Frankdm83 Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 I am upgrading my front axle to a non disconnect. I want to upgrade to bigger shafts as well. I know the XJ ones with ABS will work, but will Grand Cherokee ones have the bigger u joint as well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfpdm Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 Easy way to figure it out is to just grab one out of a XJ with a 242 tcase. They all had non-disco axles with the bigger joints. At least up till 96. Don't know about 97+. Pulled mine off a 89. Far as the grands the axle fits but not sure which would have the bigger ujoints. I would assume the V8's. :cheers: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvusse Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 My buddy's 90 XJ has a 242, but I think they are the same U joints as my 87 MJ with the 231. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 A Grand Cherokee will have the larger shafts (I think), but it's a low pinion, so it's not much of an "upgrade." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 if your not interested in replacing the whole axle you can just pick up some xj or tj one piece shafts and some new seals, remove the disco thingy and put a cover plate on it. http://www.stu-offroad.com/axle/yjd30co ... vert-1.htm That article says YJ but its the same for an xj and mj. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 also I can't remember which one had the 297x joints or whatever... I want to say 97+ ???? someone else can probably tell you what year had the best axles for xj's and/or tj's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KillerCOM Posted October 11, 2008 Share Posted October 11, 2008 Grab an early 90's XJ non disco and put a set of TJ axle shafts in it. I'd stay away from GC shafts because some are actual CV's instead of u-joints. This is the route my father and i both went. :chillin: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfpdm Posted October 11, 2008 Share Posted October 11, 2008 My buddy's 90 XJ has a 242, but I think they are the same U joints as my 87 MJ with the 231. Wrong! j/k :D I spent about an hour trying to find the tech site that has the info about the non disco 242 setup with no luck. I did run across a couple of different forum threads but I wanted something a little more substantial. However like with everything else jeep does, there is always exceptions to the rule. I did see something about it depended on trim packages and tow packages prior to 92. Who knows. :roll: Oh, and mine was from a 89 and not an 87. I'll fix that. :cheers: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyComanche Posted October 11, 2008 Share Posted October 11, 2008 In the early years, it was only ABS that determined if you got the larger joints in an XJ with the 242... My 89 XJ with a NP242 had 260Xs. Or so I believe... I'd suggest putting the newer 760X (I believe) joints in over the 297X. They're forged, mucho stronger than the 297X. But otherwise the same, so if you find 297X shafts with beat up joints just stick the 760Xs in them. Oh, and apparently the grand cherokee CV shafts actually aren't horrible. Or so I hear... I wouldn't say they're great, however. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepcoMJ Posted October 11, 2008 Share Posted October 11, 2008 In the early years, it was only ABS that determined if you got the larger joints in an XJ with the 242... My 89 XJ with a NP242 had 260Xs. Or so I believe... I'd suggest putting the newer 760X (I believe) joints in over the 297X. They're forged, mucho stronger than the 297X. But otherwise the same, so if you find 297X shafts with beat up joints just stick the 760Xs in them. Oh, and apparently the grand cherokee CV shafts actually aren't horrible. Or so I hear... I wouldn't say they're great, however. from what I've been able to look up, 1991 and up xj's which were ABS equipped or otherwise specified (buyer request) would have 297X joints. 1994 and 1995 jeep wranglers would have 297X joints with disconnect shafts. not sure if that's abs or non. they're hard(er) to find, but don't require an axle swap or anything special. as for the cv shafts...they're pretty good actually. I have two sets of them as trail spares, have repacked and rebooted both sets, and ran them in the 3800 for awhile with no issues (swapped for normal shafts when I got a set with new ujoints for free). I will be putting them back in the 3800 when it gets the new motor, ax15, and np242 transfercase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CWLONGSHOT Posted October 11, 2008 Share Posted October 11, 2008 The GC shafts are just about as strong, at least as strong as the 260's and have a greater range of motion. Also not all GC's have them... mostly just the AWD models again its because they don't bind as they will work in a greater range of motion. As prev mentioned, its a Jeep so perts vary WIDELY. But as I said, they where spec'ed for the full time FWD models. Locally I was able to get a set for DAMN REASONABLE!! At the parts store!! Check them out before heading to the JY.. you may just surprise yourself. CW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvusse Posted October 11, 2008 Share Posted October 11, 2008 My buddy's 90 XJ has a 242, but I think they are the same U joints as my 87 MJ with the 231. Wrong! j/k :D I spent about an hour trying to find the tech site that has the info about the non disco 242 setup with no luck. I did run across a couple of different forum threads but I wanted something a little more substantial. However like with everything else jeep does, there is always exceptions to the rule. I did see something about it depended on trim packages and tow packages prior to 92. Who knows. :roll: Oh, and mine was from a 89 and not an 87. I'll fix that. :cheers: I'm supposed to go over tomorrow and help finish off his front suspension. He's a little confused about the "puzzle pieces" making up the sway bar discos and the track bar heim joint bolt and bushings, and couldn't get the axle lined up with the lca bushings. When there I will compare the joints visually side by side. One thing I have heard about Jeeps is that every rule has exceptions and you can never be sure about what part you have without looking at it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfpdm Posted October 11, 2008 Share Posted October 11, 2008 One thing I have heard about Jeeps is that every rule has exceptions and you can never be sure about what part you have without looking at it. How true. Just go and try to get the swaybar bushings. They'll give you about 6 options from 23mm to 29mm. :roll: In the early years, it was only ABS that determined if you got the larger joints in an XJ with the 242... My 89 XJ with a NP242 had 260Xs. Or so I believe... That's not even written in stone. Through my search, I found there was a certain ABS, I think Bendix, supposively does not have the larger ujoints. I guess it boils down to what ever Jeep had at hand when putting them together. :brows: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankdm83 Posted October 12, 2008 Author Share Posted October 12, 2008 I already have to non disco axle, I just figured on doing the shafts before I put it in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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