Well, I'm sure it isn't a surprise to anyone that my Dana 35 bit the dust...

So, I'm lookin to swap rear axles for now. I'd like to stay close to stock width seeing as how I still have the front dana 30.

I've been leaning towards a ford 9". The only reason I haven't decided on one yet is b/c I dont know the widths or what they came on...

SO, now to my question... Were there any fords that came with a 9" that are close to the same width as a stock Tj dana 35?? I've looked through tons of posts and all I find are ppl arguing whether or not the 78-79 fords had cast or welded on spring perches...Noone talks about the widths. :confused::confused:

It's just a start, but search is your friend.

Ford 9" info (http://dfwmotorsport.com/Fairlane/9inchrearends.htm)

You're probably going to run into bolt pattern issues as well, but that gives you an excuse to loose the front d30 :)

Have you thought about your bolt pattern too? The 9" does not match the Dana30 5x4.5 bolt pattern.

Have you considered the 8.8? Very close to TJ width, and same bolt pattern.

Are you planning on getting different rims for the rear cause it just won't work.

Ford 8.8 or an XJ/MJ Dana 44 are both good options for right width and lug pattern, if the nine inch doesn't seem too easy. Why not do the front axle too?

I swapped in a Ford 8.8 in my jeep TJ running 35'' Baja claws and I love it, The 8.8 has the same bolt pattern as the D35, It is only 5/8 of an inch narrower on each side (Which is hard to even notice), It is 31 spline compared to the 27 spline D35, If you search the yards you can get one from a 96 or newer ford explorer, you can get it with disc brakes, 4.10 gears, and limited slip. You just have to look around, The 4x4 models mostly came with 4.10s and LS. The LS is ok to wheel until you can get a locker. I was already running 4.10s so this was good fit for me. The brakes install pretty well with out allot of problem. Check out this link he does a very good job. All the measurements for the swap are there. I did mine for up $600.00, Got the 8.8 for 200.00 out of a 98 ford explorer. I will be glad to help if I can.

http://www.stu-offroad.com/axle/8.8axle/8.8axle-1.htm

I used this for my e brake It works great and simple.

http://www.jedi.com/obiwan/jeep/ford88.html

I agree with the others, the 8.8 might be a better axle for a DD Jeep. I don't run wheel spacers on my 8.8 and it has made zero issues. Be sure to get an 8.8 from an 1996 or newer Ford Explorer (disc brakes). 8.8's are in lots of vehicles, but all 8.8's are NOT the same. Do a search on the 8.8's as there is tons and tons of information on this swap.

Another solution to the 8.8 width is running a super 88 kit. It eliminates the C-clips gets you alloy shafts and gives you about another 3/4" per side in width. I've seen the kit at summit for under $500.

I did the 8.8 swap on my Jeep as well and love it. The narrower width is, as others have already stated, not noticeable at all. The disk brakes are much nicer than the old drums I had and the beef of the axle compared to my old 35 and my friend's 44's is obvious. One thing to make sure that you do if you decide on an 8.8 is to weld the axle tubes so they won't spin as this is somewhat common on them. If you are set on a 9 inch and want a housing already at the width of a TJ, I believe that the Ford Turino rear axle (9 inch) is around 60 inches wms to wms.

I run an 8.8.

im in the process of installing an 8.8 in my TJ right now.

Ive got a couple issues to iron out, brake lines to plumb, ebrake cables to attach etc etc and then I'll be ready to roll.

Ive got a good bit of coin sunk into it.

$100 for the axle itself, rotor to rotor
$300 + $100 for bracket kit and ebrake cables from MORE
$125 in the welding the brackets on
~$200 in gears and install kit
$45 or so in various stuff for getting brake lines setup, a 'new' set of used rotors

so Im around $900 invested and I dont even have a locker yet.

its not cheap, but will hopefully be well worth it when its in!

also, I found an HP D30 that was already setup with a lockrite, 4.88 gears, upgraded u-joints etc etc from a friend for less than the cost of gears and a lockrite for my D30, so that went in as well...

im HOPING to have this all buttoned up by the end of next weekend and ready to roll...

eh, see I understand that the 8.8 is the most common swap...but, I plan on going bigger.... Plus, Its harder to find an 8.8 assy than it is to find a 9" assy. I'm going to have to regear it anyways b/c i've got 4.88's up front. Plus, i'd like to build the whole axle from scratch which means new axle shafts and i'm sure i can find some with the 5x4.5 bolt pattern. I just hate to spend the money buying a complete 8.8 when i'm going to have to pull the gears out anyways...

I have a buddy who has a 9'' to get rid of, I am in western Carolina, I will find out the details on it and post them.

I also have a Dana 60 rear if your interested, Let me know and I will post the details.

I have a rear TJ Dana 44 that will bolt right into your Jeep. If you are interested.

Email me Rockjock15@aol.com or PM me.

eh, see I understand that the 8.8 is the most common swap...but, I plan on going bigger.... Plus, Its harder to find an 8.8 assy than it is to find a 9" assy. I'm going to have to regear it anyways b/c i've got 4.88's up front. Plus, i'd like to build the whole axle from scratch which means new axle shafts and i'm sure i can find some with the 5x4.5 bolt pattern. I just hate to spend the money buying a complete 8.8 when i'm going to have to pull the gears out anyways...


I did alot of thinking and research before getting rid of my dana 35.. Bottom line it was $$ that made me go with the 8.8. 96 or newer out of an exploder. The price, bolt pattern, width, Disk brakes and 31 splined axles were my reasons. I threw away the limited slip that comes in all the trucks and put in a ARB and 4.88's

I run a 400HP 5.0L motor and am not easy on it for the last 2 years the 8.8 has had no problems.

The 9" is great, non C-clip and drop out but the cost of convertin the drum brakes and the weaker 27 splined axes (and housing exec) was not cost effective for me. (and I had a free 9" I could have used).

Best of luck.

If you're set on doing the 9" look for passenger car diffs. They should have 5x4.5 bolt circle. Ford Granadas and Lincoln Versailles had disc options also. If all the early Mustang guys haven't scarfed them up. Check width to see if they will be close to the same as the D35