I don't care how much it's justified, polishing that D35 turd is not worth it in the long run! I did it and regret it. You can build an 8.8 for a reasonable price. Cut and reuse your brackets, price of gears and a lunchbox. D30 with 35's is ok but still always scared me. I broke a r&pinion, carrier and twisted the splines on 2 sets of superior chromoly's.

8.8 swap, @$350 axle, @$450 bracketry, yoke, & e- brake, @$75-$200 ring & pinion depending if you can find used 4.56 ones, not stock on 8.8 that I know of. @1000 Thats with a limited slip stock shafts if you can do all the work yourself. Then if you want to lock it up the @$150 spool,or $400-$800 locker whatever way you want to go there. $250 alloy shafts. Its a way to go but how big of tires can you run then after all that work. Still have the front turd. Then you still have the c-clip axle problem. You are in the D60 work and price range from what I figure. I don't think an 8.8 is worth the trouble. The way I see it,if you are going to do an axle fabrication and swap look into something that will be worth the work, a D60 or 14 bolt if you really want to do hardcore offroading. But a built up D35 is ok for light to moderate wheeling as long as you don't think you are at King Of The Hammers. You just have to know your limitations. I built my D35 @$600 with commen sence and have a very capable jeep that I can lightly wheel now, while I save and build up some real axles. Think of where you want the weak spot to be, the driveshaft, transfercase, or the parts that you have already replaced and have the spare parts to fix it if you keep the standard size parts. Nomatter what you do to your jeep, in the right situation you will break something. If you are scared of fixing something, you probably shouldn't be offroading.

Dang is this Religion or Politics? I guess the D35 topic will never be safe, but it does make for interesting conversation. Thanks guys. I really think JeepNation has a great group here. We really love our jeeps. Testify!

If I were really in the market I would jump on one of these deals:


damn I really wish I had the $1000.00 for this one

$2000.00 for build Front & Rear axles

1 Tons - not sure if the d60 is chevy or ford???

Yeah to bad I am very limited on the price range. I am not too worried to break stuff, but I am concerned about cost. I think I am going to run the hell out of what I have till it breaks and try to replace what I can. It is a DD high mileage work horse that likes level 4s on the weekends. Spends way more time on the road but I still want it to be as capable as I can get it. I have a fabricator with stacks of axles laying around that always cuts me deals, but that is for when I come into a couple extra grand. If that ever happens.

Just a few more for you to consider....

$800.00 for a D44 with 4.88s and Detroit locker

might check this one out

and this one too

another GC

Cherokee...V8 !!

Are you linking the grand Cherokees for the D44 in them? It's no good due to the aluminum center section.

Yeah I am all over craigslist. I have already talked to that D44 guy. And Reid bought his front axle. It was from an XJ. I will check the others.

Sorry Brother. A while back I found one for $150.00 (IIRC) and Chris (yeah the guy who used to have that black XJ ) picked it up after I posted it up. Good deals like that come up every so often...

Yeah I have the notification app so I am constantly checking the new postings. Hopefully I'll land some good deals!

Dude, I would not bother doing anything more to your d35. I would probably look for a d44, ford 8.8 or even a 9". You could even pull a chry 8.25 w/29 spline shafts which are nearly as strong as the tj/waggy d44. Any of those options would hold up fine for 35+ tires and would save you a lot of money in the long run.

I am most likely just going to stick with 33s to save money. So I may still mess with the D35. But I do know what I am getting into with it. It could very well be a time bomb. Maybe it already is.

If you decide to go with a 8.8 upgrade check out this link. http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=235261
It is pretty good reading. Check into PickNPull they have pretty good prices compared to the others I found on Car-Part.com.

Yeah I still kick myself for selling my old explorer with 240,000 miles on it for $800 bucks. That would have been a sweet deal. I keep seeing a company on craigslist that does complete 8.8s for around 1200 bucks.

I was looking into it and pick n pull sells the 1/2 ton rear ends for less than $100. They had a good amount of explorers the last time I was there. If you could find one with the 31 spine, .225 thick tubes, & the limited slip. That would cut the build way down in price. I have an extra D35 axle housing that I am probably gonna use to try and make cardboard templates and then a bracket kit out of some 1/4" steel plate. It will be awhile, but if it works I will let you know.

Cool man keep me posted, and good luck

You could probably just go find an explorer 8.8 with disc brakes and pull it at a junk yard for maybe $150 then get a bracket kit here for $225 and have someone in jn help you weld it on, or pay a 4x4 shop or welding shop maybe a $100-150 to weld on the brackets on then swap in your new axle yourself. I guess you gotta factor in 4.56 Ring and pinion too which would run $200 including the install kit which you could install yourself or pay a shop $150+. So you would be looking at $575-875 depending on how close my numbers are and how much work you do yourself. A ford 9" or 14bolt be done for about the same price, but would be more for huge tires.

Yeah I have a guy with a huge pile of axles sitting in his shop if I ever get the money. He would cut me a deal and he could do all the work in no time. I'll just have to wait it out and see how things go

Here's a chrysler 9.25 for $200.00 in San Antonio, post #8

chrysler 9.25 $200