I am in the process of changing my axles out on my jeep. I went to go pick up a new to me front axle ( dana 30 ) and quickly noticed that it was diffrent than my Dana 30 i took out of my jeep. The new one has a weird box looking thing on it that mine doesent, that has some sort of vacum lines going to it. My jeep is a 1996 xj 4.0 5 speed this axel came out of a 86, Can i still use it? Also noticed the uper control arm mounts on this axle are solid cast VS mine cheap bracket



Any info is helpfull, im new to the axels thing in the jeeps thanks

 

86 weaker internals stronger housing, 96 has stronger internals but weaker mounts. Yes you can use it buy look up a posi-lock to take care of that vacuum stuff.

 

Ok great! so if i swap this in and dont do the mod or hook up any vacum lines i wont have 4x4 even with the t-case in 4x4? I have to hook up vacume or do a mod to lock both axels together?

 

Yes that's correct with the one side not locked together all the power will be transfered threw the easiest side of the open differential in the front axle.

 

found this, hope it helps

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f51/ho...si-lock-78838/

 

use the passenger axle out of the 96 in the 86

 

I read a post a long time ago that detailed how to upgrade this axle and eliminate the vacuum. I think it was an axle swop on the pass side and axle seal. Do some research.

Heres a couple links I did find.
http://www.offroaders.com/directory/info/dana30.htm
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/dan...onnect-106032/
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/vac...uestion-32031/
http://www.cherokeetalk.com/forum/f6...sconnect-1102/

 

hook the cable up so you can un lock it when not needed why turn all the internals just extra wear and tear in my opinion

 

Here's the super easy way.

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f51/fr...ss-91-a-38629/