[hosejockey61]

I would keep YOUR axle shafts (with unit bearings), and rotors.

This eliminates the possibility of getting a smaller U joint and also ensures that your rotor and unit bearing are correct for each other. There are some that are slightly deeper than others which can cause a problem. The other main benefit is that your brake pads and rotors are already worn/mated to each other.

Unless your gear ratio is the same, you will need to re-gear too. Depending on what gears you want, one might have the correct carrier to go to deeper gears, so you may want to look into that too to save from having to buy a new carrier.

You are lucky to be able to trade straight across.

 

[shoepick]

I have been waiting on this axle to regear anyways so gear ratio isn't a problem. I'm regearing to 4.88 and Detroit lockers front and rear.

 

[H8S PVMT]

I'm doing this same swap in mine next week, the HP30 I have has CV joints not u-joints, ( which is better?)
also has a lock right in it & 456 but I'm changing to a trutrac lil easier on the street.

 

[shoepick]

I'm going with 4.88 and full Detroit's front and rear. I do very little highway driving.

 

[O_M_Jeep]

I'm doing this same swap in mine next week, the HP30 I have has CV joints not u-joints, ( which is better?)
also has a lock right in it & 456 but I'm changing to a trutrac lil easier on the street.

Can you please post a pic of the CV shafts? And CV, depending on what they are, could be much better.

 

[H8S PVMT]

dropped axle off at buddy's who's doing the gear swap, I'll try to find a picture. I was told it came out of a TJ 97-98, the guy said some of them came with them. That I'm not sure of but it should bolt right in.

 

[hosejockey61]

No TJ came from the factory with a HP30....

 

[O_M_Jeep]

No TJ came from the factory with a HP30....

Or with CV shafts.

 

[H8S PVMT]

I didn't think so, I will get a picture, it has cv shafts and no disco. on it. so are the CV's a better way to go?

 

[O_M_Jeep]

Depending on if they are custom cut from another vehicle or if they are bespoke CV shafts,

You can get quality alloy shafts for about $700, CV shafts from RCV off road will run $1050, they both have different strengths and weaknesses, really it depends on what your going to do in it and on what size tires.

 

[H8S PVMT]

There are 3 front axles found in XJ's (all 3 are Dana 30 or “D30” differentials in either the HP or LP design)

Credit should be given to Crash for much of this information

All of them use an outer Unit Bearing style hub assembly (the bearings are built into the hub and the hub and bearings are replaced as a unit) The hub is always turning the outer axle shaft that is bolted thru the Unit Bearing and the shaft is what keeps the Unit Bearing from separating and falling apart. (Useful to know if you have u-joint or shaft failure on the trail, you cannot just remove the entire shaft and drive the vehicle with nothing bolted thru the center of the unit bearing, it will fall apart)

1984 to 1992 XJ's came equipped with a HP30 vacuum disconnect front axle that has an intermediate shaft on the passenger side that physically disconnects from the outer shafts, saving on gas and wear and tear on the drive train. The vacuum shift is shifted by the transfer case.

1993 to 1999 XJ's came equipped with a HP30 front axle (non-disco) that has one piece inner axles and rotates the differential and front drive shaft whenever the vehicle is moving.

2000 and 2001 have a low pinion D30 front axle (sometimes referred to as the TJ axle)

 

[Holton345]

... or if they are bespoke CV shafts...

Ten points for proper usage of "bespoke" in this context. DING DING DING!

 

[H8S PVMT]

Found this on the Cherokee forum

Axle Joints:

Some 1984 to 1986 XJ's came equipped with CV (Constant Velocity) axle shafts. These are higher maintenance, hard to find, and most people swap them out for U-Joint shafts.

1986 to 1994 XJ's came equipped with the small (260 series) u-joint, EXCEPT All ABS and NP242 equipped XJ's came with the 297 size joint.

1995-2001 had 297 sized (larger and stronger) u-joints. 297 sized joints are the strongest of the three!

Housings:
The earlier disco housing has a two part tube on the right side with a separate cast piece pressed in the middle for the disco assembly, it is generally considered a slightly weaker housing then the non-disco housing and is much more difficult to install a truss onto. All disco housings have smaller 260 series u-joints and a three piece right axle shaft. (However it is possible to install a 2 piece axle shaft from a non-disco housing if the carrier is removed and a special seal is installed for the right side.)

The non-disco housing is the preferred housing stock, or as an upgrade to the disco housing and the Low Pinion housing. It is the easiest to install a truss system onto and very strong for it’s size. Many people have run 35’s with this housing by upgrading to Alloy axle shafts.

 

[O_M_Jeep]

Ten points for proper usage of "bespoke" in this context. DING DING DING!

I lernt that wachin some fellers on tha BBC, ain't it sumthin when people know stuff n stuff

 

[Holton345]

It can be rather rare around here on WF, HAHAHA!!!

 

[H8S PVMT]

sounds like I'm going to need to swap out my LP shafts into the HP housing.. yuk what else do I have to switch over?

 

[hosejockey61]

sounds like I'm going to need to swap out my LP shafts into the HP housing.. yuk what else do I have to switch over?

That's a good thing...at least you know what you have.

Only other thing is the rotors.

 

[H8S PVMT]

ok my LP rotors are shot the HP rotors are good , but they are not interchangeable?

thank you for the help too by the way, much appreciated..

 

[O_M_Jeep]

Everything but the ring & pinion are interchangeable, if your switching rotors be sure to replace the pads, or at the very least use the pads that are broken in on those rotors.

People usually take this opportunity to replace ball joints, pads and rotors, unit bearings, whatever you want and can afford, that way nothing is questionable later.