Jeep Rear End

bbrroowwnn said

The Dana 35 is not "junk"....They are about the same strength as a 8-1/4 mopar rear......Where the off roaders start breaking axles is when they have huge 35" or larger tires and are rock crawling and beating the hell out of them......Also you can buy the disk brake package for them too.....

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The 8 1/4(actually 8 3/8") in 96 and up Cherokees have 29 spline axles.

The Dana is noticeably weaker then a 27 spline 8 1/4. D35's break with 31" tires pretty easy. The 27 spline 8 1/4 that replace it even help up to 33's with a Lincoln locker for 10 years of abuse. It handled the 4.0 with a 3.8 Atlas transfer case too.

I have broken axles in a D35 with the 4cyl engine too. It's housing even gets bent real easy.

Definitely pass on a D35. I would rate it as being about equal to a 7 1/4" axle.