XJeepWerks

The axle in my '94 Xj has blown and I'm going to be getting a new one from the junkyard. What are the differences between the years and which one should I be looking for? I'm running 3.55 gears.


I've read stuff about high pinion/low pinion, different spline counts, and different ground clearance, but I'm not really sure what's best and what comes with which years.

RkyMtnH

Try to get a HP out of a '97 XJ. Most of them were 3.55 gears also.

XJeepWerks

'97 specifically or '97-'01? Are they direct bolt in? What are the advantages/disadvantages? I'm going to do some Googling....

XJeepWerks

I just hit up a couple of pages online and understand the differences between high and low pinion. What years can I find them on and are they a direct bolt on? Would they improve the driveshaft angle on the front since the shaft mounts up higher on the axle?

EDIT: I also need a new front driveshaft. Which years will fit my Xj and is one year shaft better than another? (Besides the obvious, a newer Xj has a newer shaft.)

RkyMtnH

Not exactly sure on all years, should be '97-'99 are the HP ones. Yes, it is a direct bolt in.

RkyMtnH

pretty sure the '00-'01 were LP's

XJeepWerks

Ok, thanks. I'll see if I can head up to the junkyard tomorrow.


Does anybody have any input on the front driveshaft?

RkyMtnH

Just get the stock one from the donor jeep at the JY.

XJeepWerks

There arent any that are better than the stock Xj one? Nothing from another year Xj or a GC? I'm running 4.5" lift and will be adding another 2" at some point.

RkyMtnH

On the Red XJ in my avatar. I ran a Long arm 7 in lift, A/A SYE, Quigleys Custom driveshaft, Lockers in front and rear, T-N-T adj. trac bar with t-bar drop bracket and tons of other stuff. With a stock front driveshaft. No problems.

XJeepWerks

Ok. I'm not necessarily worried about the front driveshaft, I'm just looking for any available junkyard upgrades since I'm going to be replacing it anyway. Why get a stock one when I could get a better one, ya know??

RkyMtnH

There's nothing wrong with the stock one. If you are going to upgrade. I would suggest giving Mt. Zion Offroad a call and get a Quigleys driveshaft. Both are from Pa. Mt. Zion Offroad is in Dover, Pa. http://mountzionoffroad.com/shop.html. See if you can talk to Curtis.

XJeepWerks

I'm not looking for any custom driveshafts or anything, I don't have the money for that kind of stuff right now. I was just looking at the fact that I will be going to the junkyard to pull a driveshaft for my Jeep, and if there are any in the junkyard off of another vehicle that would benifit me in any way, I'd rather buy that one than a stock shaft. Going along the same concept as my axle... a LP D30 isn't necessarily a problem, but a HP D30 would be better, and I can get it off of another vehicle at the junkyard rather than getting the same LP D30. I was just looking to see if a shaft off of another vehicle would be an improvement. I'm probably never going to break the front shaft, but if I can get a stronger one out of a junkyard just to be sure I never break it, why not?

XJeepWerks

I just went to three junkyards today looking for an axle for the Jeep. I only found one suitable axle (High pinion or low pinion... I don't care anymore, I need the Jeep on the road asap) and I couldn't get the drivers side tie rod end off because the bolt just spun. I found 30+ grand cherokee's between the three junkyards with good axles under them. Can I use an axle out of a GC in my Xj? Can I use one that has antilocks even though I do not? (Just not hook up the ABS)