Topic: rear axle trouble/ help.

[fobanger00]

recently messed up sumthing in the rear axle is going to cost about 1000 to fix, includes gearing carrier, and some other things. its for a dana35 with the stock 4cyl 4.10 ratio. is it worth getting it all fixed for the price or would it be better, since i have the money, to get a dana 44 with the 4.10 gearing installed with locker. im stuck between either or, anyone know the benefits or has done this before. any feedback is good. i am just stuck wether i should spend the 3000 for the nice new rear end or keep the stock d35 and replace the gearing and such.

[Bounty Hunter]

Same money, but an upgrade: http://eastcoastgearsupply.com/i-2763540-ford-8-8-rear-axle-bolt-in-tj-assembly.html

[fobanger00]

yeah i looked at that and that site and it turned out to be alot more money than the dana 44 with the locker and correct gearing

[Jeffy]

Just get a TJ D44-3 and bolt it in.  Only the Rubicon will have 4.10's and a locker.  For the locker to work you'll need to figure out the wiring.  Although the TJ D44-3 was offered first in  the later half of 1996(MY97).  You'll only find them on 4.0L Jeeps with a conventional spare and no ABS.  The first year they had 3.54 gears while 98 and up have 3.73's.  They came with a Track-Lok LSD.

It's not the ultimate axle but it's better then a D35c and with some luck should hold up fine.

[stan98tj]

Save money. Pull the 8.8 out of a junk yard. 8.8 is stronger than a 44.

[jagular7]

What Jeff stated is a complete bolt in. The difficulty is finding one in a price range you are willing to pay. Quick easy is to look at your local yards via http://car-part.com/. You can also expand from the region area for something to match but it will require shipping. Something that big/heavy on a pallet may require a way of handling it off the delivery truck.
You may find one from someone parting out a TJ.
If you look hard enough, you can find someone parting out their TJ to get bigger axles underneath. These axles may not be stock but are a complete bolt in, ie. 8.8, Isuzu D44, etc.
What others have suggested is for you to find a replacement axle from another donor that's not Jeep. Add a bracket kit and then bolt it in.
Another option is to swap in a Super35 kit. It uses your stock D35 but upgrades critical areas. Best thing about this kit, you have only wrenching to do and no real hard labor work, like replacing the entire rear axle housing.

Either way, you are looking at 800-$1000 for a complete TJ D44 bolt in (no gear match), a Rubicon D44 complete bolt in (1000-$1200 or more due to locker), 8.8 swap (~$1000 if you shop right & get matching gears, or 1500-$1800 for axle brackets, gears, locker). The SuperD35 kit can be had for way under $1000.

[lutzke21]

My 8.8 cost me all of $750...  No locker yet, but I'm rolling and wheeling it. The locker will come later.