Dana 35 shafts are not known for being able to withstand much, if any, twisting or flexing. They're more know to just snap when pushed too hard.
Dana 44 or Ford 8.8?
- Thread starter 97TJBigFoot
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To each their own as many are happy with their 8.8 but for myself as a broke college kid, married in an appartment, donating plasma while in school to have some jeep money, I don’t have a lot of money to throw around or garage space. The super 35 makes the most sense in every way except it still is a “35” and some people can’t get over that. I plan on regearing and putting lockers in this spring/summer and I’ve looked everywhere for a Dana 44 and 8.8s on the west for almost a year. Every 8.8 I’ve looked at needs refreshed, even if they come with all the brakes and such, they look like poo. As well as putting all the brackets on which you could cut off the 35 if you plan on completing scrapping that axle which I still like the idea of keyed brackets to make sure the axle is placed right and we’ll and not some hack job. That adds another 300 bucks or so to it so for the same price of putting an 8.8 under the jeep with no locker or gears (what’s the point of swapping an 8.8 and keeping it open or lsd) you could afford a tj44 (if you can find one) or just have the super 35 kit. Ya someone will argue they did it cheap this way or that but when gears and 2 lockers are 2,500 bucks, im trying to save anything I can to even afford that and swapping the axle doesn’t make sense to me. With my jeep I have the 2.5L, so weight of an 8.8 is a small concern as well as the diff size which all flavor the s35. Glad those who did the 8.8 are happy but for me and I’d assume others, it’s not my best choice as you have a huge cost just to have the axle you want for the locker and gears which are also expensive.
I bought my 99 tj with am 8.8, 4.88s and an e locker. Someday I'll convert to a midarm lift and outboard shocks. I found a 35 with chromo shafts and 4.88s, no locker, for about a grand. Would it be worth buying and adding a locker or should I stick with what I have?
If you have the 8.8 with a locker, there is no reason to swap back to a 35. The argument here is building a super 35 is a cheaper (most of the time cheapest for those that have a 35 rear) and easier route to get the same intended goal of a rear axle (an axle that can handle 35s with a locker) than an 8.8. As most people here say, they have no problems with the 8.8 when it’s actually in so I wouldn’t look back on it since you got it that way.
My thoughts were the lower ground clearance, and narrow width may make it more difficult to outboard, and the customization needed for the mid arm brackets. If those are non-issues then I won't worry about a swap back to a 35.
Only reason I would replace the 8.8 is if width is going to cause an issue with outboarding shocks.
If you keep an eye out you may find a 44 to throw in there. I would not go buy a 35 and then put the super kit in it unless that was your only option.
I can’t say for sure since I haven’t done that but from many threads from here I believe the 8.8 can out board a 2.0 shock without too much difficulty, it’s when coilovers are the topic where that half and inch on each side really play a part. For the mid arm truss I thought that they had an 8.8 option (that could be very old and discontinued) but I swear it was mentioned. Even if they didn’t, I don’t think it would be too difficult to make or find a truss that doesn’t use the diff bolts but match the same height as the savvy one.
The 8.8 can be outboarded with some extra parts from Blaine. Mine has an iron rock truss on it and Savvy said there were a couple options to make the brackets work. The 35 I found already has 30 spline shafts so I would just need a locker. There is a steep cost/benefit analysis. It would probably be less money to keep the 8.8, but more difficult with installing parts, and I have to use wheel spacers.
This is just CRAZY dumb. You’re going to do all that work spend all that money for a much inferior axle?!?! WHY?! Build the 8.8 with a super 88 kit it is no different than a TJ axle. Same width and everything. Vs that sUpEr turdy 5 kit still gives you that tiny ring and pinion which I never see Dana 35 axles brake nearly as much as the gears inside the housing. Those always seem to be where it grenades. I’ve seen lots of spider gears busted and shattered ring and pinions. Shit I sheered a pinion off at the yoke. On the road at that driving normally.
It would seem I'm just the guy to chime into this discussion. I bought my TJ with a dana 35 axle and 35" tires. I did not know much about Jeeps back then and did not realize how bad I was fucking up. It broke an axle shaft literally right after I shook with the guy and paid him. (more pictures of my journey on my insta @2bfabrications btw)
I bought a super 35 kit, and attempted to install it, however, from have the axle shaft break and walk out, the housing was bent. I managed to get it back together, but because of the bent axle housing, the detroit locker almost always stayed on. after a few weeks it made a crunchy noise when I was taking a turn then the locker didn't function at all. So yeah it was a waste of 1200$ (in my situation) I rode on my broken super 35 for a few months before starting the 8.8 swap (my jeep used to be my daily)
Now for my 8.8 build, I got my axle for 250$ at pull a part. U joint adapter was like 50$. Bracket kit was 150$ (no truss) Ran my own brake lines. Had to buy a different parking brake cable I think it's a wj one or something. But it was like 50$. So about 500$ for an axle that even in its stock form is pretty much as strong as a dana 44. If you can do the welding and wrenching yourself, it is much cheaper to put a 8.8 in than to build a super 35, and while I'd prefer a Dana 44, they're very expensive and hard to find in my experience.
