Brake caliper,spindle and rotor upgrade from newer XJ?

[big66440]

I was wondering if it would be possible to swap the spindles,hubs,rotors and calipers off of a newer (say 97-up) XJ ? I'm not looking for a way to increase braking power just a modern simpler rotor,hub and caliper set up. I did some home work and ball joints are the same from 84-01 XJ's as well as the brake hoses, what do you guys think?

[xjsteve99]

Can't offer you any advice but hopefully someone out there has some useful information, I'm curious about this myself because the calipers on my 86 are seized and i have a newer D30 with everything on it sitting in my garage. I'm thinking is should be a direct bolt up. If i get around to messing with mine before anyone else comments on this, I'll let you know how it turns out. 

[Eagle]

Here's the rundown yet again:

 

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.

 

Basically, you have to keep all the parts from within a compatible group of years. The hubs have different offsets from the mounting flange to the outer surface.

 

As I note every time I post this, it's from the manuscript of my unpublished book. It is copyrighted, and by posting it here I am NOT granting anyone permission to reproduce it or redistribute it. Please respect my copyright.

[xjsteve99]

Here's the rundown yet again:

 

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.

 

Basically, you have to keep all the parts from within a compatible group of years. The hubs have different offsets from the mounting flange to the outer surface.

 

As I note every time I post this, it's from the manuscript of my unpublished book. It is copyrighted, and by posting it here I am NOT granting anyone permission to reproduce it or redistribute it. Please respect my copyright.

 

Eagle, so are you then saying that so long as the knuckles, rotors, and calipers and hub assemblies are from the same year range they can be used? Not sure what year range big66440 is working with here but my plan was to put mid 90's xj d30 outer parts on my 86 mj d30.

[Eagle]

Maybe this will help:

 

[big66440]

Thanks for your expertise Eagle, I did some more research and found out there are 2 different part numbers used for the lower ball joints 84-89 and 90-01 I tried to find some more in depth information but I couldn't. I'm assuming since the knuckles/spindles are interchangeable the taper for the ball joints and tie rod as well as the dimensions would be the same, my question is this something that has to do with 2WD and 4WD? 

[Rockfrog]

The lower ball joints used a preload bushing from 84-89, similar to what a typical D44 (as in not thebTJ/JK version) uses on the upper ball joint.

In 90 this bushing was eliminated and made part of the casting, and the non telescoping upper ball joint was discontinued and replaced with a telescoping ball joint making the lower ball joint's bushing obsolete and unesecary. Some ball joints still supply the bushing though and it was general practice to replace them with the ball joint. I haven't seen a solid upper in a long time. The currently used uppers take into account differences in casting and slight bends, by telescoping out as needed. The older bushing were used to account for this previously.

 

 

Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk

[mikekaz1]

• 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

• 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.

Curious. My 91 had a beam axle. It used the one piece hub rotor assembly. And it used the Allen keyed calipers. I assume this is the old style caliper just carried over an extra year? Were all early style hubs and rotors one piece or only the beams?

[Eagle]

Curious. My 91 had a beam axle. It used the one piece hub rotor assembly. And it used the Allen keyed calipers. I assume this is the old style caliper just carried over an extra year? Were all early style hubs and rotors one piece or only the beams?

What do you mean by one-piece hub rotor assembly? The 4WD front axles always used a combination hub/bearing unit and a separate rotor -- see the parts list I posted above. The early 2WD axles used a conventional spindle that was part of the steering knuckle, and the hub and rotor were an assembly with loose, serviceable, conventional wheel bearings. Is that what you have?

[FrankTheDog]

2wd MJ's and XJ's didn't swap out to a unit bearing with a seperate rotor until about January 20th 1992. Before that they used the 1984 -1989 style brakes with one piece hub and rotor.

[mikekaz1]

Ahh. That's what I was curious on. Cool thanks.

[Salvagedcircuit]

I have an '88 with 2 problematic front calipers. I am investigating whether or not 1990-01 anti-rattle clip calipers are compatible with the anchor plate on the '88 front axle. Would I have to change a bunch of steering related components, or would the calipers bolt up? Thanks.