gen 3 dana 28 to dana 35

[pillen140]

i have a '95 ranger 3.0 4x4, i want to put 33's on it but im affaid the dana 28 cant handle it. i have read all of the tech articles and they are all on the older dana 28 to 35 swaps. i know the one i have is in the dana 35 case but is actually a 28, so i dont know if it would be the same swap or if i could just get a dana 35 carrier and axles? any help would be good help. thanks

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

are you sure its a 28/35 hybrid? the easiest way to check is to pull the fill plug and look inside the case. if you see the end of the carrier, you have a 35. if you see an end cap, then you have a hybrid.

i believe the hybrid already uses d35 axles (at least the outers)....so all you should have to do is bolt in the complete pig from a donor.

 

[Hahnsb2]

are you sure its a 28/35 hybrid? the easiest way to check is to pull the fill plug and look inside the case. if you see the end of the carrier, you have a 35. if you see an end cap, then you have a hybrid.

i believe the hybrid already uses d35 axles (at least the outers)....so all you should have to do is bolt in the complete pig from a donor.

Actually look at the housing, if its smooth it's a hybrid, ribbed is full d35.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

that works too

 

[4x4junkie]

Yep, just need the diff chunk and the two inner shafts that enter into it to make the "hybrid" 28/35 into a full D35

 

[Ranger44]

I'd think the hybrid would be able to take 33's. But yes it's just the ring and pinion and the inner part of the shafts that are D-28. The Ibeams, hubs, outer shafts, etc, is all D-35. Remenber the biggest problem with the D-28 was outer shaft breakage, the hybrid has D-35 outers. The hybrid is considered an upgrade from a d-28.

 

[pillen140]

the case is deffinatly ribbed, so that makes it a 35 for sure? i still will have to pull the plug to find out for sure. thanks to all for the help, you guys are awesome. keep posting! im glad to hear that even if its a hybrid it should be able to handle big tires. thanks again!

 

[pillen140]

i just pulled the plug, and its a full 35! i expected to be dissappointed. im so glad its a 35. you guys are great, thanks again!

 

[pillen140]

today was the first "dry" day ive looked under the truck, and guess what, my front diff is now leaking! im glad i looked again. not leaking much but i hate anything leaking. any body know if you gotta take the front axles out before removing the diff? if i remember right there is a plate you have to take off behind the brake rotor, is that the only thing holding the front diff in besides the bolts and driveshaft? ive done rear diffs a hundred times but never a front.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

you have to take the front brakes, wheel bearings, rotors, and spindles off to pull the axles before you can undo the diff bolts, and "pinch" bolt, allowing you to swing the pig away from the axle beam.