Dana 35 vs ford 7.5"

roccomonte · 03-08-2010, 09:21 PM

I got the dana 35 in my yj, and between the larger tires and engine swap, i blew out my rear end. Anyways I can get a ford 7.5 off a broncoII for free with matching gears and a limited slip w/ brand new clutches. Is this axle any stronger than the dana 35?

Drum to drum is 1/2" longer on the ford 7.5 both use drum brakes and i can get the driveshaft taken care of cheap.

RockCrawlerYJ · 03-09-2010, 12:38 AM

The ford 7.5 is probably better than the 35 but not worth the swap. Go find a ford 8.8 most of them are limited slip also. I dont know what engine you swapped into but anything bigger than a 4.0l with about 33 in tires would break that 7.5. An 8.8 is a great axle and you could probably pick one up for about $100.

**Technohead** · 03-09-2010, 01:28 AM

Same ring gear diameter & nearly same axle strength (1.16"/27 spline D35 vs 1.20"/28 spline 7.5). Does not make sense to do this swap. You can probably find somebody that will give you a bolt-in D35 without too much effort.

roccomonte · 03-09-2010, 02:17 AM

Yeah, but i'm in need of a rear axle immediatly... it has same gears with a brand new never ran limited slip, same lug pattern, its sittin on the side of my friends house and i already have the axle off the jeep. I'm gonna go ahead and do it tomorrow... at least i'll be going to a non c-clip axle those c-clips always scared me.

Also I put the engine from a 98 cherokee with a full obdII swap. so its probably only like 20 hp more than a YJ 4.0

Boodyrider · 03-09-2010, 02:25 AM

Well, congrats, yet another guy asking for advice who doesn't want it.

8.8 swap is well documented beause it is a good swap. 7.5 is not, beause it's a bad idea for a number of reasons

Do as you will and don't bother asking what to do if you don't want advice

**Wheelin98TJ** · 03-09-2010, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roccomonte

Yeah, but i'm in need of a rear axle immediatly... it has same gears with a brand new never ran limited slip, same lug pattern, its sittin on the side of my friends house and i already have the axle off the jeep. I'm gonna go ahead and do it tomorrow... at least i'll be going to a non c-clip axle those c-clips always scared me.

Also I put the engine from a 98 cherokee with a full obdII swap. so its probably only like 20 hp more than a YJ 4.0

The Ford 7.5 is a c-clip axle unless someone has installed an aftermarket c-clip eliminator kit.

RockCrawlerYJ · 03-09-2010, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boodyrider

Well, congrats, yet another guy asking for advice who doesn't want it.

8.8 swap is well documented beause it is a good swap. 7.5 is not, beause it's a bad idea for a number of reasons

Do as you will and don't bother asking what to do if you don't want advice

I know crazy right. Why ask?

roccomonte · 03-09-2010, 11:43 AM

You sure its c-clip? I'm looking at flanges on the axle tubes

Anyways I wasn't asking for advise on this swap, I was simpley asking for the strength difference. Obviously it's not a stout axle, but its slightly bigger than a d35, the drive shaft with this with work with an 8.8 further down the road...
I need the jeep up ASAP, its my DD and I can't be truant to class. Sorry if simple asking if its any stronger was a big deal.. I got the axle in in the time it woulda taken to change out gears and the driveline guy is changing out the yoke and re balancing right now.

**Wheelin98TJ** · 03-09-2010, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roccomonte

You sure its c-clip? I'm looking at flanges on the axle tubes

Anyways I wasn't asking for advise on this swap, I was simpley asking for the strength difference. Obviously it's not a stout axle, but its slightly bigger than a d35, the drive shaft with this with work with an 8.8 further down the road...
I need the jeep up ASAP, its my DD and I can't be truant to class. Sorry if simple asking if its any stronger was a big deal.. I got the axle in in the time it woulda taken to change out gears and the driveline guy is changing out the yoke and re balancing right now.

Can you post a pic?

The flange you are looking at is probably for the brakes.

roccomonte · 03-10-2010, 06:32 PM

I didnt get pictures during the swap, it's definatly not c-clip like the d35 there is flanges that hold the wheel bearing/axles in.

Anyways I found something odd about this axle, its 28 spline, but it has an 8.8" ring gear... I guess a few broncoII and rangers came with a hybrid of 7.5" tubes/axles with a 8.8" differential... I don't think I'll have a problem with this axle unless I twist off an axle shaft, but around here junkyards are full of fords so i'll see how it holds up.

yellowford · 03-13-2010, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roccomonte

I didnt get pictures during the swap, it's definatly not c-clip like the d35 there is flanges that hold the wheel bearing/axles in.

Anyways I found something odd about this axle, its 28 spline, but it has an 8.8" ring gear... I guess a few broncoII and rangers came with a hybrid of 7.5" tubes/axles with a 8.8" differential... I don't think I'll have a problem with this axle unless I twist off an axle shaft, but around here junkyards are full of fords so i'll see how it holds up.

That might be the weaker 8.8" that did come from the factory in the rangers they came with 28 spline shafts, its not really a hybrid of the 7.5 its just the smaller axle that came in rangers.

LJameson · 03-13-2010, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roccomonte

I didnt get pictures during the swap, it's definatly not c-clip like the d35 there is flanges that hold the wheel bearing/axles in.

"The 7.5-inch and 8.8-inch axles retain the axles using C-Clips. "

Ford Ranger Axles - The Ranger Station