JeepCoMJ

your 87 then has an np242 t-case or someone modified the jeep at one point. an np242 equipped cherokee ALWAYS has a non-disconnect axle no matter what.

caged

here's my take with many years of xj experience.

all xj's came with the d30 up front. early 231 have disconnect, 242 have non-disconnect.

dana 44 rear have 3.54 gear ratio. ok to use stock d30 with 3.55.
yes, some have towing package that might have come with 3.73. not all tho.

yes, your 4.0L standard transmission equipped xj should have 3.07 gears. you will need either the front axle assembly, or at least the ring and pinion and complete carrier and all shims will make it easier to install. will need a new crush sleeve tho. but won't get into why again....
or you can just get a jy replacement 96 d30 from a 5 speed xj with 3.07 gears. then it's just bolt in and the calipers will bolt up too.

smtippin

Sucks when my ignorance keeps me from an upgrade, but this entire comment is beyond me...well other than the get both axles comment. I'll try to talk to some friends to see if they know anything about this and can help.

s

JeepCoMJ

[quote=caged;137972]here's my take with many years of xj experience.

all xj's came with the d30 up front. early 231 have disconnect, 242 have non-disconnect.

dana 44 rear have 3.54 gear ratio. ok to use stock d30 with 3.55.
yes, some have towing package that might have come with 3.73. not all tho.

yes, your 4.0L standard transmission equipped xj should have 3.07 gears. you will need either the front axle assembly, or at least the ring and pinion and complete carrier and all shims will make it easier to install. will need a new crush sleeve tho. but won't get into why again....
or you can just get a jy replacement 96 d30 from a 5 speed xj with 3.07 gears. then it's just bolt in and the calipers will bolt up too.[/quote]

to the underlined;
no, that's an assumption. They STILL range from 3.07 to 4.09. a 4.09 geared rear dana 44 is pretty much impossible to find...I lucked out. ANY 5 speed will pretty much always have 3.07's and yes, the dana 44 was offered with 5 speeds (at least in the comanche). 3.55's and 3.73's are common out of 4.0/automatic combinations, with 3.73's usually denoting a tow package.

and all of that is just general...none of it is set in stone FACT because it's all from AMC and AMC did whatever you wanted them to.


your newer dana 30 has two axle shafts...the driver's is the shorter one, the passenger side is the longer one. they should have 297 joints which are stronger.

the older axle has a stronger housing because of the cast disconnect part right where the passenger side upper control arm mounts. it has two main axle shafts, which are roughly the same length, but with different splines on the inside. the passenger side is actually two pieces...so yes there is a THIRD axle shaft on the disconnect axle.

the passenger side has a stub shaft going from the differential to the disconnect housing, and a vacuum actuator which slides a collar over to lock the inner and outer shafts together. this disconnect almost always fails.

so. put your axle shafts from your newer cherokee into the older axle. you just need to get one seal, pull the disconnect shafts out, and slide your one piece shafts in.

easy

smtippin

thanks for breaking it down for me. If I get back down there to pick up the axles, I'll definitely have a few more questions for you. We'll see what my tax return has to say about all this.

s

COSXJFAN

Correct, I have the 242.

PingPong

Just to throw a Monkey wrench in all of it.... some of the real early 85/86 had CV shafts as well, in a non disconnect axle

smtippin

no wrenches. If what you say is correct, then there wouldn't be a CV shaft as the donor vehicle is an 87. Course, the one lesson to take from this thread is that we shouldn't expect Jeep to be consistent.

s