mrsnek1

Hey all, I've been searching for a 2WD XJ front axle or part out or parts truck near me for the better part of a year with no luck to this point. Long story short I have a 2000 Cherokee that I'm converting from 4WD to 2WD, and of course there aren't really any 2WD Cherokees remaining at this point where I wouldn't end up paying a stupid amount of money just for a donor truck. So I was doing some searching today, and it certainly looks like the 2WD beam off the front of a ZJ, WJ or TJ should basically bolt right in to an XJ, at least in the limited amount of parts diagrams and old pics I can find online. Pretty much all of the discussion on all the forums about axle swaps revolves around sticking with 4WD or converting to 4WD, and even then most of the posts are concerning gear ratios in the diffs rather than the actual installation of the axle.

All of that is basically to ask, if I find a cheap rotted out ZJ or WJ with 2WD, could I take out the front axle then basically scrap the rest of it? I see a couple near me with rotted out frames, major collision damage, etc that do have 2WD for real cheap, and it would be nice to finally find pretty much the one part holding my plans back currently. Any help is appreciated

Wrongholefool

ZJ or TJ should bolt right in. Might have different calipers and knuckles on the ZJ axle. You can always gut the axle that came in it. Its less work to remove the diff gears and pull the inner axles. Just gotta leave the stubs on that go through the hub bearings, pinion shaft in the diff, and maybe weld the tubes closed to keep water and debris out. Remove the front drive shaft and youre pretty much there. If you really want it to rip put IFS in it.

bad_idea

I have no knowledge on interchange. Just really curious on why you want to go TO 2WD, most folks go AWAY from 2WD. Not trying to be a jerk, really curious.

mrsnek1

It's getting lowered in the future lol, I know it's blasphemous to a lot of the community but I came across the article about the Petty Cash XJ they entered into Lemons and it stuck in my brain for years. I got a running driving XJ with a solid frame for 300 bucks and I knew right away I was gonna lower it with a buddy of mine, but I haven't been able to find a 2WD axle. The front diff would be inside the motor if it sat any lower to the ground so it pretty much has to get replaced (plus the bracket for one of the LCAs is bent pretty bad so that needs to get fixed)

Veeb0rg

ZJ and TJ should fit, WJ is wider.

bad_idea

I'm not knocking it. I have wanted to lower a Comanche and v8 swap it for some years now. I have the lifted XJ, a lowered MJ would make a nice parts hauler. I see the 2wd front axles every now and then at the scrap yards. Good luck. Put your location in and someone may have one laying around.

mrsnek1

Good point. I'm in eastern Iowa, and close enough to SW Wisconsin and NW Illinois to make a bit of a drive if anyone has one they'd be willing to part with for a decent price

bad_idea

I meant put your location in that block on the left with your name and other stats. It is useful for many threads to know where the OP is located, plenty of things are regionally specific. Good luck in finding one, shouldn't be too hard - just need to find 'that guy' that has 10 XJs laying in his backyard.

mrsnek1

Gotcha, was never really on a ton of forums back in the day so I kinda spaced on filling all that in lol

bad_idea

No worries. I've been a member of a forum for my vehicle of choice at the time for over 20 years now. Still an active member on GarageJournal.com (forum for working on or in your garage). Forums were always a great place to find info on a specific topic. Not sure where folks get their info from these days.

Wrongholefool

car-part.com They cover almost every salvage yard in the us. some places will ship too.