I've got a dana 35 with a noise every time I let off the gas. The guy at the parts place said that it might be my u-joints, so I replaced them...Still have the noise. It sounds like a vibration/grinding noise. Could it be the rear seal bearing??? I'm running 31's and am planning on changing my gears to 4:11 so I can slap on 33's. I didn't see any problems when I checked the gear oil. I'm at a loss. thanks for any help.

 

When you lift off of the gas and the noise goes away it usually means worn ring and pinion and if you are changing them the noise will go away.

 

Don't waste you're time with any repairs on a D35. Swap in an 8.25"

 

Thanks for the assist...I just wanted to make sure i was fixin' the right part. I got a quote for parts and labor at a custom jeep shop for $800....not to bad, but the wife will flip...guess I'll buy her a night out or something...What's better about a Chrysler 8.25 over a Dana 35????

 

Why in the world would you even consider paying $1 to repair a Dana35?!?!?!? Go to your favorite junkyard or check craigslist for one. Lots of the people just want them hauled away since they are absolutely worthless.

For 1/4 of the price you quoted you can install a Chrysler 8.25" 29 spline axle.

 

And then you can drop another $500 having the bearings replaced.

I stopped by my local 4X4 shop to ask about the noise I keep hearing coming from my (Supposedly) bullet proof 8.25 thats in my 98 (Yes it is I know the difference)
He tells me if I don't plan on major mudding or rock crawling and I have a spare QUIET D35 with same ratio (which I do) that he'd swap them over.
He also tells me that the NUMBER 1 repair he does on the 8.25 is bearing replacement. So I ask about the D35. and he tells me he's never had to replace bearings on 1.
So guess what I'm doing? I can use the $500 somewhere else.

 

You've posted that same thing before and my reply is the same now as it was then. I've never seen a spun bearing in and 8.25" axle. I'm not saying it isn't possible, just saying that my experience with this axle good. I've built a few and not just for my rig.

 

May not have to replace bearings but will have to buy about 15 axle shafts befor you decide to throw the d35 in the trash and buy a 8.25 or d44

 

I'm 52 years old been driving (and licensed for) anything that moves on a highway in Ontario that includes motorcycles big trucks little trucks cranes buses you name it.
I also have a NHRA licence for more than 9 sec. I've also driven just about most of the inventory of the Canadian Army (I know not saying much) up to 1980.
In all that time and all those miles I've NEVER broken an axle. Some rings and pinions lots of engines (Lots of those) and more than a handful of trannies.
Now if I was stupid enough to try to run 35's on a stock differential then I most likely would break an axle. And the headache I got would be deserved.
BUT 80% of the people reading this forum WILL NEVER try to do some of the serious mudding or rock crawling the other 20% will do.
And we also will never break an axle.
So for the headache of sourcing and repairing an 8.25 (on the advice of local guys that have to look me in the face) I'm gonna stick with them and install the D35 out of my 91 into my 98. I'm tired of listening to the beaings howl on the 8.25. I have neither the tools or the inclination to drop $300 on parts to fix it.
I wish you guys would quit scarring the crap out of the newbies.
If you would ask him (or her Sorry Gearheadette) what their intentions on the use of their jeep would be then you can give more appropriate advice on how to equip their jeep. Maybe he indeed should change to an 8.25 or even a D60 for all we know
The blanket statement that any D35 is nothing more than boat anchor is WRONG!

 

http://www.billhughes.com/dana35c/

 

I have a Dana 35 with a Detroit Locker and a couple of us went to black Mountain Sunday and my Dana 35 went through everything including big hills with rocks and mud. I've only heard of one axle breaking in a 35. With my lockers in mine I will put my rig up with any rig with a 8.25 and see if it holds up the exact same. Sunday there were other rigs with bigger rear ends and I went through the exact same things they all went through. My 35 turns my 33" on the highway and trails good.

 

And what are all those guys with broken axles DOING when they broke?
Probably pushing their rig through way more than it was DESIGNED to do.
If you gonna do that kind of crap you should update to stronger components NO ARGUMENT. Bet the 8.25 would have broken in a lot of those too.

However the name of this site is Cherokee Forum. Not "Extreme off road ONLY Cherokee forum"
You missed the 80 20 thing didn't you.
I hope Stan's getting a kick out of this.

 

You're welcome to disagree but the facts and the images speak for themselves. You state that your mechanic claims that 8.25" bearings tend to howl, fine. Perhaps he has. Does that negate the FACT that the D35 shafts break far more easily than those in a. 8.25? No.
Does it negate the FACT that D35 tubes are smaller in diameter and actually neck-down before entering the the diff.

The vast majority of D35 axleshaft failures are a result of the axle housing flexing and causing additional stress on the shaft near the splines.

As far as the link above is concerned and your assumption that those rigs were being pushed to the limit...look again. While there most certainly are some that were in what you might consider extreme conditions, others were in sand, in mud, and some on nothing more than a dirt road. On a recent trip to Denver I happened upon a bone stock TJ on the side of the highway with the drivers side rear tire sticking out approximately 18" from its normal position. How's that for extreme?

In a nut shell, quit believing what you hear from your mechanic, he isn't the final word. Start reading some of the horror stories from those that have been there, done that.
Here's 11,600 to get ya started.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&e...broken&spell=1

As far as the cost to replace a set of bearings, $500? Canadian or U.S. Dollars.

Anyone that pays that much, regardless of which currency, is booger eating moron that deserves to be taken advantage of for not having the common sense to shop for a reputable shop that charges a fair price. Any idiot can get gouged.

 

<<<<<<<--------very happy with his D44

 

Ive only been jeepin for 3 years (i do live in utah and only do the Extreme off road rock crawlin as you say) but just in those 3 years iv seen around 6 ppl break 35's and 3 or 4 break the short side on the d30 dont say it dont happen i watch it all the time. if hes just ddin it then it wouldnt really matter what axle hes puttin in it, but all im sayin is the 35 is an extremely week axle! as for the 8.25 it might break in the spots we go but im yet to see one break a shaft...