i picked up an 86 sammi about 6 months ago with a 6 in calmini lift on it for cheap, now the rear diff is starting to go and im not sure what to do.

its all stock besides the lift and the 31x10.50s i put on (on wagon wheels) and the lift.

where should i go

should i just rebuild the rear end?

what about putting yota axles front and rear instead, or danas?

im really looking at bang for buck.

add a spring over in the axle swap?

if i do the axle swap i know im looking at an engine/tranny/t-case swap shortly after.

any suggestions?


i may be a noob here who wont search, but im no idiot.
im just looking for honest opinions.

thanks

The rear dif is a pretty simple fix.
If your contemplating an axle swap anyway though. Now's the time....
 I allways go Dana. The CJ5 is the perfect downer...Available, cheap , lots of gearing options, and oh yea...Thea need no modifying to fit....The fact that Thea were designed for V-8 power doesn't hurt.......
 Yotas, While a good axle, are none of the above......
 As to the SPOA question: Kind of depends on your driving needs...
With 31s ( if your happy with the tire size) I'd opt for a rebuild of the stock rear and do a re gear at that time.
Save some $$$$ and get proper gearing at the same time. No to mention , you can do the whole project in a week end...
 I think I herd that Lowrainge is having a T case gearing sale....Good luck....Boxcar...

I would buy another rear axle you can pick them up fairly cheap and won't have much $$$ or downtime in it. I would look at the pinion angle very closely at the 6" lift as that could be the root cause of your present problem. If the pinion angle is incorrect it will eat the gears up.

If your running 31's you don't need to do alot of gear or 3rd member changes. If you are considering larger tires then that is another topic for another time....

thanks for the replies boxcar and tuxblacray

i figured the driveline angle is what killed the rear end, but i picked the sammi up for less than what the lift cost, so it was totally worth it.  plus i was doin some snow wheelin in it and she was showing up most of the jeep owners. 

i put on the 31s cuz they were free, so why not, but i would def go bigger if the tires fit properly.

i was really just considering the spoa cuz of the timing.  if the axles are off, why not do it, am i wrong?  then i could try and make a better driveline angle at the same time as well.

so now im looking at the cj5 axles with a rebuild and the spoa.
what size tires am i looking at running?

looks like i will have to use the search now...........
dam

thanks again