Missing Axle Shaft Has Me Bummed

[Biotex]

So I have time to inspect the donor 93 Cherokee (ZJ) that I drug home a couple of days ago for the front axle so I could do a 4wd swap in my MJ. I'm underneath looking at what i'm up against and notice there is no long side shaft in the housing. From the looks of it, it has been out a long while. Perhaps the PO didn't have the money to fix it when it broke IDK.

 

Now i'm faced with a tough decision. Do I spend the money on a new axle shaft. Since it is a crappy D30, I don't really want to spend anything on it if you know what I mean... The donor truck was free to me in the first place, so I guess I should just get one, but I will inspect the gears first. I did notice they are 3.55's acording to the tag. Not sure what my MJ has in it yet, but i'm thinking it is not 3.55's. Another decision.

 

What is a fair price to pay for used axles? Can anyone tell me what years fit the 93's please?

[xjrev10]

A Dana 30 is not crappy. Go the junkyard and buy another shaft. Shouldn't cost too much or there may be someone on here that has one they would sell cheap.

[ComancheKid45]

Any long side Dana 30 shaft will work.

 

Best 1s to look for would be.

95+ XJs (although 91+ XJs/MJs will work, just use a smaller u joint)

All TJs

and all ZJs

 

Also some ZJs used CV style axleshafts over a conventional U joint setup, these will swap over as well if you so desire.

 

Check around online and ebay, they usually don't go for too much money ;)

[mnkyboy]

IMO I wouldnt bother with a LP30.

 

You should sell or part out the ZJ take the money and get a later HP30 and whatever else you need for your swap.

[Geonovast]

^ that.

 

A ZJ isn't an ideal donor for a 4wd swap. Front axle is swappable, but being an LP, it's not the best choice. If that shaft's been out for awhile, you may have other issues. Who knows how long it's been dumping fluid, or what kind of crap has gotten in there. The rear axles are not going to work for you, and that front isn't going to match your rear anyway. Unless that ZJ is insanely rare with a 5 speed, you're looking at an auto swap (if it's a 4.0) with an electrical harness that wasn't made for an XJ/MJ. I'm not 100%, but I believe the shift linkages will also be useless to you.

 

About the only use you're going to get out of that thing is the front driveshaft and T-case.

[jimoshel]

Got a axle shaft I'll swap ya straight across for your ZJ. Seriously tho, if you can't find one local I do have one.

[pamike]

i have a set for sale from a 98 xj with the big u-joints

http://comancheclub.com/topic/35104-dana-30-big-u-joint-axle-shafts-17740-pa/

[Biotex]

^ that.

 

A ZJ isn't an ideal donor for a 4wd swap. Front axle is swappable, but being an LP, it's not the best choice. If that shaft's been out for awhile, you may have other issues. Who knows how long it's been dumping fluid, or what kind of crap has gotten in there. The rear axles are not going to work for you, and that front isn't going to match your rear anyway. Unless that ZJ is insanely rare with a 5 speed, you're looking at an auto swap (if it's a 4.0) with an electrical harness that wasn't made for an XJ/MJ. I'm not 100%, but I believe the shift linkages will also be useless to you.

 

About the only use you're going to get out of that thing is the front driveshaft and T-case.

Excellent points you make. This ZJ was in horrible shape when I got it (interior tore out by drug agents), and I am only using the front drive shaft, front diff, & transfer case. I will pull the cover and inspect the internals, and since it looks like I can get a used shaft, i'll go that route. The ZJ was totally free, and I'd like to keep costs of the 4x4 swap on the cheap. Once I get things together, then I can upgrade to stronger parts as they break. My MJ will not see any offroading other than some ordinary dirt roads.

[Geonovast]

If you're keeping it as cheap as possible, then the front won't do you any good anyway. If it's 3.55, which it most likely is, it's not going to match your 3.07 rear. Although, in my experience, it's hard to even give away a 3.07 D30. So you may be able to find one easily for next to nothing, and if it's from an 87-99 XJ or 87-92 MJ, it'll be a HP.

[Biotex]

If you're keeping it as cheap as possible, then the front won't do you any good anyway. If it's 3.55, which it most likely is, it's not going to match your 3.07 rear.

 

I was thinking I could swap the rear gear set from the ZJ into the MJ. Not true? I know how to set up gears.

[ComancheKid45]

If theyre both Dana 35s they should be swapable. However the ZJ will have C Clip axle shafts while the MJ has bolt in. I would imangine retaining the correct side spider gears though would resolve that issue.

[Biotex]

Thanks for the reply. Yes, they both appear to have the D35's, but I did not know the MJ was non C-clip. My MJ has 225k miles on it, and the ZJ has only 100K, so I don't mind a complete swap just to get things going. I wanted to add 2" of lift and go up a tire size anyways, so I welcome the taller gears.

[Geonovast]

They are NOT directly swappable. The ZJ uses control arms and coils out back, the MJ has leaf springs. You would need to cut off all the ZJ bracketry and weld on MJ spring perches. This is your best bet. You cannot just swap out gears and call it good. Gearsets must be meticulously set up, which is a difficult and expensive process for new gears; it's never a good idea to put used gears in a different housing.

 

Swapping the entire axle will be annoying, but could be done for free/cheap if you are a good welder, or know one.

[mvusse]

<deleted>

[Eagle]

You can't just swap the gears in the rear axle. The carrier break for the D35 is 3.31 and lower (numerically), and 3.55 and higher. You would have to swap over the ZJ c-clip carrier with the ring gear, and I don't know if that carrier will work in the older axle. It might ... but it might not.

[Biotex]

I am fully capable of setting up gears, or welding on spring perches etc...

In this case it is appearing more and more that i should just bite the bullet and purchase a better rear donor with 3.55's already installed. Since I have to travel so far to get parts, I usually try the local solutions first, and as in this case, I would end up doing the job twice. Thanks to all who helped in setting me straight.