swapping axles. what to get, what to look for?

general · 11-03-2009, 10:12 PM

I have a 1991 yj pretty much stock. I have 4" lift leaf springs under the axle and 33 x 12.5 tires. What I'm wanting to do, due to the talk of d30 fronts and d35 rears being crap, is to swap my axles. So my ? to whoever, is what exactly should I be looking for. Obviously spring perches and shock mounts I'm not worried about but this would be my first axle swap so I just want to make sure I'm not overlooking something that would work better or be less money. For instance how long and where measured from, needing to worry about pitman arm, and how to tell for sure what axle it is, say that I find in a back yard and nobody knows what it came off of. If anyone can help or have suggestions it would be greatly appreciated

ImpactFabWorks · 11-03-2009, 10:18 PM

the d30 is a good strong axle. especially if your only running 33s. just look for a ford 8.8 its very close to the same width and is a very common swap. you could also look for a dana 44 out of an xj but it won't be as strong

Sidewinder · 11-03-2009, 10:20 PM

8.8. easy as hell. d30 is fine. find a 8.8 with 4.10 gears and your good to go my friend

general · 11-03-2009, 10:30 PM

can i still stick with d30 if I'm going 35 x 12.5

ImpactFabWorks · 11-03-2009, 10:31 PM

personally i have seen dana 30s running 37s and getting beat to hell. they are a good strong axle and if anything maybe upgrade shafts and throw a locker in it

**Joe Dillard** · 11-03-2009, 10:32 PM

The axles that are currently under it have lasted ~19 years - so I'm not sure where all the talk is coming from to think that they are completely junk.

Yea, they are nowhere near being bulletproof - but they lasted whoever had it before you, and you as well, this long.

A decent rear axle swap would be a Dana 44, or Ford 8.8. Or perhaps F&R D44's or a rear Ford 9".

There are countless axle swaps posted here in the YJ section, just use the search & you'll find 100's if not 1.000's.

If you are looking for major beef (1 ton axles) you need to start looking for a set of F&R D60's or a HPD60 & Chevy 14Bolt.

Measurement are generally from the flat wheel mount surface (WMS) to the other WMS.

There are several posts that have axle guide pics posted in 'em.

Here's one example since I'm too lazy to dig the others up for you.

**bigsquat** · 11-03-2009, 10:38 PM

i just wheeled with a gut that says a late 80's wagoneer's axles are a good candidate for a swap. the wheels have a different bolt pattern tho

general · 11-03-2009, 10:46 PM

If I'm looking for a 8.8 what year of ford and does it matter f150 or f250 explorer. If you guys have as much info as possible it would really help

Tooch · 11-03-2009, 10:52 PM

4.10 gears. i just got a set. find a 4cyl 5sp wrangler. im planning on running the same set up as you.

also you may want to check this out
http://www.tellico4x4.com/moreinfo/ratio.htm

ImpactFabWorks · 11-03-2009, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by general

If I'm looking for a 8.8 what year of ford and does it matter f150 or f250 explorer. If you guys have as much info as possible it would really help

your looking for a ford explorer. ALL explorers from 91-01 will have 31 spline axle shafts. 95-01 will also come with disc brakes. you can also get pre 95 but it will have drums. also its pretty common here to find them with 4.10 and a limited slip.

**Joe Dillard** · 11-03-2009, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by general

If I'm looking for a 8.8 what year of ford and does it matter f150 or f250 explorer. If you guys have as much info as possible it would really help

You will be doing yourself a giant favor by reading thru the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) sticky thread. You can scroll to the Ford 8.8 info in it on post #11.

There's TONS of 8.8 axle info in it that I & others took countless hours of work to get & Erik posted.

I highly recommend you read the entire thread as well. You can save yourself a keyboard & lots of time by reading it.

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f12/frequently-asked-questions-faq-your-answers-usually-here-451154/

general · 11-03-2009, 11:11 PM

Joe Dillard, you are the man!!!! thanks a lot

tipovermobile · 11-03-2009, 11:18 PM

the dana 30 (if you do keep it open diff) is garbage just like the dana 35, ive seen many break ujoints and take the balljoints with it and make your whole knuckle fall off which makes your wheel fall off on the trail, they break from 31s and up.
also dont bother with dana 44 in the front for tires say 34 and up, there barely and upgrade. Id suggest toyota 8" in the front (cause of its upgradability) or dana 60 front

general · 11-03-2009, 11:45 PM

OK! so this is what I plan on doing after taking in all suggestions and keeping in mind my budget and how extreme I get when I'm there, which isn't very crazy, mostly slow snow. I'll keep the d30 in front and weld the front so I'm locked, ditch the back d35 and go with d44 because a buddy has one, throw in a detroit locker and put the lowest gears that I can find which, correct if I'm wrong, will be 488s and then soon to be 35 x 12.5 bfgs. Is this a bad idea or what.thanks

Sidewinder · 11-04-2009, 07:28 AM

If this is your dd I'd go with a locker in the front instead of welded. Other than that sounds good. And a friend of mine doesn't like Detroit. He prefers arb becuse if one breaks I think he said arbs Are much easier to replace. Just throwing that out there