What Would You Do? Bad Rear Diff - 1999 TJ Sport - Dana 35 - 3.07

[C.J. Roberts]

This Jeep is on cheap old 32" mud tires right now. 33" would be the biggest I would ever go. (Never say "never" though, right?)


With a Super 35, is re-gearing possible? I thought it would require new carriers in the 3.54 range,etc. ?? I'm fine beefing up the old Dana 35 but would definitely benefit from a re-gear, probably more so than an overall stronger rear diff/axle set-up like a Dana 44. I don't rock crawl but I do go to some stupid remote places for mountain biking, camping, and mushroom hunting.

Thanks again.

If you're sticking with 32s or33s you probably don't need a Super35. You absolutely want to regear though. As The Boogieman said, a set of axles from a 4 banger in 4.10 would be ideal. 3.54 wouldn't gain you much over what you have now.
I had a YJ with the 4.2 and 3.08s on 31" tires, and it was a dog.
And don't forget, if you regear the rear, you have to regear the front, too, so that's more money.

 

[Rickyd]

If you're sticking with 32s or33s you probably don't need a Super35.

That depends. 33s is the ragged edge for a Dana 35. S35 is definitely required for a locker.

If he goes the used 4.10 route from a 4cyl 5 speed he's capped at 32s. He says he isn't broke so I'm encouraging to build for growth.

 

[mrblaine]

Super 35 comes with the new carrier in the form of an elocker,arb or detroit.yes you would want to regear at the same time.just one locker will make a huge difference if you ever get stuck.and selectibles have no on road downside.

3.07 just blows.worse mileage,harder on the clutch and low range that is way too fast.

It was barely ok with stock tires. Dana 44 is cool,but you are spending money on the housing and axleshafts you could spend towards addressing the real issue- those 3.07s!

A Dana 44 and a regear/repair will be more than a regeared,locked,rebuilt Dana 35 that is ready for 35" tires.

There are always exceptions if you're lucky. I found two low mileage rubicon 44s for less than upgrasing my 3.07s when the Dana 35 blew a shaft jumping it on 33s.

I had the equipment and knowledge to strip and sandblast them and weld on new brackets to the totally rotten new york axles from a wreck though.

rubicon axles have their downsides too.rubicon lockers are weak and new parts to fix them are unavailable.

Sounds like 33s are your next step.4.56 would be a good choice

That set of axles is listed all the time for 5 grand. Not even close to worth it.

 

[Rickyd]

That set of axles is listed all the time for 5 grand. Not even close to worth it.

I got my set for 2300 or i wouldn't have bothered. By the time i swap in arb's it will be a wash even at that price.

 

[TheBoogieman]

Would smash

Kanye West and many others have.

 

[97TJNM]

Kanye West and many others have.

See, that's chick is one ugly little fucker I wouldn't take for a spin...

 

[TheBoogieman]

See, that's chick is one ugly little fucker I wouldn't take for a spin...

I know that's a lie. You'd DD that.

 

[97TJNM]

I know that's a lie. You'd DD that.
View attachment 417310

I had honestly never heard of her until you posted that first pic. She def looks better with hair.

 

[97TJNM]

She used to do Vodka commercials and had a late night talk show. She wears wigs and looks totally different.

Vodka and late night... two things I haven't had in my life in 15 years. Now I get why I haven't heard of her.

Of course, getting older has made me lose touch with current trends and celebrities. It was a shock hearing music I jammed out to in high school playing at the grocery store.

 

[TheBoogieman]

Vodka and late night... two things I haven't had in my life in 15 years. Now I get why I haven't heard of her.

Of course, getting older has made me lose touch with current trends and celebrities. It was a shock hearing music I jammed out to in high school playing at the grocery store.

Here you go.

 

[97TJNM]

Here you go.
View attachment 417321

Nope, can't get behind it. She looks like the barbie dolls that my sister cut all the hair off of with safety scissors when we were kids.

 

[Apparition]

Nope, can't get behind it. She looks like the barbie dolls that my sister cut all the hair off of with safety scissors when we were kids.

 

[TheBoogieman]

View attachment 417322

So hideous.

 

[TheBoogieman]

the barbie dolls that my sister cut all the hair off of with safety scissors when we were kids.

First sign of a serial killer. Has she been caught yet?

 

[Apparition]

First sign of a serial killer. Has she been caught yet?

Probably busy killing pets

 

[Apparition]

Sign #2 is a big one. Michael Myers family ignored the signs too. Look what happened to him. He became a movie star. What could be worse? Being President?
View attachment 417326

 

[Hokahay]

Boogie likes big butts and he cannot lie.

 

[Vtx531]

I would get a used Dana 35 with 3.07s for couple hundred bucks to swap in and get back on the road easy/cheap. If you later decide you want a Dana 44 or super 35 and regear everything, etc....you can do it whenever you want. Doesn't need to be now. Not really going to save very much money by doing it now. Not like this is some a amazing opportunity that you are going to pass up.

 

[HaydukeLives!]

Thanks to everyone for the replies and the levity....much needed during these times of my high anxiety.

I've got a guy at a reputable local shop who is swapping in a Dana 44 rear end for me. We settled on a price and basically it's a rear end "swap" (in quotes because I have read plenty about how it's not necessarily a bolt-in process) plus re-gearing the front Dana 30 to match. We're staying with drum brakes on the Dana 44.

Should I be prepared for the rear driveshaft to need shortened or replaced because of the longer yoke length of the Dana 44? If I end up needing a SYE and rear driveshaft, I'll almost certainly need new rear adjustable control arms too to address the pinion angle, yes? More $$$$. Ugh.

This old TJ has a 2.5" spring and shock lift with adjustable swaybar links....and that's it. I had very very slight vibrations from a standstill to 3MPH. I never dropped the T-case or installed a MML to address these vibrations (my mistake of course) but I'm anticipating that I'll need to address the vibrations very soon after the swap

Any other complications I need to be ready to discuss and or finance for this "swap" that's happening?

Thanks for any help.

 

[Rickyd]

Thanks to everyone for the replies and the levity....much needed during these times of my high anxiety.

I've got a guy at a reputable local shop who is swapping in a Dana 44 rear end for me. We settled on a price and basically it's a rear end "swap" (in quotes because I have read plenty about how it's not necessarily a bolt-in process) plus re-gearing the front Dana 30 to match. We're staying with drum brakes on the Dana 44.

Should I be prepared for the rear driveshaft to need shortened or replaced because of the longer yoke length of the Dana 44? If I end up needing a SYE and rear driveshaft, I'll almost certainly need new rear adjustable control arms too to address the pinion angle, yes? More $$$$. Ugh.

This old TJ has a 2.5" spring and shock lift with adjustable swaybar links....and that's it. I had very very slight vibrations from a standstill to 3MPH. I never dropped the T-case or installed a MML to address these vibrations (my mistake of course) but I'm anticipating that I'll need to address the vibrations very soon after the swap

Any other complications I need to be ready to discuss and or finance for this "swap" that's happening?

Thanks for any help.

The whole diff is larger so yes you need a driveshaft. Fyi your front Dana 30 yoke fits right on the Dana 44.

You'll know if you get vibes.up to you if you want to try to prevent it or roll the dice on shortening the stock rear shaft