1989 mj front end in a 1996 zj

[daltonmcgill7]

will it work? can i take everything off the mj and put it on the zj because the zjs bushing are wore out

[shelbyluvv]

Yes and no.

 

We need more information on both vehicles. Engines, transmission, and transfers to start.

[daltonmcgill7]

the mj is a 5 speed 4.0 and the zj is an automatic 4. not sure on the transfer cases

[FrankTheDog]

The MJ Dana HP 30 will have 3.07 gears and the ZJ Dana LP 30 will have 3.55 gears.

It'll work if you don't connect the driveshaft, if you connect the driveshaft? BOOM!

[mkbruin]

you say the bushings are shot... as in control arm bushings? There are no bushings on the axle, so its not worth swapping that out.

 

Bushings are CHEAP and easy to do.

[jimoshel]

:agree:

Sounds like he's trying to see how hard he can make a simple repair. Also don't 'ASSUME' what axle ratios are just by year and model. Out of 14 MJ and 11 XJ-ZJ in my yard. there is not one 3:07 ratio. they are all 3:54 or 3:73 with one 4:11.

[NewfieMJ]

The control arms , steering linkage , shocks , springs and a few other items match . As was said , not really worth the swap with their age , but , the MJ did use solid rubber bushings as oppose to the "hollowed" comfort version in the ZJ . If the ZJ's are shot , and you need a quick fix , they will work .

They are cheap and easy to replace . I use nothing but a hammer to change them in stock arms . Got a vid on jeepforum , same name except ZJ , not MJ , search my threads . Remove one arm at a time . 2 bushings are a PITA , those would be the 2 on the axle itself for the upper arms :eek:

 

The axle on the MJ will be a vacumn disconnect , non-vac-disco on the ZJ . Gears shouldn't match , but , look anyways , you never know what PO's or Jeep can do .

You could also run into some driveshaft issues . The 96 has a short pinion D30 vs the HP on the MJ . The driveshafts should be interchangable between the 2 .

 

Don't think you were after the axle swap anyways , just the parts