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Rear axle upgrade

5K views 44 replies 15 participants last post by  dwdrums801 
#1 ·
Okay, so I am officially frazzled..:banghead: I have read alot on here that it would be prudent to upgrade my axles due to the fact that I have a dana 35; and before locking it, I will have to upgrade to Superior Axle & Gear Super 35 Axle Kit with ARB Air Locker. I know I don't need the locker just to upgrade but it would be pretty sweet to get it all as one package :punk:. I have searched this forum and many....many 4x4 websites and can only find one, (quadratec), that sells the complete assy. Does this assy come with new gears also????? I don't think it does. Would anyone know where to find this setup cheaper? It seems like all other sites do not make it for an 04. I would also like to know that if i did the upgraded axle install, would it require me to regear at the same time, or would mah rig be okay for awhile? I really...REALLY. want to lock it but I don't want to break anything.
 
#2 ·
Swapping your axle shafts to the super 35 does not include gears.

So, put the S35 with ARB locker in and regear front AND back later or at the same time. The front and rear gears HAVE to match (unless you never use 4x4, hi or low).

To determine if you have to regear or not, you have to look at what size tires you have, what gears you have now and to a lesser extent, what tranny you have.

So, whatcha got?
 
#3 ·
Right now I am running 31's but soon will be rolling on 33's, not sure of my current gears, ( i haven't had the chance to jack it up and do the gear count), and my trans is 42rle, which I just found out tonight on here.:D
 
#6 ·
Well its not going to be over 3.73's. With the auto I will guess 3.07's perhaps? You might also want to look into a used TJ Dana 44 vs the cost of upgrading your dana 35. As for cost, try some of our vendors on here and see what they can do for you. Other site to consider 4x4groupbuy.com performanceoffroad.com .
 
#7 ·
Hi all-
Newbie here. This is a great site. I have a similar question. I had heard that a few Hondas and Izuzu's came with Dana 44 that are pretty much bolt in for a TJ. Other than welding in the Spring brackets you could maybe get one from the wrecking yards. Is anyone familer with this swap? What exactly needs to be done? I also heard some come with disc in the rear as well? Is the bolt pattern different for the wheels? Any suggestions or guidance is appreciated.
Thanks
 
#10 ·
passport and rodeo. Correct on spring welding etc. wheel bolt pattern is also different vs the stock one. I know JP Magazine did this swap a few years back might search there.

....4jeepn, I have been kicking around the idea of swapping a d44 in place of my d35 but it my eyes it would be too much of a pain in the ass, due to my tri-link rear end axle bracket being welded to the axle. I think i will go with the assy I stated above....
RGR on the tri-link that does change things.
 
#8 · (Edited)
Jtalar, that Superior Axle Super 35 axle upgrade with an ARB air locker is a superb upgrade that will perform very (!) well for just about any but perhaps a competition level rock crawling event. I know a number of Jeepers that wheel that kit on 5+ rated rock crawling trails even out in Johnson Valley California without problem. It's a great choice. I only recommend you not let the installer talk you into ARB's heavier duty air line... the standard air line is what you want, really. If the air line ever got snagged on the trail (unlikely), the standard duty air line is designed to snap and present a one minute repair using ARB's quick repair/splice kit. The heavy duty air line will more likely pull out a fitting making a trail repair less likely. Even ARB's FAQ section will verify this. ARB only brought out the heavier duty air line to satisfy those who can't believe the standard duty air line is sufficient... which ARB is emphatic that it is.

