Dana 35 3.07 replacement

[Benjamin Hogate]

Hey! I have a 2001 Wrangler sport 4.0L 5 speed. It has the 3.07 Dana 35 rear diff. The jeeps been out of commission for a couple months now and I’m doing my best to get it back on the road. There’s a terrible grinding coming from the rear diff and it’s also leaking gear oil from the diff cover. I’m going to open it up within the next few days and see what all needs to be replaced inside of it. Any tips on what to look for there would be greatly appreciated. I also have a few buddies who suggested I just swap out the whole rear end with a used one, instead of getting inside the diff and replacing the gears. I’ve done some searching online and am having a hard time finding my specific rear diff/axle assembly anywhere around my area that’s less than $1000. I’d love to regear the thing, but I’m having to go the cheapest route, since I’m in college and have classes and books to pay for . I just want to get my baby back on the road. I’m missing all the great top down weather! Any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Rob5589]

You should be able to find a 3.07 Dana 35 for less than 1k. Honestly, nobody wants 3.07. To rebuild the entire diff will run anywhere from 500-800 bucks as a guess. Of course now is the time to re-gear if you are running larger tires. That front will also need to be swapped.

 

[Benjamin Hogate]

You should be able to find a 3.07 Dana 35 for less than 1k. Honestly, nobody wants 3.07. To rebuild the entire diff will run anywhere from 500-800 bucks as a guess. Of course now is the time to re-gear if you are running larger tires. That front will also need to be swapped.

I’d like the get something besides the 3.07, but then I’ve gotta deal with the front too, and I just don’t have the money for all of that. Between Facebook marketplace and craigslist I haven’t found any used Dana 35’s around me. The ones that are $1000 I’ve seen for sale new online. Where else could I look? Would you suggest a replacement Dana 35 or just rebuilding the one I already have?

 

[Boinked]

You have to make sure both sets of gears match. If you regear the rear. The front MUST be the same. For example if you put in an complete new rear end with 4.10 gears. The front will need to have 4.10 gears installed. If not your transfer case will bind and lock up when you shift into 4wd.
Gear changes are expensive. I paid 700+ just for parts. I did all the labor. It was very challenging and ambitious. But after buying 150 bucks in tools i got it done.
(Well more like 300 in tools) but dont tell the wife.
Most good shops charge 4 hours labor per dif to change. At around $85 an hour.
While changing the rear end out in one unit is easier it might also be cheaper. If you can do it yourself.
An option you might have. Find a community college that has an auto program. Some will give you a discount and while most work is done by students there is an instructor double checking everything.

 

[glwood]

You could, if strapped for cash, and still want your TJ on the road again, either have your rear differential re-geared, or get a used rear axle with better gearing, and take the front drive shaft off until you can deal with the front. Not as much fun, but will get you back on the road for now.

 

[Benjamin Hogate]

You have to make sure both sets of gears match. If you regear the rear. The front MUST be the same. For example if you put in an complete new rear end with 4.10 gears. The front will need to have 4.10 gears installed. If not your transfer case will bind and lock up when you shift into 4wd.
Gear changes are expensive. I paid 700+ just for parts. I did all the labor. It was very challenging and ambitious. But after buying 150 bucks in tools i got it done.
(Well more like 300 in tools) but dont tell the wife.
Most good shops charge 4 hours labor per dif to change. At around $85 an hour.
While changing the rear end out in one unit is easier it might also be cheaper. If you can do it yourself.
An option you might have. Find a community college that has an auto program. Some will give you a discount and while most work is done by students there is an instructor double checking everything.

I’ll look into the auto program. I believe the school I’m going to has one! $700 for just parts is definitely out of my price range . Although if I can do the work myself (and also with the help of some friends who are handy with this kind of stuff) I’d like to do that.

 

[Benjamin Hogate]

W

You could, if strapped for cash, and still want your TJ on the road again, either have your rear differential re-geared, or get a used rear axle with better gearing, and take the front drive shaft off until you can deal with the front. Not as much fun, but will get you back on the road for now.

so what would be an acceptable replacement rear axle with better gearing that would fit my Jeep? Or is it just a Dana 35 with a different gear ratio?

 

[glwood]

W

so what would be an acceptable replacement rear axle with better gearing that would fit my Jeep? Or is it just a Dana 35 with a different gear ratio?

Yes, or a Dana 44 with either 3.73 or 4.10 gears. If you could find an axle from an SE, it would be a Dana 35 with 4.10 gearing.

 

[Rob5589]

Yes, or a Dana 44 with either 3.73 or 4.10 gears. If you could find an axle from an SE, it would be a Dana 35 with 4.10 gearing.

Or 3.73. Not all SE were 4.10. Some with the auto had 4.56 from what I have read.

 

[glwood]

Or 3.73. Not all SE were 4.10. Some with the auto had 4.56 from what I have read.

On later years, yes. 3.73, that is.

 

[Squatch]

I can't believe what they're asking for a Dana 35 with 3.07 gears in your area! When I first got my '98, I thought it had 3.07s in it. The rear end was destroyed, so I got on Craigslist looking for an entire unit. I found TWO for $150 each, and another for $100. I bought none of 'em, as it turned out I had 3.73 gears. Anyway, I just can't believe they want that much for one where you're at. That's crazy, in my book.

 

[KCsTJ]

My 97 auto 2.5L came with factory 3.73s so add that to your list of possibilities