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super 35 kit vs.axle swap

3K views 27 replies 12 participants last post by  MCracco 
#1 ·
i've seen the super 35 kits that take care of one weakness of the d35.an axle truss takes care of the other.what are the advantages to an axle swap vs beefing up the d35(c clip)?is it even worth the trouble?any input would be very helpful. :confused:
 
#2 ·
I had the same problem. I wanted to have a stronger axle than the D35c. If you add up the cost of an axle swap vs. a Super 35 kit it comes out pretty close.
Super 35 Kit:
kit-$900
installed-$200

New Axle:
D44-@$250
ford 8.8-$600 (depending on the gears)
Locker- D44 $400
ford 8.8 $450
new mounting hardwear: $100
for the ford 8.8 you'll need a flange to join the axle and the driveshaft.

I ended up going with the 8.8 I just figured it would be better, it has a stonger housing, and 31 spline axle shafts. You just have to decided which one you want to do. http://members.home.com/rough-riders/tech_page/ford8.8/ford8_8.html
here is a website that might help
 
#3 ·
well,here is my next dumb question.how about making the d35 a full float style axle with an axle truss?this should upgrade the weak axle shafts.shouldn't it? :confused:
 
#4 ·
Your stock D35c is a semi-floater, where the outer end of the axle shaft actually supports the weight of the truck as well as turns the wheel. With a full-floater, the actual axle shaft rides inside the axle tube on bearings, and the outer hub and inner diff carrier are both supported by the axle housing and not the axle shaft. this allows the axle to hold no weight and the stress on the axle shaft comes only from twisting and spinning the wheel and not from holding the weight of the truck. The truss supports the axle housing and acts as a skid plate almost.
The only problem is that this only eliminate some of the problems with the D35c. You still have the small R&P and axle shafts, carrier and housing. Also with the axle truss you lose some ground clearance. Just some more info for you.
 
#5 ·
i've been eyeballin' the ford 8.8 for a possible swap,but i'm afraid that if my rotten luck holds up,that i'll wind up building a new 8.8 piece by piece. one quick question, is the bolt pattern the same on the 8.8 as a stock jeep?(just bought new rims) :)
 
#6 ·
Yes the 8.8 has the same bolt pattern as the stock axles. You need to look for a 95 or newer from an explorer. Just make sure that you inspect the gears at the junkyard. look for chips, teeth missing etc. You can look on the jeepsunlimited board for an 8.8. some people have them for sale.
 
#8 ·
I got mine for $530. It came with 4.10 gears. I also found some for around $400 with 3.55 or smaller. Also another advantage of the 8.8 is you get disc brakes. :)
 
#9 ·
I've been very happy with my super35 kit. With the exception of one thing. You can't get spares!!! Superior will not split up the "kit". I called Drivetrail Direct and they basically laughed when I asked for a spare. So I called Superior. They said that since the super 35 was a kit that they would not split it up. When I pushed a little more, they said they would check into it more and call back. They never did. Just a little FYI.
 
#10 ·
i can do the work myself if it is just swapping axle shafts.i don't have a fabricating shop(yet).i plan on keeping my four squirrels on parade till they die :D
decisions,decisions...
 
#11 ·
You probably will have to take the axle shafts to a machine shop, because I believe the bearings and the seal need to be pressed on. It shouldn't cost very much for them to do this.
 
#12 ·
i,m still kinda hung up between axle swap and the super 35 kit.there are many pros and cons for each.if i had to choose right now,i'm kinda leaning toward the super 35 kit.call me crazy,but all the bigger eng. it will ever get is a 6.i just can't see breaking stuff every, weekend i play.(every other is my average for now! :D )
thankyou everybody for all your valuable input. :)
 
#13 ·
I also am in the same boat youare. Deciding on which upgrade to do. I was directed to a on-line junkyard and found a place that sells 8.8's for around $200 complete!! It made the decision so much easier!!!. Here is the link:http://junkyarddog.com/main.htm
Good luck with your whatever decision you make!
 
#14 ·
For some reason it didn't work like I wanted. You just have to copy and paste it. Sorry. When you get on the site just type in what you are looking for and them you will get a e-mail from any junkyards that have what you are looking for.
 
