Dana 44 Identification

Well, it happened again. I just blew up my spare rear-end (Dana 35). It was one of those place where you
carry the front tire over the rut turning up the hill without letting your rear tire drop in the rut. Well my right
rear fell in the rut, then to much gas was applied, no more Dana 35. I know they put Dana 44's in some of
the XJ Jeeps. How do you identifiy them? Is it just the size? I went to the salvage yard today, and found
plenty of the 35, and 3 of the larger type. Is the 35 and 44 the only rearends they put in the late model XJ?
If these two are the only ones in the late models, then the 3 larger rearends are definitly Dana 44's. Correct?
Any help would be appreciated.

[xjy173]

The optional rear axle in XJs is the Chrysler 8.25", not a Dana44. Dana 44s were standard on the full sized Cherokees. You can install an after market 44 in an XJ , though. There should be an ID tag on the differential cover. If not, a lot of times the axle tubes have ID stampings on them, similar to the Dana 35c. <font color=red> Good Luck!!</font color=red> [img]/wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[W.C.]

All Dana axels have the model # (30,35,44,60,,,,) embossed into the reinforcing webbing of the diff housing.

Wayne in Hawaii
"PYRO II" '77CJ5
(New Toy) '90XJ Sport

Dana 35, 44, and Chryler 8.25" have all been available in XJ Cherokee's. The 44 was only available from '87 - '89. All current XJ's without ABS have the 8.25" Chrysler. The 8.25" and the Dana 35 are somewhat comparable in strength, although the ring gear is bigger in the 8.25" If you can't find a 44, one of the magazines did an article on installing the ford 8.8" rear... same bolt pattern (exploders & rangers) similar gearing often, and better strength than the 44. Just something to think about. Chris

'87 XJ '99XJ

[xjy173]

Thanks for the correction, tysonxj. [img]/wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

So the 8.8 Ford is stronger than the 44? And the 8.25" Chrysler is the same as the 35? Thanks for the info. The 8.25" Chrysler
looks alot bigger than the 35. Bigger tubes, and rear cover. We'll see what we can come up with.

for the 8.8 I am just repeating what I read in four wheeler a couple of months ago. The fact that '95 Exploders had rear discs is also a plus in my book. Don't know how cheap you could find one of those for though. The following was posted on the XJ-List:

snip<<<<<<<<<<<<"CherokeeConnection" <chet@cherokeeconnection.com> writes:
>> How can I tell which rearend my '97 XJ has in it (Chrysler 8.25" or
D35C)? >> Which rearend is more desirable for offroad use?

Check out my page with pics:

http://www.cherokeeconnection.com/www/pages/axleXJ.htm

>Aside from the current lack of lockers for the 8.25, it is a better offroad
>axle. They are both Cclip axles. However, the 8.25 boasts a larger axle
>shaft than the D35.

The Dana 35C-rear axle has a 7.5625" ring and pinion and uses 27 spline
axles that are 1.25" in diameter.
The Corporate 8.25" rear axle has an 8.25" ring gear and uses 28 spline
axles that are 1.25" in diameter.

The Corporate is a hair stronger where the splined part of the axle is
simply because it has one extra spline - not *that* big of a deal. Same
size axle shaft.

> As well, the ring and pinion of the 8.25 is actually
>beefier than the D44

The Corporate 8.25" rear axle has an 8.25" ring gear and uses 28 spline
axles that are 1.25" in diameter.
The Dana 44-rear axle has an 8.5" ring gear and uses 30 spline axles that
are 1.3125" in diameter.

Looks like the ring and pinion on the 44 are stronger to me...
>>>snip
...........................I'm not sure who has the right numbers............

'87 XJ '99XJ

Done some calling around. The 8.8 Ford that is in the 95-up Explorers, is within .5 inches of being the same width as the Cherokee
axle, has the same bolt pattern, is stronger than the 35, and has rear disc brakes. The only problem is the drive shaft. But the
local machine shop says they can put together whatever I need. I was quoted a price of $500.00 for a 96 model rear-end with
the rear disc caplipers thrown in. The machine shop said $100.00 for the drive shaft weld and balance. The total: $600.00. Gear
ratios will be different, but I have been wanting to gear lower anyway. Anyone out there done a swap such as this? Need some
input. I am thinking stronger rearend, and rear disc For about $600.00. Why not??

[Boomhauer]

Originally Posted by **DONOTDELETE**

for the 8.8 I am just repeating what I read in four wheeler a couple of months ago. The fact that '95 Exploders had rear discs is also a plus in my book. Don't know how cheap you could find one of those for though. The following was posted on the XJ-List:

snip<<<<<<<<<<<<"CherokeeConnection" <chet@cherokeeconnection.com> writes:
>> How can I tell which rearend my '97 XJ has in it (Chrysler 8.25" or
D35C)? >> Which rearend is more desirable for offroad use?

Check out my page with pics:

http://www.cherokeeconnection.com/www/pages/axleXJ.htm

>Aside from the current lack of lockers for the 8.25, it is a better offroad
>axle. They are both Cclip axles. However, the 8.25 boasts a larger axle
>shaft than the D35.

The Dana 35C-rear axle has a 7.5625" ring and pinion and uses 27 spline
axles that are 1.25" in diameter.
The Corporate 8.25" rear axle has an 8.25" ring gear and uses 28 spline
axles that are 1.25" in diameter.

The Corporate is a hair stronger where the splined part of the axle is
simply because it has one extra spline - not *that* big of a deal. Same
size axle shaft.

> As well, the ring and pinion of the 8.25 is actually
>beefier than the D44

The Corporate 8.25" rear axle has an 8.25" ring gear and uses 28 spline
axles that are 1.25" in diameter.
The Dana 44-rear axle has an 8.5" ring gear and uses 30 spline axles that
are 1.3125" in diameter.

Looks like the ring and pinion on the 44 are stronger to me...
>>>snip
...........................I'm not sure who has the right numbers............

'87 XJ '99XJ

Resurrect thread from the dead! lol

The 8.25 early 96 has 27 spline axle shafts. Late model 96+ has 29 spline axles and is the one to look for. It is just as strong as a D44 according to JP.
The D35 is a boat anchor and not worth sinking any money into. The 8.8 is maginally stronger than an 8.25 and is not worth the effort to install unless you want the disc brakes. I wheel the sh!t outta my 8.25 on 35's with a D30 all with Alloy USA shafts and have never broken a shaft or c-clip. There is no pressure the c-clips, it is rare to bust one. Any questions just ask. -B

[Boomhauer]

Double post