I need a Rear End..will these work??

i was checking out the rear end in the 75 CJ5 i just bought, hoping that it just needed spider gears. No such luck. Needs a new ring and pinion. I have been told that i dont have the skills necessary to get it all set up right. So I need some information, or to know if what i think is correct....

from what i can tell i have a Dana 44 with 3.73 gears.
I think that it is 50.5 inches from backplate to backplate..this is what im not sure of.

i want to know if the axles off of a 1972 Jeep Cammando 4x4 will work. I think they should because it is in the same range of years as the intermediate CJ. Also they are a 4.10. If i get both the front and rear the change in gearing should not be a problem right?
Also he says it has the spring over conversion...would that be something to stay away from? or go for it. Personally i like more hight.
Link To Parts

My Neigbor has an 8.8 from an explorer..not sure of the width. so this leads back to whether 50.5 is the correct width. If it has 3.73 gears and is about the same length i think there should be no problem...right?

I know this was long, but i wanted to give all the information needed. looking forward to the information and which way to go. Im leaning toward the 4.10 pair.

 

yes, that might be the best route for you
they should bolt right in
I'd go stock, no SOA if it were me
drive it around and get used to it first

 

Note that the Commando axles will be the right width, but the spring mounting is different for the rear axles. You'll have to weld on new spring pads at a narrower width. I would avoid the spring-over too ... it's a can of worms. Sounds easy in concept but there's a lot involved to make it work right.

Yes, 50.5", WMS to WMS.

 

I'd grab those axles from the commando. Sounds like a good deal a,d nte 4.10's would be nice.

As for the spring over, if you primarily drive the street, stay spring under. If its mostly a trail vehicle, then go with teh spring over. However, like they said, spring over is complicated, and there is no telling if the previous owner did it right. I'm spring over, and I'n still working bugs out. Works great off road, but its a long and expensive process to get where I am now.

 

Stay SUA, definately a lot less headaches. If you want a little more height go get some lift springs.

The 8.8 will be too wide for your Jeep. Get the Commando axles and put on new spring mounts.

 

The 8.8 is a strong axle but is too wide (around 59" WMS) and has the wrong bolt pattern (5x4.5" if it's an Exploder axle). They are perfect swaps for YJ's and such, but not for a CJ.

 

I appreciate all the advice. I will go with the 4.10s. You say i will need to move the spring mounts though? that should be simple enough...i hope. what makes the SOA such a pain? seems to me (not knowing anything) that it should be pretty simple.

 

Lots of steering issues you have to work out. And axle wrap becomes an issue.

 

OK I give. I am sick of searching for a rear axle. and i have been through a hundred pages and have not found a 9" swap page. When doing a ford 9" swap what vechile/s are best to get the rear end out of? I belive an explorer has an 8.8 and 3.73's and is only 3" wider than the 44.

Or could i just put in front and rear out of a newer jeep? I dont mind them being a little wider than they are now, as long as they match.

Suggestions? I need some help with this.

Stock rear end has teeth broken on ring/pinion and PO (curse him) left the rear diff cover off.

Thanks

 

Go with the Commando axles, moving the spring mounts isnt complex and you will definately benefit from the 4.10 gears.

 

That was my original plan. Quick, Easy, and Fairly cheap. but the fellow did not have them off for a few weeks, then would not get back to me on them. So they fell through. Thats why im looking for another alternative.

 

Sorry, must have mis-read the post. Another option would be 44's from under an older Scout, they are just a little wider than a CJ, get the pair and you should be ok. Looks like it's time to start scrounging around the salvage yards

 

I get tired of scrounging. have not even gotten to drive it yet and im tired of looking for parts. But i am sure it will be worth it when its good

 

It seems to me that your going threw alot of trouble for nothin. You could just put new ring and pinion gears in your current axle. It will cost just as much, and probably more, to buy and modify new axles, (not to mention the labor involved) as it would just to buy new gears and have somebody set them up. To me, this is a no brainer. Classic case of thinking to hard on an easy subject.

 

Why all the angst about this axle? Is it so rusty inside that it cannot be repaired? All the differential parts are available on the aftermarket, and you can use any Dana 44 axle of the same ratio for used parts, if you want to go that way. Or, you can move the perches on the Commando axle. Any of these routes will be faster, easier and cheaper than a Ford 9" swap - the Explorer axles will be too wide, and will have to be modified. The later rear CJ axles are inferior to what you have now, and you'll have to move the spring pads, just like with the Commando axle.

Have you advertised on the WTB board on Willystech, or JU or other places? There are Jeep junkyards that should be able to help you (at least one in GA, likely others). Have you done a regional Craigslist search for parts cars in your year range? This should not be a difficult axle to find, if you make the effort.

 

The main problem with a repair is that it may be too rusty inside. I would have to replace everything in it. The PO took off the rear diff cover and left it off. and he lived in charleston sc which is a very wet place right on the water. I do belive that it is shot the whole way through. Would be looking at new ring/pinion, spider gears, bearings, and shims, and whatever i dont know about in there. that stuff adds up fast. I have been looking through CL for weeks now. I may have found someone last night with what i need. 73 cj5 with motor missing. says axles and tranny are good. 300$ for all. wish me luck.

Is there a way to do a full regional search on CL? the only way i know of is to go state by state city by city

 

The '73 sounds ideal - good luck!

You can use a third party site like CrazedList ... there are others too.