No, the Super 35 kit doesn't include ring & pinion gears so when you install your 33" tires, you'll want to regear. Due to the extremely deep Overdrive gear ratio of your 42RLE 4-speed automatic transmission, you'll want to gear to a lower ratio than would normally be recommended for 33" tires... 4.88 is ideal. Some would say 4.10, more would say 4.56, but your overdrive turns your engine at such a low rpm at highway speeds that a slightly higher rpm is needed to avoid engine lugging. So for 33" tires, I strongly... and with good reason... recommend 4.88, no matter what the kid at the 4x4 store sales counter or some mechanic in the shop might say. :)
 
#9 ·
Thanks everyone, Jerry, I am going to do the install myself so good advice on the heavy duty line, i will use the standard line and tuck it up along side the brake lines so it won't get snagged. 4jeepn, I have been kicking around the idea of swapping a d44 in place of my d35 but it my eyes it would be too much of a pain in the ass, due to my tri-link rear end axle bracket being welded to the axle. I think i will go with the assy I stated above, any vendors on here that could cut me a smokin deal? As for regearing yes I agree on the 4.88's but that will have to wait awhile, I'll just have to lug mah rig around for sometime.
 
#12 ·
welcome to the forum K.T. All of my "soul searching" throughout this forum and through many offroading enthusiasts have said that even with their current lockers being detroit, ox, or powertrax, that if they had the cash they would 100% go with ARB's due to their selectability and their offroad proven quality. those folks from downunder certainly know what they are doing when it comes to shocks, lockers, etc
 
#14 ·
He means you can turn them on and off with the flip of a switch, which gives you more control of the traction. I mounted MY ARB made compressor on the drivers side inner fender area. Didn't need a air tank.
 
#15 ·
Kiss off the Dana 35. I got a complete new Dana 44 with 4.56 gears, alloy shafts and a Detroit locker from 4wheelparts.com. For the money you'd spend on pollishing the turd (dana 35 that will still have a weak housing) you can replace it with a D44.
 
#16 ·
100% agreed........dont ever put money into that waste of an axle...i broke more 35 shafts than columbus junkyards ever had in stock....why would they ever put that pos under a jeep.....at the very minimum get a 44or 8.8....
 
#18 ·
I hopped on 4wheelparts.com after reading the thread and they were going for around 3k depending on locker brand, w or w/o brakes, type of brakes and ratio. I have to be honest that for around 1,500, half I can beef up my 35 considerably. I wasn't convinced it would be a poor route to go. I can for the rear axle that is put in an 8.8explorer axle for about 450.
 
#21 ·
I paid about $1750 for it 1 yr ago. You can swap the old D35 brakes right on to it.
 
#24 ·
Upinar, i take it that the prices you are quoting are for a used 8.8 out of a boneyard, that being said, the boneyards out here suck!!!! They want an arm and half a leg for everything, also the biggest reason I was looking at the superior dana 35 kit was 1. I didn't do enough research before buying a jeep, because I would have waited and bought a Rubicon, 2. I have already paid to have my rear cradle for the tri-link welded to the current D35. I hate to spend money twice on the same thing. 3. If I were to go with the 8.8 or a D44, then I would be kicking myself in the ass once again, because I would have went with a much taller lift......:banghead: I don't know what to do.....:confused:
 
#25 ·
The 8.8 is a great axle and I looked into going that route also. These were my deciding factors.
The 8.8 comes with 4.10 gears and I would have to pay to get 4.56 gears installed. The 8.8 would then need TJ brakets welded on it. I would also need a 8.8 to TJ parking brake kit to have parking brakes that work. I also wanted a Detroit locker installed. When adding up all these parts and labor it was about the same price for a NEW dana 44 already set up the way I wanted and it bolted right up quickly.

Do your research, take into account the gearing you want and think long term.
 
#28 ·
With Superior Axle's standard replacement axles, about the same. With Superior's hardened Evolution series, night and day... with Superior having a far better American made product vs. Yukon's import stuff... of course that's all in strictly my personal opinion. :)
 
#29 ·
Well I think I have made my decision, I plan on saving some dough and buying a brand new genuine gear D44 with 30 spline axles, 4.88 gears and ARB locker. I thought that I would just do the superD35 but that would still leave me with c-clips which I'm sure would break eventually....thanks for everyones input. Plus, if I decide to go with bigger tires down the road I won't have to worry about my rearend.:cool:
 
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