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Newer brake calipers...


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Why not just drop in a later model XJ front axle?

Well this axle is in my Currently in my Cherokee and in order for me to get a correct geared front axle it would have to be geared to 4.10s which is RARE in south Florida or in any Jy for that matter...and the cost of regearing is just not worth it for me just for brakes...

 

If you swap on the Chrysler knuckles (90 up) you will need the matching Chrysler calipers, pads, and a set of either 90-99.5 hubs and matching composite rotors ... Or 99.5 up hubs and matching cast rotors.

Do you know if I have to change out the unit bearings as well?
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Why not just drop in a later model XJ front axle?

Well this axle is in my Currently in my Cherokee and in order for me to get a correct geared front axle it would have to be geared to 4.10s which is RARE in south Florida or in any Jy for that matter...and the cost of regearing is just not worth it for me just for brakes...

 

If you swap on the Chrysler knuckles (90 up) you will need the matching Chrysler calipers, pads, and a set of either 90-99.5 hubs and matching composite rotors ... Or 99.5 up hubs and matching cast rotors.

Do you know if I have to change out the unit bearings as well?

You could just drop in your gears in carrier into the newer axle, couldn't you?

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If you swap on the Chrysler knuckles (90 up) you will need the matching Chrysler calipers, pads, and a set of either 90-99.5 hubs and matching composite rotors ... Or 99.5 up hubs and matching cast rotors.

Why is this  necessary  ? The 93 to 98 grand cherokee caliper bracket unbolts off axle as do 1989 and down danas on jeeps. Any info on just swapping rotors calipers and brackets ?

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No, the 99 up Grand Cherokee (WJ/WK) use knuckles with removable bracket calipers.

The 93-98 ZJ uses the same Chrysler knuckles with integrated brackets and the same calipers as 90+ XJ/MJ.

As for swapping, the earlier AMC (Bendix) uses a completely different bracket spacing than the later WJ brackets ... I already tried that one. It may be possible to make an adapter plate, but they are not directly swappable without changing the knuckles.

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From the manuscript of the book I started several years ago:

 

In general, the parts to be concerned with in keeping the front brakes compatible are the steering knuckles, the hub/bearing assemblies, the rotors, and the calipers. (There is a more complete enumeration of the interrelationship of these parts in Chapter 6, Axles.)

 

• Only two steering knuckle designs were used: 1984 through 1989, and 1990 through 2001. Left and right side knuckles are different part numbers within each group.

 

• Three different hub/bearing units were used. The hub/bearing units are the same for both sides of the vehicle. The different years for hub/bearing assemblies were: 1984 through 1989; 1990 through mid-1999 (composite rotors); and late-1999 through 2001 (cast rotors).

 

• Three rotor types were used: 1984 through 1989; 1990 through mid-1999 (composite); and late-1999 through 2001 (cast).

 

• Only two caliper types were used: 1984 through 1989, and 1990 through 2001. Left and right side calipers are different part numbers within each group.

The above is copyrighted. Please do not distribute it beyond this forum.

 

Basically, thecause there are different offsets to the knuckles, caliper brackets, and hubs, you can't mix and match parts. Everything needs to be from the same "year family" to work together.

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  • 5 months later...

I did this swap and it was a huge pain.  Did it for the same reason, I put in a 8.8 explorer rear with 410 and had a 410 front from a 86 with 2.8.  I thought I would save $$ having to swap the gears.  If I knew then what I know now I would have stuck with the old brakes.  I didn't know the axles or unit bearings were different.  However, I did stick the one that is not a 2 piece into my 98 zj and it worked fine.   Also, I thought 99 and newer were the composite rotors.

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