Upgrading rear Dana 35 axle

[Eddie Greenlee]

Facts: Dana 35 4.10 gears. CV drive shaft , super short SYE, 4” suspensions lift & belly up skid plate. 35” tires. I do have a Ford 8.8 w/ 4.10 gears and limited slip di. & ready for the bracket kit I have.
Wanting a stronger rear ended.
Which way to go?
ditch the ford 8.8 ? Or keep it ?
look for a Dana 44 with e locker? regear my Dana 35 to 4.88 or 5.11 or keep what I have and go to a 4 to one transfer case adapter ? But I’m wanting a rear locket or slip dif? And a slower and stronger crawl for the trail. But also be able to drive it on the road.
I’ve done most everything to my Jeep except axle upgrade so it’s time.
I know we have discussed this before but I just wanted to revisit this with intent ! Thanks for your opinions !

 

[xxdabroxx]

I would super 35 and be looking at 4.88+ gears at the same time.

 

[Chris]

Why swap out axles? As many on this forum have pointed out time-and-time again, a Super 35 axle is more than up to the task of running 35s.

Convert it to a Super 35 and you'll be good to go. No sense in upgrading to a Dana 44, and especially a Ford 8.8.

 

[Brian83]

I just installed a Super 35 with Detroit Locker and 4.88s in my jeep and drove it last night for the first time. I cant believe how big of a difference the gears made. Its not the same vehicle. I bought my axle used already built but if you shop around Ive seen several Super 35 kits and seperate lockers and shafts for sale on CL if you want to do it on a budget.

 

[Eddie Greenlee]

Awesome !! What are the components of a super 35 kit??
also what does CL stand for ?

 

[xxdabroxx]

Super 35 is new carrier, there are several options but needs to take 30 spline axles and new 30 spline axles.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NHDGM8V/?tag=wranglerorg-20

CL = Craigslist

 

[Eddie Greenlee]

And all this will work with my current Dana 35 housing ?

 

[Brian83]

Awesome !! What are the components of a super 35 kit??
also what does CL stand for ?

Craigslist. The Super 35 kit is a 30 spline Locker and 30 spline Axle Shafts. It all fits in your current housing.

 

[Longhorn84]

Here's a recent post I had with the same style of question https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/cant-make-up-my-mind—axle-swap-or-wait.30615/

 

[Wildman]

Part of the question comes down to can you do the welding and removal of the stock brackets on your 8.8?
If you have to pay someone to do the work for you the Super 35 kit is the cheaper route. If you can weld and cut off the old brackets then it comes down to which you want.

IMHO since you all ready have the 8.8 and bracket kit if you can do all you work yourself then I'd go the 8.8 route.
It already has disc brakes, which while not adding much braking performance does help in mud and rain over drum brakes. And you already have a super short SYE so you have a longer driveshaft so the offset diff of the 8.8 isn't going to matter. The 8.8 has 31 spline shafts stock.

You want to regear either axle and add a locker so the cost there is pretty much a wash.

Now on the flip side YES a Dana 35 with the correct mods is strong enough for 35" tires. I ran a Dana 35 w/35" tires for 2 years before I swapped it for a HP60. I'm still of the mind set that I like a 8.8 over the Dana 35 but it isn't a bad axle choice if you want one of the lockers offered in the Super 35 kits.

 

[Eddie Greenlee]

Part of the question comes down to can you do the welding and removal of the stock brackets on your 8.8?
If you have to pay someone to do the work for you the Super 35 kit is the cheaper route. If you can weld and cut off the old brackets then it comes down to which you want.

IMHO since you all ready have the 8.8 and bracket kit if you can do all you work yourself then I'd go the 8.8 route.
It already has disc brakes, which while not adding much braking performance does help in mud and rain over drum brakes. And you already have a super short SYE so you have a longer driveshaft so the offset diff of the 8.8 isn't going to matter. The 8.8 has 31 spline shafts stock.

You want to regear either axle and add a locker so the cost there is pretty much a wash.

Now on the flip side YES a Dana 35 with the correct mods is strong enough for 35" tires. I ran a Dana 35 w/35" tires for 2 years before I swapped it for a HP60. I'm still of the mind set that I like a 8.8 over the Dana 35 but it isn't a bad axle choice if you want one of the lockers offered in the Super 35 kits.

Yes sir. I do already have the 8.8s brackets removed and ready for bracket welding. It does have a limited slip and is geared to 4.10. Only thing is I can’t weld. So I would have to take it to a 4x4 shop to have it done right.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

I'd pay for and install a Super 35 into a Dana 35 before I'd go with an 8.8 even if it was free.

 

[Eddie Greenlee]

I'd pay for and install a Super 35 into a Dana 35 before I'd go with an 8.8.

Hey Jerry. I remember you saying how you really liked your Detroit locker. Can I run a Detroit locker on the road safely or would I be better off with the E-locker ?

 

[Eddie Greenlee]

What’s the guys company name that’s a member that we can buy through?

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Hey Jerry. I remember you saying how you really liked your Detroit locker. Can I run a Detroit locker on the road safely or would I be better off with the E-locker ?

The TJ my rear Detroit Locker was in was my daily driver which I drove 50-150 miles a day. With just a small amount of care, which is basically just no accelerating or hard decelerating through turns, it is very well behaved. Neutral throttle through turns and it is well behaved. Only on ice or snow covered roads can they misbehave if you're not careful.

The Detroit Locker is the best behaved automatic locker. It also teaches you how it likes to be driven within just a day or two. Even/neutral throttle while making turns and life is good. Hammer the throttle through a turn and the outside tire will chirp and it'll crow hop a bit.

 

[Brian83]

Yes sir. I do already have the 8.8s brackets removed and ready for bracket welding. It does have a limited slip and is geared to 4.10. Only thing is I can’t weld. So I would have to take it to a 4x4 shop to have it done right.

I think when I was looking at an 8.8 it was going to cost me around $700 to have it welded up. And then you still have a limited slip and not a locker.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

... And then you still have a limited slip and not a locker.

Which is next to useless off road.

 

[Eddie Greenlee]

Which is next to useless off road.

why would that be useless Jerry? I’m not educated on limited slips but thought as soon as one side started to spin it locks the differential for positive traction??

 

[Juggernaut]

Limited Slip is just that - limited slip. The axles are not truly locked and some degree of slip is allowed via a clutch, so while it does provides better traction that an open differential, its not as good as a locker which typically couples or locks the axles together mechanically.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

why would that be useless Jerry? I’m not educated on limited slips but thought as soon as one side started to spin it locks the differential for positive traction??

It doesn't lock, it limits the slip but it still allows some. Lift a tire in the air and you'll spin it all day without moving the one that has grip.