Is there anyone out there who has installed or knows someone who has installeda 4X4 9.25 corporate axle from a 2000-2003 Dakota into a 4X4 Gen 1 Dakota? One trustworthy mechanic says he's almost sure it's a direct bolt-in, but Mopar performance doesn't think so (but doesn't know for sure). Is there anyone who has the measurements of this axle, drum to drum, drum to axle spring pad, distance between spring pads? Any info would be appreciated.

 

Why would you want to do that? Is it free or do you want disc brakes on the rear?

 

The 8.25 is a strong axle witha good aftermarket.Some magizines and said it is compairible to the dana 44. But Ibelive the newer dak. are a little wider. The 2nd gen rts came with the 9.25 too. But any of them incuding the rams have the same leaf pads width. so blolting them in would be easy but the brakes may need an adapter and I belive the shocks are in the same locations. If not its easy to make a bracket to mount them up.

 

Guys, thanks for your input.

At 114K miles, it's time for an overhaul/replacement of my 3.92 8.25 LS pumpkin. The dealer wants over a grand to redo it, new bearings, seals, set-up, and that is if limited slip replacement parts for a 95 differential can be found. I can do most of the work but am uncomfortable with setting various bearing and geartolerances and rebuilding a LS diff.

I have found a 2002 9.25 Dakota rear axle assembly with a little over 10K miles on it for about half priceof an overhaul, and it seems prudent to increase the strength of the rear in my truck while obtaining a unit which will probably not need much maintenance for a few years. Disc brakes will be a plus, but the rear drums always worked well. However, I'd like a direct replacement or a near direct replacement unit rather than a great deal of work to makeone fit.

 

Here is the unofficial decision about whether or not a 2002 4X4 9.25 (or an 8.25 4X4) corporate axle will be a direct bolt in for a GenI Dakota. The short version is no.

According to my measurements, the 2002 axle from drum-to-drum is about 56.125 inches while the 1995 is 54.165, or roughly two inches longer. The spring pads, measured outside to outside are about 46.5 inches apart for the 2002, while the 1995 is about 45.625 inches, slightly over one inch longer for the 2002. In addition, the parts list calls fora driver's side axle lenght of 33.375 inches while the passenger's side is 30.25 inches in length. When crawling under a Gen II, It did appear that the pumpkin is slighly offset from center on a 4X4, explaining why one axle is longer than the other. Granted, I have not measured all axles nor all of the other distances, and it still might fit. If anyone knows for sure it will fit, I'd be interested in knowing where my errors were. Until then, it appears I'm stuck with the 8.25 with 27 spline axles and will have to have mine rebuilt.