Axle!

[Noah Kirk]

So i am stuck between a rock and a hard place here. Should i buy a dana 35 with 3.55 to match the front for 75 dollars, or should i buy an 86 dana 30 with 4.10 to match the rear for 250? 89 mj ax15 stock height and wheels, planning on hoing 4.5 and 33s. Or should i buy an 8.8 for 250 with 3.55 if i can even find one.

[mnkyboy]

I would go with the 4.10s

[MuddFoot]

410s

[Incommando]

4.10's. If you have a D35 now you may well end up upgrading it in the future with a stroker and 33's anyway so why spend twice?

[Incommando]

So i am stuck between a rock and a hard place here. Should i buy a dana 35 with 3.55 to match the front for 75 dollars, or should i buy an 86 dana 30 with 4.10 to match the rear for 250? 89 mj ax15 stock height and wheels, planning on hoing 4.5 and 33s. Or should i buy an 8.8 for 250 with 3.55 if i can even find one.

I am confused. You want a 3.55 rear to match the front but say a 4.10 to match the your rear? What gears do you currently have in both axles? If it is a 4.0 and things haven't changed it should be 3.07 gears with a 5-spd IIRC. Auto would be 3.55. 4cyl would be 4.10. If things are still original. A little info about your truck would help, too

 

If you are going with a stroker and 33's and you have a D35 rear now I would just go ahead and upgrade. D35's do not have a reputation for strength. If your front is 3.55 then a later Explorer 8.8 would be the way to go IMHO. A cheaper option would be a later XJ 8.25 in 3.55. If you have a 4.10 then that ratio was also fairly common in the Explorer 8.8. 

[mnkyboy]

Its too bad I got rid of my last set of 4.10s, I'm not too far from you.

[Noah Kirk]

Truck used to be a 4 banger 2wd. And previous owner swapped in a 4.0 and made it 4x4. So dana 30 is 3.55 and dana 35 is 4.10.

[Incommando]

I would match the front with a good rear either 8.25 or 8.8 then. That looks like the cheapest option. That matches the ratio and gets rid of the D35. I paid < $100 for a good 29 spline 3.55 here 8.25. Hopefully the market is the same there. I use 3.55's with a 4.0 and 32's and it might not be optimal for either on-road or off-road but it does both just fine.

[Pete M]

explorer 8.8s can be found with 4.10s too, so that'll allow for upgrading the rear later on.

[Noah Kirk]

Its too bad I got rid of my last set of 4.10s, I'm not too far from you.

Where are you locted?

[mnkyboy]

I'm in Kalama, wa. Just north of Vancouver.

[Noah Kirk]

As of now I'm getting the 4.10 dana 30 and upgrading to an 8.8 later. Is there a huge diwn grade between an 89 dana 30 and a 86 dana 30?

[mnkyboy]

Not really, with either one your going to want to eventually do a shaft up grade though.

[Noah Kirk]

With what i could sell my old axle for it will overall cost me about 150

[mnkyboy]

Your probably going to have a hard time selling a CAD D30, alot of people just give them away around here.

 

It may be of more value to keep the shafts out of it as spares.

[Noah Kirk]

So just take the shafts out of it and junk it or sell for 25?

[mnkyboy]

Basically. Unless the truck has had a non CAD axle put in it, then it may be worth selling or could be an axle upgrade for the 86 axle.

[Eagle]

I would go with the 4.10s

Me too.

 

3.73s with 31x10.50-15 tires is exactly the same final drive ratio as a stock automatic on 225/75-15 tires. IMHO 4.10s is about optimum for 31" tires. I wouldn't even consider running 33s with 3.55 gears.