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Advice for replacing rear...

By:	summershine1982
Mood:	disapointed
Date:	08/19/2008 00:45:14
Music:	None

So... I had a friend/mechanic that was helping me to figure out the issue I was having with my rear. He has now since bailed on me and I am trying to figure out what route to take, without doing more than I need to, to fix the prob...

I have a rear Dana 35 in my 1997 Wrangler. As far as I can tell from rotations the gear ratio is 2.92. The pinion is loose and rattling around. Do I need to replace just seals, ring and pinion, install a Master Overhaul Kit, etc...? And if I do need to go in with replacing gears I definitely want to take it up a notch. I was thinking of going ahead and putting 4.88 ratio in. With that said I know that I will have to do the front as well, which is a Dana 30.

If I am doing all of this, Does it make a difference to just upgrade the gears in a Dana 30 and 35? Or should I not rebuild and instead replace... going with Dana 40's?

I am so confused and do not know if anyone can assist with my dilemma without being able to look at my rig to analyze the problem...

If you live in Greensboro and wanna tinker, feel free! I will take any solid advice at this point rather than going to a mechanic that will probably advise me to replace all of it so they can make a pretty penny...

- JeepChic trying to learn, yet anothernew mechanical issue

MEMBERS COMMENTS

VIEWING 1 - 7 OUT OF 7 COMMENTS

From: sungoesdown

08/20/2008 18:27:00

fix it as cheap as you can right now, then start saving for upgraded front and rear axles that will have the gearing and lockers you need, and try not to wheel to hard until you get the better axles.

go with d44 front and either d44 or ford 8.8 int the back. all can be had with decent gearing used for $200-$400 and that includes a decent locker in the rear

From: OIIIIIIIO

08/20/2008 18:15:08

Quote:

08/20/2008 00:32:45

o and D40 D44

u caught my drift, lol... I'm goin on day # 18 of work with no day off, sleepin about 4 hours a night and working a minimum of 11 hours a day, cut me some slack, hehe...

Pffft. Excuses, excuses....

From: dezertvet

08/20/2008 12:19:53

I would just find a D44 rear....and if you can find one for the front too even better. I would not waist my time on the D35.....unless you are in a serious bind and you need a quick fix. It sounds like the D35 needs all new guts/seals and bearings. My 2cents

From: summershine1982

08/20/2008 00:32:45

o and D40 D44

u caught my drift, lol... I'm goin on day # 18 of work with no day off, sleepin about 4 hours a night and working a minimum of 11 hours a day, cut me some slack, hehe...

From: summershine1982

08/20/2008 00:31:30

thanx, i thought i had it for the most part figured out but wanted some insight from others who are veterans with this sort of thing... replacing was the approach I wanted to take but thought it would be worth my while to see if my inclination was correct... rebuilding a Dana 30 and 35 to 4.88 gears seemed silly when I could go ahead and upgrade her all tha way!!!

From: RenegadeT

08/19/2008 09:29:29

sign up on nc4x4, there's a lot of people local to Greensboro. I'd take a look for ya, but I don't even have enough time to work on my own junk. Looks like you've been to Uwharrie, so rebuilding the D35 is probably not the best idea.

From: OIIIIIIIO

08/19/2008 02:02:30

Quote:

rather than going to a mechanic that will probably advise me to replace all of it so they can make a pretty penny...

Hey now, we're not all thieves.

Before we get started... what do you use the jeep for? I assume if your considering 4.88's that you already are, or are intending to run a 33" tire or bigger. I would recommend against building a D35 unless you only do light wheeling, and intend to install an entire "Super 35" kit. (Axles, Carrier, Gears Etc.)

Now, if you want to just fix it on the cheap, you could replace the pinion bearings. Unless of course the pinion bearings have fragged to the point where theres metal all through the case. In which case, you really should replace all the bearings/seals.

Basicly, if you want to get back on the road, just peace meal the axle back together. If you want to upgrade, do it all the way, or don't bother. You'll just created another weak point in an axle thats already rought with them. An easy swap would be to find a Wrangler D44.

Ohh, and theres no D40 for a Jeep.