Hello all my second post so here we go. I have a new to me 1991 Cherokee. It had a leaking passenger side axle seal. I have pulled the axle and found a crack in it where the bearing race runs on it. Made a trip to Pull a Part but it seems the only year axles that fit it are 1990 to 1992? That is what I was told, I did try to match one up with a 95 but it was not the same.

Trying to keep this to a low cost fix, not looking to do hard 4 wheeling with it. Do not want an 8.8 right now.

Thanks for any input
Mike

 

ideally you want one from 95-99 but any from 97-99 will work. only difference is 87-89 has bolt on brake caliper mounts so you will have to swap your knuckles for your calipers to work. also from 87-94 you want one with abs so you get the full shafts and 297 u-joints keeping in mind the years with bolt on caliper mounts.

stick with xj, stay away from zj.

 

Rear ? Automatic or stick ?

 

Axle is for the passenger side rear. It has drum brakes..It is an automatic with 3.55 gears.........Sorry for the lack of info.

Mike

 

Seems certain axles are different lengths thru the years ...If ones not ava maybe a 8.25 would be the next step. I got mine for 130.00 drum to drum from my local you pull yard . Seeing new axles are around same price .......http://www.jeep4x4center.com/jeep-ax...herokee-xj.htm

 

If you have a Chrysler 8.25 rear axle, then you can use either a left or a right side axle shaft out of any XJ with a 8.25 axle, up to mid-'96. This would be a 27 spline axle shaft. (After mid-'96 they went to a 29 spline shaft)


If you have a Dana 35 rear axle, then you can only use a passenger side axle shaft, but any year Cherokee, '93-'94 Grand Cherokee, and '87-'02 Wrangler all use the same shaft with Dana 35 axle...........


If you are lucky enough to have a Dana 44 rear axle, then you still can only use a passenger side shaft, but any year Cherokee and Comanche, '87-'06 Wrangler all use the same one..............

2WD or 4WD won't make any difference.

You will first need to identify which axle you have...............8.25 and Dana 35 look similar...............
8.25 is larger, and has a rubber fill plug. D35 is threaded plug (or could be rubber plug)..............D30 is front axle only..........



Happy hunting

 

Everything I have found says the Dana 35 has a rubber drain plug. Why does your post show a threaded plug for the 35 and a rubber plug for the 8.25?

Mike

 

Older dana 35s had screw in plug thats all.

 

Really you can put in any rear axle from any XJ and you'll be fine. Your choices are:
- Very early Dana 35 (no C-clips, screw in plug I think)
- Dana 44 from late '80s
- "normal" Dana 35 late '80s to 2001
- 27-spline Chrysler 8.25" 1991-early 1996
- 29-spline Chrysler 8.25" late 1996-2001

If you have ABS then you'll need to stick with the Dana 35. If not, then you have a lot of options. After about 1990 all XJs with 4.0L and AW4 transmission shipped with 3.55:1 gears. Things can be replaced sometimes so you should check before buying, but there were a million axles made that you can choose from.

The Dana 44 and Chrysler 8.25" have larger gears than the Dana 35. If you end up buying changing between D35 and something else, you'll need the donor vehicle's drive shaft too. Exception to this would be if you have a small lift with a D35 and replace it with a C8.25, the longer driveshafy would be better with the lift and new axle.

I am assuming you mean the axle tube and not the shaft?

 

I think he was trying to get by with just sliding an axle shaft out and replacing just that......................

If you do swap the whole assembly, the 8.25 and D44 also have larger axle tubes, so you would need to replace the U-bolts and spring plate as well...............Unless you are swapping like for like......

 

Well in my search to find an axle I located a 8.25 complete rear end for 200 bucks. Came with drums, u bolts, emergency brake cables, and the brake shoes on it were like new. It was at a local yard here and was wrecked in the front. They even took it out and loaded it for me.

And yes it was same ratio, 3.55. Hope this problem is behind me.

Thanks for the info, I'm sure I will have more problems. Nice to know I can come here and ask them.

Mike

 

Good choice!

 

What about drive shaft ...

 

Not sure, guy at the yard said my old one should fit. Said if it didn't he would swap me one that did.

Mike

 

Did you have a D35 before? If you did you really need the shorter drive shaft. They both fit at stock height but you run the risk of bottoming out the slip yoke and smashing the transfer case when going over large bumps.