Topic: what is the biggest axle that I should put on a 2.5 Liter YJ jeep?

[countryboy15]

what is the biggest axle that I should put on a 2.5 Liter YJ jeep? I know where to get an old '79 ford 3/4 ton 4x4 for a good donor for my jeep. It would only cost $500 dollars for the whole truck that I think is in running condition. I was thinking about buying it and using it as a donor or just sell it and make a nice profit.

[jagular7]

The question is a mouthfull of opinions. There are a lot of variables to take to consider an answer. Wheel/tire size, typical terrain for offroading, how much time and effort, how much money, your goals of the use, etc.

However, if you are looking at swapping in the front axle off the 79 F250, this would be a great upgrade to the stock YJ front axle. It would be a D44 with 3" tubes with 1/2" wall. To add, the leaf mount difference between the YJ and the F250 is little more than 1/2". So basically, the front axle will bolt right underneath the stock YJ leafs. Then you have to configure shocks, steering, brakes, wheels, matching gear ratios to the axles, etc. You could also use the rear axle as well, but that would require little more work with welding spring perches and shock mounts on. Nothing major but still welding to get the axles underneath.

To add, you may luck out as well and the F250 may be a Snowfighter option which gives you a D60 front axle. Either way, both are big and heavy front axles compared to your stock YJ axle.

[WranglerCOdy]

Ford 8.8 LSD best investment i ever did.


you get disk brakes
thick axle shafts


its pretty easy to fabb in.


heck im 18 and i managed to do it.

[Mozman68]

The biggest you can afford.....

[sharpxmen]

The biggest you can afford.....

Rockwell 

[Jeffy]

The biggest you can afford.....

Honestly, that's not a bad way to go but with a stipulation.  You have to consider tire size.  '78/'79 Ford axles are an excellent choice though.  They make prefect candidates for Jeeps.  You will want to run at least 35's or better yet 37's with those axles if you don't shave them.

[countryboy15]

Honestly, that's not a bad way to go but with a stipulation.  You have to consider tire size.  '78/'79 Ford axles are an excellent choice though.  They make prefect candidates for Jeeps.  You will want to run at least 35's or better yet 37's with those axles if you don't shave them.

By shave you mean, shortened the axle, right? How would I shave the axle? how much would I have to shave to make 31" or bigger fit. sorry, about all the questions. I am knew to this type of stuff.  (now if was anything that isn't under the hood or the jeep I have a good idea of what to do but engines and axles is the stuff i know little about.)

[Jeffy]

By shave you mean, shortened the axle, right? How would I shave the axle? how much would I have to shave to make 31" or bigger fit. sorry, about all the questions. I am knew to this type of stuff.  (now if was anything that isn't under the hood or the jeep I have a good idea of what to do but engines and axles is the stuff i know little about.)

Shave as is cutting the bottom off the housing so it doesn't hang as low.  How much depends on how willing you are with the saw.  You can trim a little or a lot.

[countryboy15]

Never mind I will not buy the old truck for the axles because:
1) most likely I will never need anything stronger than the dana 44 and ford 8.8 axles
2) the only thing my jeep will ever see is mud and swamps since I live in southern Louisiana.
3) and I don't want to be the one to mess up the perfectly good axles
, BUT might buy it to buy and sell truck for profit or buy and keep it not sure.


 I am currently interested in the Ford 8.8 or the dana 44. Which would you recommend?

I don't know much about the dana 44s, all I know is they are nice and rare to find.

I can get the Ford 8.8's easliy at a local pull-a-part place since there seems to be alot of ford exploers. The prices on the 4x4 axles are like $200 a piece.
Some people off of jeepforum.com recommended the ford 8.8 to someone who was looking for junkyard mods because of the least amount of modifications , please read information below and tell me if this is true or not. Also what has to be done to fit the ford 8.8 on yj.

 

...there's some fabbin' to do on an 8.8 but it's closer to bolt in than almost any other axle. Same wheel bolt pattern as a jeep 4.5 on 5 and it's almost exactly the same width as your rear (actually it's like a half inch or inch or something like that skinny) but you won't know it just looking at it.

The Ford 8.8 axle swap.
90-95 lands you drum brakes on a stronger axle with the same bolt pattern. 95-99 Explorer gets you rear disc brakes as a bonus....

[dwtaylorpdx]

The 8.8 is the most common and has disk brakes.
The 44 requires the same work to install and its hard to find them with lower miles.

Dave

[Jeffy]

I don't think its ever a bad thing to be overkill with axles.  I've thought about buying a POS 78/79 but I don't have the room to take the axles then store the husk.

[countryboy15]

The 8.8 is the most common and has disk brakes.
The 44 requires the same work to install and its hard to find them with lower miles.

Dave

thanks for the help. It seems to me the Ford 8.8 is the best one for me

I don't think its ever a bad thing to be overkill with axles.  I've thought about buying a POS 78/79 but I don't have the room to take the axles then store the husk.

I was just wondering before i bought a truck for its axles and came to find out it isn't going to work with the 2.5 L.
I was just thinking "Hey I might could use theat motor and them axles" but now that I know what would have to be done. I am not buying th truck for the axles nor motor. If I buy it is one of the following: to mud ride; to have a truck; or to sell and make a profit.

[Bounty Hunter]

The 8.8 will severely limit you should you decide to upgrade the front axle in the future.  The smallish 5x4.5" lug pattern is tough to keep when installing a d44 or larger front axle.

Consider a front d44 from a Grand Wagoneer and a rear d44 from an Isuzu Rodeo (Honda Passport).  This combo gives you a stronger front axle, 4whl disc brakes, and matching 6-lug wheel pattern all the way around.  The wheel pattern is common to GM trucks, most all foreign trucks, Waggys, etc.  By upgrading the front you get serviceable wheel bearings, larger brakes, locking hubs, more affordable highsteer options, stronger axle housing, more plentiful and affordable locker options, etc.  This combo also allows you to regear as low as 5.38 if you desire, which is what I run with 35" tires.

[jagular7]

Don't take this the wrong way, save your money. Go join a local club. Wheel with them. Break stuff, then research and invest. Your knowledge is minimal to say the least. Only way to gain the knowledge is to read, research, and get out there. Seeing what others have and how they (ab)use them will tell you a lot of what you need to do if you want to be like them.

With 31s, do simple bolt in/on stuff. With a very limited budget, keep it stock and ride with someone else. Spend your money in some waders, boots and gloves.

[countryboy15]

With 31s, do simple bolt in/on stuff. With a very limited budget, keep it stock and ride with someone else. Spend your money in some waders, boots and gloves.

Thats why i decided to go with the ford 8.8s off a ford explorer it is closer to just bolt on than any other, I currently looking at a running 4wd ford explorer off of craigslist for $600 w/ no title. I am just curouis as to which motor it has?  I am planning on going with the ford explorer as a donor for my jeep. i am just wanting to know how to modify the ford 8.8 for a jeep with a minimum 31" tires. i am just using these 31" until they wear down ,which is going to be a while since they have under 4,000 miles on them, i plan on upgrading to bigger tires after. i am going to end up changing the axles anyway because I have a locking rear differential which I dislike the way it works, so I figured just as well make upgrades to bigger axles.