Help Dana 30

[kmack]

Hate to make a new topic to ask this but:

 

What year XJ, MJ or TJ have the same drivers side axle shaft and stub shaft as an 89 comanche?

 

Very much appreciated if you guys can help me out with this before the long weekend.

 

 

[mvusse]

Any, also all YJ and ZJ.

 

But TJ or 97 and newer XJ will give you the larger, stronger u joint. Any year ABS XJ will too, but you may have to remove the ABS tone ring if it interferes with the unit bearing. Some ZJs have the larger u joints as well, as do some 95 YJs.

[Geonovast]

Remember that some ZJs have CV joints.

[Blue88Comanche]

Any, also all YJ and ZJ.

 

But TJ or 97 and newer XJ will give you the larger, stronger u joint. Any year ABS XJ will too, but you may have to remove the ABS tone ring if it interferes with the unit bearing. Some ZJs have the larger u joints as well, as do some 95 YJs.

a puller tool works wonders when removing those rings.

 

and yes i installed CV joints, they work better with the 242 in full time

Remember that some ZJs have CV joints.

I saw an XJ at the u pull it with CV joints.

 

 

a 3 arm puller would have been nice when removing the shafts from the unit bearing, but a wood block and hammer work well too

[Geonovast]

I saw an XJ at the u pull it with CV joints.

 

Probably either the shafts were swapped in, or the whole axle was swapped.  Do you remember if it was an HP or LP?  AFAIK, XJs never came with CV joints other than on the front driveshaft 84-86.

[mvusse]

The CV shafts do interchange with the u joint shafts. From the factory they only came in the V8 Grand Cherokees, though. Sparkles (96 XJ) currently runs CV shafts in the old disconnect housing out of Wilbur (87 MJ) using a 4.10 gear set out of a YJ Wrangler. That disconnect housing did have a CAD delete done on it, though, and the CV shafts had the ABS tone ring taken off. Oh, and I retained the steering knuckles and newer brakes off Sparkles' original 2wd front axle.

 

I have used various methods to remove ABS tone rings. Simplest, quickest and most satisfying way I have found is a few good whacks with a 2 pound framing hammer.

[kmack]

I ended up taking the one out of my daily driver last night but now I need one for it. :doh:

 

I didn't think it would fit because the brakes and knuckles are completely different. I tried swapping a wheel bearing out of a early 90 xj and it had a different wheel bearing and stub shaft length :hmm:

 

Should I upgrade both sides to CV style? I like the sealed aspect but is it worth losing the simplicity of the U-joint?

[Blue88Comanche]

I ended up taking the one out of my daily driver last night but now I need one for it. :doh:

 

I didn't think it would fit because the brakes and knuckles are completely different. I tried swapping a wheel bearing out of a early 90 xj and it had a different wheel bearing and stub shaft length :hmm:

 

Should I upgrade both sides to CV style? I like the sealed aspect but is it worth losing the simplicity of the U-joint?

 

the Strength of a CV style joint is debatable  but if you are going to be using a 242 in full time 4wd all the time like me then i would get the CV joints.  if you go the U-Joint rout they can be had with larger and stronger joints if you plan to off road often.

[Blue88Comanche]

 

I saw an XJ at the u pull it with CV joints.

 

Probably either the shafts were swapped in, or the whole axle was swapped.  Do you remember if it was an HP or LP?  AFAIK, XJs never came with CV joints other than on the front driveshaft 84-86.

I think it was a HP

[randomguy310]

I had a 84 cherokee chief 2.5 5 spd  and it had cvs in the front axle

 

I saw an XJ at the u pull it with CV joints.

 

Probably either the shafts were swapped in, or the whole axle was swapped.  Do you remember if it was an HP or LP?  AFAIK, XJs never came with CV joints other than on the front driveshaft 84-86.

[mvusse]

If you don't know about, or have tools to go to the junk yard, when you break an axle shaft (like from neglected u joints), the CV shafts are the only ones available at most part stores.

[kmack]

Thanks everyone for the information.