Questions on axles and gears

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Fish

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Joined
Aug 6, 2023
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16
Location
Electra, Texas
Hey y'all, few questions if someone can clear some things up for me.

PO put 35's, 5" lift and sssye. I need to regear and, from what I understand, upgrade axles or downsize tires.

A) which of these is more urgent? I do not plan on wheeling at all until I get more built. I drive 20 miles to work on straight, flat, North Texas highway with 0 traffic.

B) I see a lot of things like this
https://m.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1113495673137680/?ref=search

What is needed to complete an 8.8 swap?

Thank you in advance for any advice. Trying to plan and budget things out before I work the OT for it 😂
 
Fish said:
Hey y'all, few questions if someone can clear some things up for me.

PO put 35's, 5" lift and sssye. I need to regear and, from what I understand, upgrade axles or downsize tires.

A) which of these is more urgent? I do not plan on wheeling at all until I get more built. I drive 20 miles to work on straight, flat, North Texas highway with 0 traffic.

B) I see a lot of things like this
https://m.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1113495673137680/?ref=search

What is needed to complete an 8.8 swap?

Thank you in advance for any advice. Trying to plan and budget things out before I work the OT for it 😂
Click to expand...
1999 TJ sport, 4.0, 5 speed manual
 
I'm no fan of the 8.8 at all, I'd go with the Super 35 kit from https://www.revolutiongear.com/prod..._tj_cherokee_xj_30_spline_upgrade_super35_kit which is easily installed. All that has to be done is to set the backlash of the new locker carrier so it's the same as you ring & pinion gears have now.

The 8.8 has a huge pumpkin that decreases ground clearance, its pinion shaft is offset more to the side so the driveshaft has two angles to work into, plus it's a PITA to get converted over so it's ready to be bolted into a TJ. The 8.8 is no longer nearly as popular as it once was, especially since the Super 35 kit became popular. A Super 35 kit includes heat treated 30 spline 1541H shafts (don't use chromoly in a Dana 35!) that are slightly stronger than a Dana 44's shafts are. It does require a 30 spline locker like an Eaton E-Locker, ARB Air Locker, Detroit Locker, or an Ox locker. My choice would be an Eaton E-Locker.

Gearing-wise, 4.88 is would be a good ratio choice for your 35" tires and 5-speed manual transmission. Revolution Gear is a great choice for the gears too. I would not go with any 4.56 recommendation, that will leave your TJ slightly undergeared for a tire that big.
 
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Also, take a gander at your current axles. I have a 97 sport with 35's 5.25" lift, and SS SYE. My lift is homebrew with mostly Currie/Savvy products and I swapped in some 06 dana 44's with 4.88's and lockers.

There is an outside possibility that the PO actually installed some parts in the axle, or swapped the axle entirely to make it capable of handling 35's. 🤷‍♂️

I'm not second guessing you, but it is always good to verify what's there before throwing parts at it.
 
Since I don't wheel at all, I'm considering an Auburn. I can get it cheap as heck. From what I understand the clutch packs wear out and eventually it won't lock anymore, which won't be a problem for me at all. They just don't make a 30 spline carrier. LSD is the only thing I would really like since we do get a little snow some winters, but not a necessity.
 
Stock 3.23 ratio?

I have 35s, 4.88s, e-lockers front and rear and super 30/35 revolution axles.

Might want to buy some 4" springs and drop it down to 33s. 33s are cheaper for a daily driver anyways.

I wish I did 5.13s...more hills in Oregon than Texas.

If you're not offroading I'd just regear the stock open carriers. Make note of all the shims so if you do upgrade to a locker you'll have a starting point for putting used gears on to a new carrier.

You might break something...you might not.

-Mac
 
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