#15 ·
i like that!thankyou very much. :) also one thing that helps me out;one of the guys i work with has a dad that runs a bone yard.so i've got him looking for stuff too.here in texas,you have to follow your "donor" vehicle to the scrap pile or you'll miss out!
the one jeep boneyard here is mighty proud of their crap!i am now leaning toward the axle swap.ah,the pleasure of owning a jeep! :cool:
 
#16 ·
Originally posted by I-4:
i,m still kinda hung up between axle swap and the super 35 kit.there are many pros and cons for each.if i had to choose right now,i'm kinda leaning toward the super 35 kit.call me crazy,but all the bigger eng. it will ever get is a 6.i just can't see breaking stuff every, weekend i play.(every other is my average for now! :D )
thankyou everybody for all your valuable input. :)
Based on my experience, I'd say that your best bet is to hold off doing either. Instead, buy some inexpensive spares and go wheeling. You can do an awful lot of wheeling on your stock axles. I did not know until Ray posted, that you cannot get spare shafts for the Superior Dana 35 kit. That being the case, I wouldn't go near it. You can pick up whole stock axle assemblies for a fraction of the cost of an upgrade, and you'll be prepared if anything does happen to go wrong. Much better off than having a beefed up 35 with no spares when you're in the middle of nowhere.

Don't even think about doing an axle swap until you know enough about axles that you're not asking others to make the decision for you. Nothing wrong with doing your research. But if you don't know enough to know what you need, you should stick with what you have until you're ready to make an informed decision.
 
#17 ·
i'm still just in the planning stage.gettin' all my ducks in a row.i'm want somethimg stronger because i've heard horror stories of people snapping the axle shafts in their 4 poppers.sure,some of it (most) is knowing your vehicles limits---i just am wanting to expand the mud wagons limits.how i'm doing my mods is really simple-as something breaks(and we all know things break when you are offroading)i beef it up.that way i can put my $ into something else next time!
 
#18 ·
I-4, I was in your same situation for a while. Go for the 8.8 and you won't regret it.

I picked up my 8.8 with disks and 3.?? for $425, I got the stock ford yoke with the axle, and just bought a conversion u-joint.

If you sat your D35 next to an 8.8, you won't be able to believe you haven't broke the 35, or that you even considered keeping it. I just swapping the 8.8 this weekend, and I don't know how my D35 lasted 6 months with 35" tires.

Where are you in Texas??? There is a '97 Ford 8.8 here at the same yard I got mine in College Station
 
#19 ·
Cody_91YJ:
Do you have install pics? I may be looking at an axle swap in the shockingly-near future, and the 8.8 swap is looking good. I need to know if this is something that can be done easily or needs a professional touch though.
 
#20 ·
Sorry, I didn't get any pics, I didn't have my digital camera on me at the time.

If you can weld, you can do it without a problem. You can even reuse the spring perches on the axle without cutting em off.

We filled/welded the hole in the 8.8 spring perch that the spring back bolt goes into, and then redrilled the holes. They were only about 1/4" off. If you get the flange on the 8.8 at the junkyard...then all you need is a conversion u-joint.

So, don't even mess with the MORE kit, you won't need it. I haven't gotten the shocks mounted yet, but for that I'm going to reuse the shock mounts on the Dana 35C.

I'll try and get some before and after pics in the next week or two
 
#21 ·
i'm in irving.i've been looking for a 8.8 with 4.10's already in it. have had some luck.my problem is i have to wait till it breaks before the mrs will let me "fix" it.disc breaks all the way around will be sweet!
 
#23 ·
OK, first of all, a 9 inch or Dana 60 would just be the shizit...but since price and promptness are probably factors, go with a D44. 1)They came in Jeeps so finding one that is more or less bolt-up will be easy. 2)You can call Moser and get crazy spline count shafts :eek:, can't do that with a D35.
3) Superior makes a kit for the D44 just in case it is not strong enought for ya.
4) Who the hell brags about a Dana 35?????? :D
 
#24 ·
I intend to put a D44 rear in my Jeep one of these days. I picked up a spare set of stock D35 axles for $50 from a local 4x4 shop. If you check around in your area you can probably find the same type of deal.

I'd reccommend carrying spare axles for any C-clip axle. If the axle shaft breaks and you don't have a spare, you're gonna be walking to find one.
 
#26 ·
I know most people rag on the D35 but it can be bultup for a reasonable cost and be a great axle. if you dont run huge tires and V8 power a 35 is a cheep axle to run. i fixed my 35's with Moser shafts, detroit locker, disk brakes, & a confer truss. This setup was great up to 33's and a I6 and 4.56. it was only when i went to 35's did i have any problems. so if you dont plan on going to 35's, the D35 can hold up fine (even hard use). If you do find a cheep axle better, no harm in picking it up for a later swop though. thats what i did and now the D44 is under the jeep and the D35 is up for sale with all its mods.
 
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