I want to swap my dana 35 for a dana 44 or a ford 8.8 im going to run 35 inch tires and a locker whats stronger give me opinions money is an issue so im leaning toward a explorer 8.8  

you could proly get an 88 pretty cheep and they are all over the place and pretty easy to fix if you put in  pretty popular gears it just that much quicker.... but D44s are pretty nice ...

The 8.8 Ford still uses the C clips to hold in the axels. If you have a choise use the 44.  

you could go with a D44 i would if I had the money, but if moneys an issue get 8.8 out of an explorer and buy a superior kit. the october issue of 4wheel & off-road will tell you all bout it. Im doing the same exact thing to my jeep. but if you could find a D44 realy cheap go with that. Im doing it this way because I already have the 8.8 with lockers so all I have to do is buy the superior kit and install it my self. read that mag. it'll help you out a lot.  

It still amazes me that people are afraid of c-clips.  I ask you all, have you ever seen a c-clip fail???

C-clips aren't weak, the C-Clip dana 35 is weak.  Their rebuttal is, "Well, if you break a shaft, you can still drive out on a D44."  With the ford disk braked 8.8 you can still drive out also. 

The next response is usually something like, "Get a set of c-clip eliminators."  Wrong again.  C-clip eliminators are designed to allow go fast guys to swap shafts at the track if the break one.  They're not designed to support the weight of a 4000lb Jeep in an off camber.

As far as a 8.8 vs a D44.  They're both super stout axles for a 1/4 ton Jeep.  Stay under a 35" tire with lockers or a 37 with out, and you'll be fine.  The 8.8 is a lot more common in the junk yards now a days.  Since late model Explorers are starting to show up, they're becoming cheaper and cheaper.  They've already got the right bolt pattern for a YJ/TJ/XJ/(any J but CJ), and are about ~1" more narrow, they provide simple bolt in strength.  The brake lines are a direct fit for a YJ.  Once you weld on shock mounts and new perches, a guy could have one in in an afternoon.  Add to that the fact they they can be found with most of the popular gear ratios for Jeeps and even limited slips with enough patience, I, personally, don't think there's a better choice right now. 

Don't get me wrong, the D44 is a good axle also, but, the 8.8 won't require nearly as much work or parts as the D44.  The only axle I know of that's even close to the right size and bolt pattern would be an XJ/MJ D44 and those were only put on the street for 2 or 3 years.  WJ's have a D44 but avoid that AL bastard.  They have notoriously weak center sections and a specialized center that only accepts certain after market differentials (read locker choices are limited).  Add to the rarity, the fact that the 8.8 can easily be found with disc brakes and in today's junk yard, they're kind of a no brainer.  If you're concerned about the track width differences, save your pennies and add a set of wheel spaces down the road.

i've seen more than a couple chebys with failed C clips  

I'm planning a Ford 8.8 Axel swap, D44 is not an option as there are none available that won't have the tires hanging out of the weal arch.  My budget is limited so I wanna keep to the 8.8 as there are loads of them all over the place.  I have a friend that owns a scrappy so I will probably get it for next to nothing.

I just wanna ask someone what do I do with my front axel.  I doubt that by doing this swap the ratios will be the same, and tearing a drive shaft or messing up my T/C is not an option.  So I would like to know if anyone knows if it is possible to take the front axel of a ford explorer and stick that in the front of my YJ?  

I have 2 reasons for doing this, less confusion about parts, and fluids.  The other I will yank the entire brake system from the Ford Explorer and have ABS.  I want ABS because the people here drive like a bunch of yahoos, me included.

If the swap is possible, does anyone know if the front axel of a Ford Explorer is stronger than the front axel of a YJ?