I lucked out and found a freshly rebuilt 8.8 at the junkyard. Even had brand new brakes. Took about 2 days to swap the brackets and install the axle.
I've been riding on this 8.8 for like 2 years now, and haven't had a single issue from it. I've taken my jeep all of the offroading spots around me and to Choccolocco Mountain in alabama which has some very gnarly trails and I've not had any issues out of the rear axle. Soon I'm going to be installing 4.56 gears and an ox locker into this 8.8. I also have an anti rock sway bar and plan to fab up some rock sliders. I'm very excited to take my Jeep to the next level.
I bought a super 35 kit, and attempted to install it, however, from have the axle shaft break and walk out, the housing was bent. I managed to get it back together, but because of the bent axle housing, the detroit locker almost always stayed on. after a few weeks it made a crunchy noise when I was taking a turn then the locker didn't function at all. So yeah it was a waste of 1200$ (in my situation) I rode on my broken super 35 for a few months before starting the 8.8 swap (my jeep used to be my daily)
Now for my 8.8 build, I got my axle for 250$ at pull a part. U joint adapter was like 50$. Bracket kit was 150$ (no truss) Ran my own brake lines. Had to buy a different parking brake cable I think it's a wj one or something. But it was like 50$. So about 500$ for an axle that even in its stock form is pretty much as strong as a dana 44. If you can do the welding and wrenching yourself, it is much cheaper to put a 8.8 in than to build a super 35, and while I'd prefer a Dana 44, they're very expensive and hard to find in my experience.
I lucked out and found a freshly rebuilt 8.8 at the junkyard. Even had brand new brakes. Took about 2 days to swap the brackets and install the axle.
I've been riding on this 8.8 for like 2 years now, and haven't had a single issue from it. I've taken my jeep all of the offroading spots around me and to Choccolocco Mountain in alabama which has some very gnarly trails and I've not had any issues out of the rear axle. Soon I'm going to be installing 4.56 gears and an ox locker into this 8.8. I also have an anti rock sway bar and plan to fab up some rock sliders. I'm very excited to take my Jeep to the next level.
You haven't been paying any attention to what the Super35 is for the last 25 years.
Just for clarity:
1. You bought a Jeep and literally the axle fell out and bent in the parking lot you bought it.
2. You put new equipment in a bent axle housing, that based on this situation could have been bent to hell already.
3. You put new innards in this bent up and wasted Dana 35 housing and it goes poorly.
4. You go and buy a 8.8 off an Explorer, not bent, probably never driven Offroad.
Your conclusion: Dana35’s all suck, the Super 35 kit is trash, 8.8’s are all the bomb, don’t ever build up a Dana 35.
Is anyone else seeing the comedy in this set of information ?
I’m not arguing 8.8 vs Dana 35 with folks, but the data presented, just so you know, makes it very difficult to buy into what you’re saying, there no way to draw the conclusion you have drawn, with this nonsense.
The funny thing…you post that they “Always” grenade at the R&P? And literally the next guy posts that he broke an axle.
I’m thinking you don’t know what “always” means.
I broke off a Dana 35 axle shaft as well, so I’m familiar with the fact, that’s a Dana 35 doesn’t Always grenade in the R&P. Mine was not a Super35
Your post reads like a ransom note. I’ve been very satisfied with my little ol super 35.
Nice first and second post. You are certainly entitled to your own opinion - however ill-informed - but calling another forum member's approach dumb, stupid, and asinine? Fuck off, kid.
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Yes, no, yes, and yeah pretty much. The 8.8 is a great axle, much cheaper than a dana 44, parts are everywhere. Super 35 kit is alright if your axle is still good, but honestly, for what it costs its not worth it. You're still left with a dana 35 after all that money. Even with bigger axle shafts you still use the same ring and pinion which are tiny. And considering that if you can weld the 8.8 swap costs less than a super 35 kit, it's a no brainer to me.
Just my 2 cents, cause I've actually ran a super 35 and an 8.8 which not many people have done both. And if you're putting a super 35 in chances are you've already fucked up the stock 35 anyways.
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