Advice

1687 Views 11 Replies 7 Participants Last post by lars, Oct 17, 2001

Muddy

Discussion Starter · Oct 11, 2001

97 TJ tires 33"12.5. The suspension lift I am going to purchase comes complete. eg. tailshaft conversion kit and stuff like that. Now that I'm on a limited cash flow is there anything I should upgrade so my jeep won't break down on the trails.
Drive line stuff like that????

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OptBlackNite

· #2 · Oct 12, 2001

I would like to say that you need to just be easy with it. Use the gas pedal sparingly! Use your low gears, not speed, to get through obstacles. Do you know what type of rear axel you have? Is it a D35 or D44?

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Play hard + Rest easy
Drive a Jeep--'92 YJ
Option...Black Nite

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Muddy

Discussion Starter · #3 · Oct 12, 2001

I think it's the dana 35, I think the dana 44
only comes standard with the big tire package
but I could be wrong. Anyways how can I find out. Would it be stamped on the rearend somewhere???

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nikon_jeeper

· #4 · Oct 12, 2001

If it's a 97 TJ wouldn't it be a ChryCo 8.25"???

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Phil M. - Kent, WA
95 XJ Sport w/Stuff
"Who cares about a list of crap, can you drive it?"

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AndrewH

· #5 · Oct 12, 2001

Originally posted by nikon_jeeper:
If it's a 97 TJ wouldn't it be a ChryCo 8.25"???

NO.....dana35c or 44 if you got lucky but from what i've heard the tj d44 housings aren't the stongest of the d44s. thin walls.

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'93 sahara ~ rancho springs, SOA, EB axles, detroit, 35s, and hi steer in the works

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Chris S

· #6 · Oct 12, 2001

Not sure, but i don't think the D44 was an option in 97.

You may find that the big tires suck a lot of your power. You can compensate with power mods, but most people do a gear change.

One big thing with 33s is do NOT spin a tire in the air and then let it hit the ground spinning fast. That's a lot of momentum that is suddenly transfered to the axle.

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Chris S.
2002 KJ - staying stock (almost)
2000 TJ - 2" suspension lift, 1/2" body lift, assorted skids, hooks, rock rails, rock lights, 33" BFG MTs, custom bumper, Warn 8274
Mud Puppy's Jeep site

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kamikazi

· #7 · Oct 12, 2001

My TJ's has a Dan M35,now can anyone tell me if that would posy or not?
All i've been told is that both tires spin in the gravel.

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97 TJ stock with Big Foot 31's, C.B., mud-BAD > rock-GOOD

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lars

· #8 · Oct 12, 2001

Originally posted by cornjeeper:
NO.....dana35c or 44 if you got lucky but from what i've heard the tj d44 housings aren't the stongest of the d44s. thin walls.

I've heard that, too. However, I haven't heard of them breaking. I'm sure some must have but it doesn't appear to be a problem like it is with the Dana 35's.

I'd still get the D44 if I were buying a new TJ. For the cost of that option, you could easily re-sell it for more if you were going to upgrade to different axles, anyway.

...lars

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19911995409993004:144444.103512.58274

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AndrewH

· #9 · Oct 12, 2001

i might be totally wrong with saying this but i remember something about the inner part of the tubes on the d44 having aluminum or something. not too sure though but it is definitely better than the d35.

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'93 sahara ~ rancho springs, SOA, EB axles, detroit, 35s, and hi steer in the works

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lars

· #10 · Oct 12, 2001

Originally posted by cornjeeper:
i might be totally wrong with saying this but i remember something about the inner part of the tubes on the d44 having aluminum or something. not too sure though but it is definitely better than the d35.

You are partly totally wrong. ;-)

ZJ's (aka Grand Cherokees) had aluminum pumpkins in the later D44s. The '93's and I think '94's did not. I'm actually not positive when the breakover year was. I do know the early ones that had the D44 (which was an option at the time) has the cast iron pumpkins but not the later ones.

Someone told me there was a shop bulletin sent to dealers telling them not to jack up the vehicle by placing a floor jack under the pumpkin. Urban legend or truth...I don't know.

The bone of contention on the Jeeps Unlimited board is that the TJ D44 has the same axle tube dia and wall thickness as the D35 and should therefore be susceptible to the same axle bending problems. It _appears_ that the point about the tube's dimensions is correct although I haven't verified these claims myself. However, there isn't any empirical evidence showing that TJ D44s are suffering above-average (compared to other D44's) breakage. At least I'm not aware of any. D35's, however, continue to break at their traditional above-average rate.

...lars

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19911995409993004:144444.103512.58274

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· #11 · Oct 17, 2001

Geez Muddy! Just leave the axle's alone untill you break one of them. You may find that because the Jeep you're driving is fairly new the axles will be fine with a little tender driving.

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High Country Explorers
Red YJ 4" lift
"I hope that was the skidplate"
www.members.home.net/ichris4x4/index

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lars

· #12 · Oct 17, 2001

Originally posted by ichris4x4:
Geez Muddy! Just leave the axle's alone untill you break one of them. You may find that because the Jeep you're driving is fairly new the axles will be fine with a little tender driving.

A '97 TJ isn't fairly new. At least not new enough to expect the axles to withstand any more abuse than older axles. "Tender driving" is a good idea, though.

Carrying spare axles, and c-clips and the tools required to re/re the axles and diff would be an excellent idea. It makes the difference between a few hours extra and an overnight repair. Also bring a bucket that you can use to catch the diff fluid.

...lars

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19911995409993004:144444.103512.58274

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