance to pick up a 9" from a late 70's F150. I'd grab it for the housing and re-gear before putting it under the XJ. Should a guy just beef up the 8.25 which is there already instead? Also all 8.25's don't seem to be equal. Do earlier models all have the 26 spline axles? Later models having 29? I like being over prepared. I know that a lot of people run 33s or 35 on the 35 or 8.25. However I'd rather invest in upgrade parts than be underneith the JEEP in a foot of snow/mud etc and be wrenching.Thanks.
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Post by diablojeep on Dec 6, 2004 9:25:21 GMT -4
Up to 97 they had a 27 spline axle. In late 97-98 it became a 29 spline. I've run 33's and pounded my XJ with no breakage. I knew I was running low on luck and have stopped beating it around.The 8.25 is a great axle. I'm keeping my XJ now and plan on running 33's again. I would not spend the extra money to swap out, if thats what you already have. 9"-8.25,44. All pretty close and not worth the expense of swapping one for the other. It would be a different story if you had one that broke and you wanted to swap. 9's a great axle in the fact they are a third member axle and centers is easy. Have 2 more center sections set up and your fine. That also involves a lot of money. I've had people tell me they had 2 spare center sections all set and I have to ask why not just build or buy a Klune V or a Tera. It has to be close to the same money. That gives you a lower high range and low range. I would take a Klune over my Tera. Having a lower high range would be sweet!!! Look ahead to what you want to have and build with that in mind. Building axles up, putting in super 35's and 44 kits eats up money. No one ever gets thier full money back. If you want to run 35's and pound it bad, an 8.25 will not stand up for long. I see most of the friends I know who ran 35's on an XJ are now back to 33's. They just seem to fit better. In the end I'm sure you'll be like almost all of us and just learn from experence Have fun building.
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Post by Johnniemac on Dec 6, 2004 9:41:39 GMT -4
I'm not a pounder, well sometimes. 33's would be the tallest trail tires I would run. Maybe some 35 ATs for poser daily driver running.lol. I will be re-gearing anyway because 5spd/3:07s suck with tall tires. I had one years ago with 225s and found it decent but not overly so. Can I simply remove the 27 spline axles and put in 29s? If that were the case I'd simply buy the gears/axle shafts here at work and be done with it. The 9" is a pie in the sky idea. Have you modified your front axle too? I've seen 30 jumped and bashed and they seem to keep going. They seem to have a bit of a bad rep. My CJ7 w360 never gave the front 30 an issue. I see a kit from Warn which replaces the axle shafts and puts front locking hubs in too. I like the sounds of that.
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littlemulticoloredwagoneer
Moderator
Trail Master/Jam Co-chair - Valley
Buy it, Build it, Break it!!...........REPETE!
Posts: 2,310
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Post by littlemulticoloredwagoneer on Dec 6, 2004 10:23:03 GMT -4
The worst thing about 8.25's is the pinion angle not extremely lift friendly as for strength issues...never had a problem ran them in many cars with lot's of horse power and nevr had problem... as for your 30 I nevr had a problem...although I ran cv shafts in mine wich are stronger and have no weak point unless you tera a boot ...and in 5 years of wheeling that nevr happened.
if your looking to upgrade your rear axle an 8.8 or a 44 are your best options....44's are hard to come by and usually expensive....the 8.8 out of an explorer is pretty much a direct swap...same bolt pattern..same width..just have to move the perches and find the proper u joint....it has strength and easy to find parts...and if you find one from a 96 or newer explorer it will have disc brakes as well....gears are very easy to find as it is also found under ford 1/2 tons and all v-8 stangs....
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Post by Johnniemac on Dec 6, 2004 12:18:03 GMT -4
Where does the 8.25 start to have problems? At what height?
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littlemulticoloredwagoneer
Moderator
Trail Master/Jam Co-chair - Valley
Buy it, Build it, Break it!!...........REPETE!
Posts: 2,310
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Post by littlemulticoloredwagoneer on Dec 6, 2004 12:30:21 GMT -4
most anything above 3" then you run into alot of friggen around with shim ect. the vibes never go away but do become livable...
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Post by Johnniemac on Dec 6, 2004 12:35:10 GMT -4
That's not the answer I wanted to hear. I'm hoping to join the 6"+ clan soon as you know. What are your 60 and 44 from? I'd start looking for a donor vehicle. Do you have photos of how you have this set up?
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Post by underwhelmd on Dec 6, 2004 13:41:30 GMT -4
Consider an 8.8 Explorer axle? No problem finding them... and they are extremely tough.
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Post by Johnniemac on Dec 6, 2004 14:37:40 GMT -4
I'd like to keep the 8.25 because,well it's there already. An 8.8 is reletively easy to find and decently priced. There has to be a hill billy somewhere to weld on some perches to the top of it.
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Post by diablojeep on Dec 6, 2004 16:52:46 GMT -4
Lance has a good point about the 8.8, cheap and easy to install. The rule of thumb is lift an XJ over 4 inches and buy a SYE Kit at the same time. I'm installing one from Atlas when I lift my XJ again. It's real funny how they vib sometimes and others build a rig and have no vibs. SYE kits have become real cheap compared to a few years ago. Good to have that longer drive shaft away.
Lance has a sweet hybred Dana 44 housing and axles with a Dana 60 center section. Rue Armstrong built it. Great working axle. Built to last!
I'd have to look back in my old build files to answer your question about swapping axles. I'm inclined to say yes right off. Then again I seem to recall reading something about different bearings.
Might be able to compare mopar bearing numbers.
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justajeep
Moderator
Valley - VP
Bear River, NS
Posts: 7,214
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Post by justajeep on Dec 6, 2004 17:17:20 GMT -4
Kevin, I've got several Eagle rear driveshafts if you need one with a slip in it after you put in a SYE. Might even be a bolt in for length, but would probably need to be shortened.
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Post by diablojeep on Dec 6, 2004 18:29:02 GMT -4
That's something I would be very interested in Alan.
Tks for the info.
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jjcan
Jeeper
Posts: 1,424
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Post by jjcan on Dec 7, 2004 7:57:01 GMT -4
There has to be a hill billy somewhere to weld on some perches to the top of it. Hmmmm. Its your ass riding on that hill billy welding are you sure you really want that? John
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Post by Johnniemac on Dec 7, 2004 11:28:30 GMT -4
I am joking of course about the welder. "Rue Armstong" axles is there a web site or contact numberfor pricing and applications etc.BTW is Rue a person or a business?
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Post by blacksheepxj on Dec 7, 2004 11:47:40 GMT -4
I am running an 8.25 in the rear of my 96 XJ. I have 4.5" of lift. I am also running 32x9.5 TSL's. I have blown up both front axle shafts ( at the same time ) and blown up the front spider gears ( another time ). I have yet to have any problems with my 8.25. Ask anyone, I am not the easiest person on equipment. From what I have read about the 8.25 it falls between the strenth of a Dana 35 and a Dana 44. Everyone said that they don't like changes to pinion angle but I have not had a problem. I have been running this for 2 years.
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